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
115827  Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
Durban University of Technology 
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  2020-01-08  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:
The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing is to:
  • Develop a Primary Care Nurse specialist who can be the team leader for the primary health care team.
  • Develop a competent nurse specialist with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for the application of the nursing process within the legal-ethical framework to diagnose and manage illnesses to restore, promote and maintain the health of the individual, family and community as caring professionals.
  • Provide a range of comprehensive individualised, culturally sensitive care in line with de-colonisation to individuals, families and communities.
  • Provide best practice nursing, which is based on evidence-based nursing to promote, prevent, cure and rehabilitate diseases and illnesses.
  • Enable the nurse specialist to maximise the healthcare of the South African population.

    Rationale:
    Primary Care Nurse Specialists (PCNS) are in demand at Primary Health Care (PHC) settings for rendering promotive, preventive and curative services. Health promotion serves to prevent diseases and promote good health of communities through Inter-sectoral collaboration. They also assess, diagnose, manage illnesses and injuries and refer to the appropriate level of care. They function independently of the medical practitioner according to Section 56 of the Nursing Act No 33 of 2005 and other related regulations, to ensure quality nursing care of communities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised PHC in the Alma Ata Conference in 1978, as the strategy for health service delivery that is safe, effective and socially productive way at the interface between the population and the health system. A well-functioning health system working in harmony depends on having trained and motivated health workers, a well-maintained infrastructure, and a reliable supply of medicines and technologies backed by adequate funding, strong health plans and evidence-based policies.

    Primary Care Nursing is one of the 16 nursing specialities envisaged by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). On completion of this qualification, the Professional Nurse will register with the SANC. The qualification envisages creating an enabling environment by being sensitive to the diverse learner population, learner-centeredness, promoting human dignity, honesty and integrity. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL is a national imperative in the effort to transform higher education and to give South African`s who did not have opportunities of higher education an opportunity based on their work experience, and educational opportunities they have had. The idea of RPL aligns to the elements of transformation; accreditation; lifelong learning and the NQF (SAQA, 2013).

    The institution has a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Coordination Policy (2016) which has as its purpose, amongst others, to:
  • Facilitate access and admission to learning qualifications,
  • To accelerate redress of past unfair discrimination in education, training and employment opportunities, and
  • To promote and facilitate lifelong learning.

    The Department of Nursing has, in its rules, admission via RPL, which allows potential learners RPL for advanced standing to enable them to access the qualification. This rule also allows potential learners who have other primary care nursing qualifications to apply for exemption of modules for credits towards the qualification. Learners must develop a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) using the ten competencies of the National Qualification Framework (NQF) (HEQSF) at Level 7. The PoE will determine whether this learner show the competence to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing qualification in mind.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • A four-year Diploma in Nursing, 480 Credits.
    Or
  • A four-year Diploma in Nursing, 360 Credits and Diploma in Midwifery, 120 Credits.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, 120 Credits.

    And
    Registration with the SANC as a:
  • General Nurse.
  • Midwife.
    And.
  • Two years' Post-Basic experience as a Professional Nurse or Midwife, which includes at least one year of experience in the field of Primary Health Care within the last five years, but this excludes the community service year. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 124 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 8, 124 Credits:
  • Principles of Nursing Management and Leadership, 12 Credits.
  • Fundamentals of Primary Health Care and Professional Practice, 12 Credits.
  • Primary Health Care I, 24 Credits.
  • Primary Health Care II, 24 Credits.
  • Nursing Research, 12 Credits.
  • Clinical Practice I, 12 Credits.
  • Clinical Practice II, 12 Credits.
  • Pharmacology for Professional Nurses, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the nursing profession and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
    2. Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of primary healthcare.
    3. Demonstrate foundational and conditional knowledge of professional people-centred primary care of people in a variety of settings to promote health.
    4. Render and coordinate comprehensive inter-professional people-centred primary care nursing care to surgical patients to promote health outcomes.
    5. Apply the knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process to evaluate the standard of guidelines used in primary care clinical practice.
    6. Apply principles of knowledge translation to promote evidence-based care and ensure quality patient care and safety in primary care nursing care.
    7. Develop self and peers by promoting self-directedness through a process of precepting and mentoring.
    8. Manage primary care nursing services by implementing effective medico-legal norms, practices and standards within an inter-professional team. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Use decision-making and moral reasoning models to guide clinical practice and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas within primary care nursing.
  • Apply the latest legislation, policies, protocols, regulation, guidelines regarding primary care nursing in practice.
  • Apply professional, ethical, legal frameworks to guide the practice of the primary care nurse specialist.
  • Use the principles of advocacy for the patient's best interest.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Appraise research articles in the field of primary care nursing through the application of basic knowledge of research methodology.
  • Differentiate qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research designs.
  • Apply the standards of each step of the research process during the appraisal of research articles.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Promote health outcomes through the demonstration of foundational and conditional knowledge of inter-professional people-centred primary care nursing in a variety of settings.
  • Interpret and use epidemiological data about primary care to plan a community awareness or health promotion campaign/qualification.
  • Identify and scrutinise applicable legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to primary care nursing.
  • Identify strategies to ensure that the human rights of all clients are respected.
  • Use the best available evidence to plan a healing environment in primary care settings.
  • Debate the influence of the social-political cultural and economic developments within the country on the provision of primary care nursing.
  • Discuss and explore triage principles within a primary healthcare setting.
  • Debate the international classification of health, functioning and disability.
  • Use legislation on drug prescriptions, storage, disposal, and dispensing to evaluate current practice.
  • Identify types of emergencies treated in primary healthcare facilities through statistical analysis.
  • Explore and practice the treatment of emergencies that are prevalent in primary care facilities.
  • Use bio-medical and social sciences to explain the relations of social determinants of health and clinical manifestations to make differential and working/final diagnosis.
  • Execute and coordinate comprehensive inter-professional person-centred treatment plans competently within an interprofessional team.
  • Determine the severity of the patient's condition according to standardised tools and execute optimal interventions within the limitations of the system and practice.
  • Monitor the health status of the primary care client appropriately for age and condition.
  • Use technology safely and in ways that facilitate diagnosing and treatment of the primary care client.
  • Use principles of health dialogue to negotiate treatment plan with patient and family.
  • Use care pathways and the referral system appropriately and effectively.
  • Keep primary care patient records which adhere to care and legal standards.
  • Store primary care statistics accurately and safely.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Promote health and legal outcomes through rendering and coordinating specialist primary care nursing in a variety of settings.
  • Ensure that health promotion/awareness campaigns are epidemiological databased.
  • Ensure the primary care nurse practices within the professional, ethical-legal framework.
  • Respect the human rights of patients in all circumstances.
  • Establish and maintain a healing environment.
  • Apply triage principles to patients in a waiting room at a primary care facility.
  • Ensure that comprehensive treatment plans address healthcare needs as per the international classification of functioning, health and disability.
  • Ensure drug prescription, storage, disposal, and dispensing adhere to legislation.
  • Treat emergencies according to best practice guidelines.
  • Do a comprehensive assessment of the patient competently.
  • Demonstrate clinical reasoning by considering social determinants of health and all relevant clinical findings to make a diagnosis.
  • Execute and coordinate comprehensive inter-professional person-centred treatment plans competently within an inter-professional team.
  • Determine the severity of the patient's condition according to standardised tools and execute optimal interventions within the limitations of the system and practice.
  • Monitor the health status of the primary care client appropriately for age and condition.
  • Use technology safely and in ways that facilitate diagnosing and treatment of the primary care client.
  • Use principles of health dialogue to negotiate treatment plan with patient and family.
  • Use care pathways and the referral system appropriately and effectively.
  • Ensure primary care patient records kept by the primary care specialist adheres to care and legal standards.
  • Ensure that primary care statistics are accurate.

    Associated assessment criteria for exit level outcome 5:
  • Evaluate standards of guidelines used in primary care practice by applying knowledge of the systematic review and guideline development process.
  • Demonstrate academic writing in reports.
  • Formulate research questions according to the PICO format.
  • Search the databases using Boolean search strategies.
  • Evaluate evidence-based guidelines using standardised evaluation tools.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Promote the quality of patient care and safety in primary care settings by implementing evidence-based practice through a process of knowledge translation.
  • Compare knowledge translation models to select the most appropriate one for use in primary care practice.
  • Promote evidence-based practice by applying the knowledge translation model in primary care health services.
  • Monitor patient outcomes in primary care nursing, including quality patient care and safety, by comparing pre-post knowledge translation data.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Apply precepting and mentoring processes to develop self-directness in self and peers.
  • Develop thinking/reasoning processes of self and others through the facilitation of learning.
  • Apply learning theories in own development and the development of others.
  • Create a positive learning environment by supporting peers and novices.
  • Establish academic networks to sustain personal development.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Manage primary care health services according to medico-legal norms, practices and standards within an inter-professional team.
  • Demonstrate appropriate leadership styles (transformational, distributive, servant, etc.) within the district clinical specialist team.
  • Create and document shared decision-making opportunities regarding primary health care services.
  • Mobilise and utilise resources to optimise primary care nursing.
  • Analyse and optimise referral/care pathways.
  • Coordinate the activities of the inter-professional district clinical specialist team.
  • Interpret primary care statistics and guide decision-making.

    Integrated Assessment:
    A variety of formative assessment methods will ensure that the learners are competent, in written and oral presentation (using technology) of case studies, written assessments, compiling and producing a workbook as evidence of clinical cases and hours and clinical assessment in authentic clinical settings.

    The institution will communicate the Faculty and Professional assessment policy and rules to all learners during the orientation session after their registration. These rules form part of the departmental rule book and all study guides. Transparency and fairness on all summative assessments will require providing full information on each assessment, calculation of marks/marking rubric and weighting.

    Learners will receive information and guidance on their rights and responsibilities regarding summative assessment processes, e.g. Plagiarism policy, terms of appeals, supplementary examinations, etc. Breaches of assessment policies will be dealt with timeously, fairly and effectively. Learners 'assessment data will be made available to the lecturers, qualification coordinator and the learners as appropriate.

    Learners will take both oral and written feedback on all assessments. Written feedback will be given to learners individually on the assessment script, and oral feedback will be given as a composite to the entire class following the evaluation of the assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable to international qualifications.

    Western Sydney University in Australia offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care which is very similar to this qualification. The entry requirements, purpose, structure of the qualification and articulation are almost similar to this qualification. The Western Sydney University Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care aims to provide the opportunity for health, and other professionals with primary health care responsibilities to gain knowledge and understanding of primary health care that will enable leadership in this field. The qualification is offered either full-time over one-year or part-time over two years. The qualification in Western Sydney University provides a focus on the knowledge and behaviour required to be a primary health care provider in a changing community environment. The admission requirements include completion of an undergraduate qualification (AQF Level 7 or equivalent) in any discipline and three years FTE professional work experience in the health sector. Applicants seeking admission based on work experience support their application with a statement of service for all work experience listed on the application. Learners in this qualification have to complete the following Modules: Primary Health Care and its Applications; Cultural and Social Diversity in Health Care and Health Promotion. Other modules include Primary Health Care Approach; Approaches to Epidemiology; Supporting Individuals and Communities in Crisis; Mental Health for Communities; Health and Socio-political Issues in Aged Care; and one elective. Learners who complete this course may transfer to the Master of Primary Health Care.

    The University of Otago in New Zealand offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care (PGDipPHC) as an interdisciplinary distance-taught qualification for those engaged in the delivery of primary and integrated health care (e.g. medical, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, management). The purpose of their qualification is to provide a deeper understanding of the structure, process and context of primary health care in New Zealand, an appreciation of cultural safety and the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration are almost similar this qualification. Similarly, the qualification in the University of Otago enables participants to plan for and evaluate future changes to the delivery of community-based primary health care and gain skills for clinical practice, health delivery management, basic primary health care research or a combination of these. What is different is the entrance requirement and structure of the course. Learners in the University of Otago usually complete the PGCertPHC (including PRHC701 and 30 points of other papers) before they undertake the PGDipPHC, after that select a further 60 points of papers from a wide range of areas/topics relevant to primary care. After this qualification, graduates are eligible to apply to continue to the Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC), a similar vertical articulation that will be provided by this qualification. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Masters of Health Sciences in Nursing, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Philosophy in Quality, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Business Administration, NQF 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. Durban University of Technology 


    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.