SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Provide nursing care to a terminally ill patient and support to the family 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252099  Provide nursing care to a terminally ill patient and support to the family 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nursing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful for people working as clinically focused, service orientated, independent, registered staff nurses, who are able to render basic care to persons with stable and uncomplicated general health problems, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework.

This unit standard will recognise the essential knowledge and skills required to manage pain and symptoms holistically for the terminally ill, in health care and home based care settings. The ability to provide care in a manner that protects the dignity of the terminally ill patient is a critical part of the competence.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Plan and implement basic nursing care for a terminally ill individual.
  • Support a terminally ill patient and family through the process of death, dying and bereavement.
  • Evaluate the quality of nursing care. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Provision of fundamental nursing care at NQF Level 5.
  • Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural aspects at NQF Level 5.
  • ID 252098: Use communication skills to establish and maintain supportive relationships.
  • ID 252082: Carry out a health assessment of an individual of any age group.
  • ID 252100: Develop a care plan in collaboration with patients and or carers.
  • ID 252093: Implement planned nursing care to achieve identified patient outcomes.
  • Resources available for support of the terminally ill. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:
  • The Nurse functions within the scope of practice of a staff nurse as formulated by the SANC and the Nursing Act. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Plan and implement basic nursing care for a terminally ill patient. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The state of the patient is determined by means of generally accepted assessment methods and protocols. Personal needs and goals are determined in consultation with the patient. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Care of the terminally ill person is adapted in terms of palliative care principles to ensure that the personal goals of the patient have priority over other considerations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Physical care provided focuses on alleviation of symptoms, and creation of conditions for maximum comfort and management of pain, in accordance with ethical practice and established procedures and protocols. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Care includes:
  • Sleep; eating; nutrition; pain management; comfort.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Care is provided in a manner that is respectful, and that protects the dignity and comfort of the patient at all times, within the constraints of the illness, the institution and/or the context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Ethical dilemmas resulting from care issues are resolved in accordance with established ethical principles in the nursing profession. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Emotional and psychological concerns and fears associated with the loss of independence are identified, and nursing care is directed towards minimising the effects of this loss, in line with the protection of dignity. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Support a terminally ill patient and family through the process of death, dying and bereavement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Counselling input presents information on the phases of death and dying in a manner that is supportive and facilitates understanding of the process. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Phases include:
  • Denial, anger, depression, bargaining, acceptance.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Counselling facilitates the process of resolving issues and accomplishing endings that promote acceptance and readiness for dying, in accordance with generally accepted counselling practice and protocols. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Endings include:
  • Resolving relationships with others; relationship to spiritual.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Counselling recognises the needs of family and/or significant others, and facilitates their understanding and acceptance, as well as their interaction with the patient where this has been complicated or obstructed by the illness. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Support is practical, and facilitates preparations for death and burial. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Preparations include:
  • Wills and testaments; policies; financial affairs; burial/cremation; financial assistance for burial services.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Counselling of the dying patient and the family and/or carers demonstrates an understanding of loss, grief and bereavement in the information shared, interventions offered, and the manner of engagement. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate the quality of nursing care. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Information is gathered from all significant stakeholders affected by nursing care, as well as records of care provision. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Affected persons are debriefed in a sensitive and supportive manner, in accordance with intuitional procedures and guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Information gathered is collated and areas for improvement in approach and care provision are identified, together with suggested improvements and/or recommendations to the appropriate authority. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Own care role is evaluated for impact on the comfort of the patient, and contribution to achievement of the patient's goals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Information relating to nursing care for terminally ill patients is disseminated via approved channels to assist with refinement of information, interventions and procedures. Information is also used to validate and/or contribute to the development of effective training in palliative care. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Accreditation Option: Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation Option: The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    Application of knowledge in meeting the needs of a terminally ill client and family, including:
  • Providing physical and psychological comfort.
  • Pain relief measures.
  • Family support. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Note: Identifying and implementing health care solutions implies problem-solving and effective decision making. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: Health care provision is team based. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: Implementing health care requires effective organisation. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: Central to setting goals, and monitoring and evaluation components. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations.
  • Note: Core competence nursing with dignity for the terminally ill. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: Used in assessment and monitoring, as well as pain management. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Note: Body as a system; part of the broader health care system. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Notes to Assessors:

    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure that evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: Appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

    The following particular issues should be taken into consideration when assessing against this unit standard:
  • The SANC guidelines are used as a reference for integrated assessment:
    > Formative Assessment: A variety of assessment strategies and/or approaches integrating theory and practice must be used. These could be tests, assignments, projects, demonstrations or clinical assessments or any other applicable method.
    > Summative: This could take a form of oral, written and/or practical assessments as agreed to with the relevant ETQA.

    Definition of Terms:

    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. Further clarification of terms is provided as follows:
  • The terms "patient" and "health care user" are used interchangeably in this unit standard. The term patient is used internationally, and the term health care user is used in the Nursing Act 33 of 2005, as well as the National Health Act 61 of 2003. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  74410   Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Awareness Promotion of Dread Disease and HIV/AIDS  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 
    Core  59236   National Diploma: Nursing  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2020-07-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Fundamental  59257   Bachelor of Nursing  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.