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 QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110087  Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-07-25  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This qualification provides a career path for nurses who want to stay within the field of nursing, but who would like to specialise, focus on an area and add to their depth of knowledge and skill. Persons in scholarship for this qualification will become experts in primary care nursing. The public and private sectors need qualified specialists to improve health at community and family level.
The focus of the qualification will be to extend theory and its application in the primary care field. Typical learning activities should include study of appropriate specialist knowledge, case studies and integrated work-based learning. The competencies as specified under the five domains in the South African Nursing Council (SANC) competencies for Primary Care Nurse Specialist are distributed among these six modules. These five domains are: professional, ethical and legal practice; clinical practice: care provision and management; personal and quality of care; management and leadership and research.

Rationale:
South Africa is currently facing healthcare challenges such as the high burden of diseases for example HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) and a shortage of key healthcare personnel. Although the percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on healthcare (8%) is higher than the World Health Organisation's recommended 5% of the health outcomes remain poor when compared to similar middle-income countries. The public health sector is under pressure to deliver services to about 80% of the population. Hence there is a dire need to train nurses to render comprehensive healthcare to the citizens of South Africa.
Nurses trained in primary care nursing are able to contribute to the realisation of the Department of Health's vision of a long and healthy life for all South Africans by promoting health, preventing disease, treating patients with acute and chronic conditions, managing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and rehabilitate those in need of rehabilitation in the community. Furthermore, primary care nurses are pivotal in decreasing maternal and child mortality, combating HIV and AIDS and decreasing the burden of TB.
The primary care nurse specialist will act as leader of the primary healthcare team, within the newly implemented Primary Healthcare Outreach Teams and will contribute to the implementation of various national and provincial policies and guidelines. Furthermore, the nurse expert will maintain quality primary care services by conducting regular quality assurance activities.
The South African Nursing Council published the competences required for primary care nurse specialist which this qualification meets. Furthermore, it aims to address the needs of the national healthcare human resources plan of the National Department of Health. Primary care nurse specialist will be able to render specialist primary nursing care in rural and urban primary healthcare facilities in the public and private healthcare sector.
This qualification will enable qualifying learners to register with SANC as Primary care Nurse Specialist. Qualifying learners will be able to work as primary Care Nurse specialists in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare settings, function as an expert within the District Clinical Specialist Teams, and render advanced primary care nursing care in specialised units where primary care patients are treated. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Applicants must provide evidence of prior learning by means of portfolios, other forms of appropriate evidence and/or challenge theoretical and practicum examinations. Applicants may receive credits towards a qualification depending on the outcome of the RPL process. Prior learning is recognised according the RPL policy and procedures of the institution.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are:
  • Professional Bachelor's degree in Nursing or an equivalent qualification.
    or
  • Advanced Diploma in Nursing or equivalent qualification.
    or
  • Relevant Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent qualification.
  • Candidates must furnish proof of registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as registered/professional/staff nurse and midwife. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Primary Care Nursing Theory, 32 Credits.
  • Primary Care Nursing Clinical Practice, 24 credits.
  • Professional Ethical-Legal Practice, 8 Credits.
  • Professional Development, 8 Credits.
  • Management, 8 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 32 Credits.
  • Pharmacology and Dispensing,16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate foundational and conditional knowledge of patients in primary care settings in order to plan healthcare according to best practice evidence.
    2. Demonstrate functional knowledge through clinical judgement of patients in a variety of primary care settings in order to plan healthcare according to best available evidence.
    3. Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the nursing profession and resolves professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision making and moral reasoning models.
    4. Improve quality care through the development of self, others and implementation of available evidence for best practice.
    5. Manage occupational health through effective occupational norms and standards.
    6. Apply knowledge and principles of the research process. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Improve health outcomes through implementation of best available evidence based on foundational and conditional knowledge of the Primary Care Nurse specialists.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Improve health outcomes through rendering and coordination of specialist primary Care Nursing care of patients and families in variety of primary care settings.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Utilise decision making and moral reasoning models to guide clinical practice and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas within ethical-legal parameters.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Use mentorship to develop self and peers and improve quality of care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Manage primary care health services according to occupational health norms and standards.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Develop a workable research proposal through the application of knowledge and principles of the research process.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Apply relevant legislation in the prescription and management of drugs.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Formative and Summative Assessment:
    Assessment will take place within the context of the quality assurance policies, procedures and processes of the institution and in a guided and supported learning environment. Baseline assessment will be done during contact sessions by means of introductory questions to determine prior knowledge of students. Questioning will be used to determine if difficult concepts and information were successfully mastered. Group participation, organisational skills, leadership, cooperation, initiative and creativity of individual learners will be assessed within group activities.
    Formative assessment will be done by means of completion of workbook activities, group discussion, immersive simulation, reflection after clinical learning experiences. Constructive feedback will be given following academic interaction with students.

    A combination of different summative assessment methods allows for testing a wide variety of outcomes. Examples of summative assessment tasks are written tests, written examinations, proficiency tests, case presentations, case studies, project reports, written assignments to name a few. All modules will use continuous assessment activities which will accumulate into a general portfolio. Learners will write the examination at the end of each semester in primary Care Nursing. Continuous assessment will be used for the other four modules. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: Australia.
    Institution: University of Sydney.
    Qualification: Graduate Diploma in Nursing Practice.
    The Graduate Diploma in Nursing Practice include an in-depth exploration of advanced nursing practice issue relevant to the clinical setting. During the course learners explore professional issues such as simulated education techniques, quality and safety frameworks, contemporary leadership, research, and the potential for expanding the scope of learner's practice as they carry out a clinical project in an area of their choice. The course also focuses on the professional capabilities needed for effective community-based nursing, including interpersonal skills, resilience and emotional intelligence and awareness of legal and ethical obligations that promote a culture of safety and quality in the clinical environment.
    Country: New Zealand.
    Institution: Whitireia Community Polytechnic.
    Qualification: Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Speciality Nursing.
    The Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Speciality Nursing aims to broaden the knowledge and skills of registered nurse care for a variety of primary healthcare settings. This qualification focuses on health promotion, health education and health literacy; infant and child nursing; community assessment and development; social determinants of health; strategic policy; family health; needs assessment; research and evidence based practice; quality improvement; clinical supervision and clinical leadership.
    The qualifications considered in this process, similar to the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing, encourage learners to become primary care nurse specialists who are able to render evidence based practice in a variety of contexts. The resulting qualification focus on developing of nursing specialists in the field of primary care nursing who are able to work as part of and often leaders within the District Clinical Specialist Teams in a variety of clinical contexts. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification offers the following horizontal and vertical articulation opportunities.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Honours Degree in Nursing or equivalent qualification, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    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.
     
    1. University of the Free State 


    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.