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 Health Services Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
115917  Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management 
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  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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 primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management is to enable health services managers to undertake reflection and expansion using systematic scrutiny of current rational, practice and research methods in the area of management.

The curriculum will contribute towards the development of nurse managers that will demonstrate the ability to:
  • Integrate knowledge and enhance skills in project management.
  • Take ethical and professional decisions and equip Nurse Managers with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage health services at all levels.
  • Identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
  • Take full responsibility for their work, decision making and use of resources.
  • Identify, evaluate and address his or her life-long learning needs in a self-directed manner.
  • Develop and communicate his or her ideas and opinion in well-informed arguments using appropriate occupational, academic or professional discourse.
  • Develop appropriate processes of information gathering for a given context or use an ability to validate, evaluate and manage the sources of information independently.

    The qualifying learner will have the ability to think critically, competently apply and integrate theoretical principles and evidence-based techniques to solving novel and complex problems in a variety of health settings.

    Rationale:
    The rationale is to develop nurse managers who can deliver on the mandate of South Africa's National Health System. Cultivate authentic nursing managers with good leadership and managerial skills. Health Services Management allows opportunities for leadership positions in health education, qualification development, consultation, and management.
    Health Services Management equips current and potential nurse managers in the health service with knowledge and skills regarding the management process, policy-making, health economics and financial planning. Moreso to provide information on human resource management, labour relations and risk management in an ever-changing health service environment.

    Although Health Services Management is a non-clinical specialisation, the qualification includes compulsory practical work of 90 -hours as required by the South African Nursing Council.
    Health Services Management allows opportunities for leadership positions in health education, qualification development, consultation, and management. Learners will have the opportunity to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and provide critical analyses of health care outcomes in several settings.

    Learners obtaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management with a focus in Health Systems Management will be in the learning of evidence-based decision making and outcomes management. With modern technology ever-evolving, learners can become facilitators in innovative redesigns of health care delivery systems while emphasising nursing core values of quality care.

    Nursing Managers are essential to one of the 16 nursing specialities envisaged by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). On completion of this qualification, the professional nurse can register with the SANC for the additional qualification in Health Services Management. 
    		•

    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 Africans who did not have opportunities of higher education an opportunity based on their work experience. The idea of RPL is in line with the elements of transformation; accreditation; lifelong learning and the NQF (SAQA, 2013).

    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 Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management. Learners will be required to develop a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) using the ten competencies of the National Qualification Framework (NQF) (HEQSF) at Level 7. The assessment of the PoE will be with the question "does this learner show the competence to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management qualification" in mind.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Nursing, NQF, Level 8.
    Or
  • A four-year Diploma in Nursing (R425).
    Or
  • A three-year Diploma in Nursing (360 Credits) and Diploma in Midwifery (R254), NQF Level 6.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits:
  • Financial Management in Health services, 12 Credits.
  • Nursing and Law, 12 Credits.
  • Human Resource Management in Health Services, 12 Credits.
  • Risk Management Health Services, 12 Credits.
  • Nursing Dynamics, 24 Credits.
  • Project Planning I, 12 Credits.
  • Project Planning II, 24 Credits.
  • Nursing Research, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Manage a healthcare facility within the ethical-legal parameters and resolve ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning modals.
    2. Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of research articles in the field of nursing management.
    3. Demonstrate advanced management skills using a portfolio.
    4. Think and plan strategically to improve organisational performance.
    5. Apply principles of budgetary governance.
    6. Develop self and others through mentoring.
    7. Apply the knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process to evaluate the standard of guidelines used in nursing management. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Use decision-making and moral reasoning models to resolve ethical dilemmas within the health system management.
  • Identify and debate applicable legislative and regulatory requirements about healthcare management.
  • Use advocacy principles to advocate for safe and quality care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Appraise research articles in the field of nursing management 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:
  • Debate principles and theories of management and leadership.
  • Implement supervisory models to control the quality of management and nursing care.
  • Compare and practice collaborative leadership styles.
  • Manage resources cost-effectively in a way that supports optimal care provision.
  • Debate change management models that apply to healthcare.
  • Reflect team functioning and team leadership on and compared with the available best evidence on collaborative group work.
  • Explore and demonstrate effective problem-solving processes.
  • Address labour relation issues within the legal framework.
  • Manage conflict is constructively using mediating and negotiation techniques.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Inform strategic thinking for a healthcare facility by global trends in health, politics, available resources, and population growth.
  • Do a situational analysis using a standardised strategy, e.g. SWOT analysis, and TOWS matrix.
  • Develop a strategic plan for a nurse manager in a healthcare facility according to the strategic planning steps.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Explore and debate Issues related to the management and monitoring of budget execution.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Establish academic/professional relationships to sustain lifelong learning.
  • Create a positive learning climate by establishing positive relationships.
  • Use performance appraisal principles to monitor their development within the qualification.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Evaluate standard of guidelines used in nursing management by applying knowledge of the systematic review and guideline development process.
  • Demonstrate academic writing in reports.
  • Formulate research questions according to the PICO format and Databases are searched by using Boolean search strategies.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The use of a variety of assessment methods to ensure competency in all outcomes are achievable; namely written and oral presentation (using technology) of case studies, written assessments, reflective diaries, compiling and producing a portfolio of evidence and clinical assessment in authentic clinical settings.

    The institution will communicate the Institutional/Faculty and Professional Assessment Policy and Rules to all learners during the orientation session after their registration.

    The institution will ensure transparency and fairness on all summative assessments by providing full information on each assessment, calculation of marks/marking rubric and weighting.

    Learners will undertake 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. Timelines for providing assessment feedback will be ten working days. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    South Africa is an active member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), member of the African Union (AU), formerly the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth. The qualification would meet recognition requirements in most of the member countries of these organisations and throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Comparison of Qualifications:
    In recognition of the reality of globalisation of nursing and nursing personnel, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2001) recommended "global" competencies for the generalist nurse. The ICN defined the generalist nurse as:
    "A person who has completed qualification of basic nursing education and is qualified in her/his country to practice nursing. The educational qualification prepares the nurse, through the study of behavioural, life and nursing sciences and clinical experience, for effective practice and direction of nursing care, and the leadership role (ICN 2001:2).

    The ICN defined competence as: "a level of performance demonstrating the effective application of knowledge, skill and judgment"(ICN 2001:3). Three broad categories of competencies are:
  • Professional, ethical and legal competence.
  • Care provision and management.
  • Professional development.

    The World Health Organisation (1987), on the other hand, has emphasised the issues surrounding the relevance of the education of health professionals. The basis of the premise on which the WHO recommends that effective education of health professionals must produce health professionals who are "responsive to needs to the needs of the populations they serve, to achieve the goal of health for all" (WHO 1987:5) and that such an education can be in any of a variety of health service settings".

    This qualification is comparable with other national and international university qualifications and nurse educators facilitating recognition abroad.

    The New York State University has a similar qualification which is known as Nursing Management, and Dublin University offers a Nursing Administration. The University of Kentucky also offers a similar qualification. In this qualification maintenance of relationships with all relevant stakeholders (public and private hospitals and clinics and networks with other institutions offering similar or relevant qualifications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for vertical articulation.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Community Health, NQF, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, 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.