SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
118316	Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			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	2021-08-03	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 Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services management aims to produce high-quality graduates, who are able to function with advanced intellectual and practical competencies, in complex specialised areas of nursing practice as managers and leaders, in providing evidence-based care together with other team members. In addition, qualifying learners contribute to the continuous development of nursing management and healthcare services through the development of scientific and professional knowledge for the advancement of nursing practice, research, management and education. Qualifying learners will work as clinical nurse specialists in nursing management in the health sector. They are independent practitioners in their own right in the area of speciality.

This qualification provides a career path for professional nurses who want to remain in a clinical context, but who would like to specialise in nursing management and healthcare services, to add to their depth of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values (competencies). Persons learning towards this qualification become experts in their areas. The sector needs qualified nurse manager specialists, both to improve practice and to manage healthcare services in an environment of scarce resources, to address the needs of the community.

The overall purpose of the qualification is to produce:
An expert and competent professional nurse, implementing evidence-based and business practises as a strategic leader in planning, organising, managing human and financial resources, quality management, and projects within a multidisciplinary team in units of a range of settings, while complying with ethical, legal and professional frameworks to serve the health needs of the community.

Furthermore, the qualification aims to:

produce high-quality nurse managers (specialists) who are able to be competent specialist nursing practitioners in a range of health service settings;

provide nurse managers (specialists) with a range of skills, knowledge, values and attitudes that will enable them to set trends and fulfil leadership roles in a meaningful and sustained contribution to health services;

equip nurse managers with a developed sense of equity, justice and service ethics that will ensure that they work in an accountable manner irrespective of their chosen workplace;

offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines and general life, including:

The qualifying learners will have the:

capacity to assess and implement health and other policies.

ability to affect areas of policy change, development and implementation.

ability to plan and implement and manage projects of a varied nature.

ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Rationale:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management is a new qualification by the South African Nursing Council SANC) to be offered at all tertiary nursing departments in South Africa from 2020. Circular 7 of 2016 of SANC indicates the phasing out of legacy nursing qualification of all nursing education institutions, which are also all current post-basic courses. The end date of enrolment for the legacy qualification is the end of 2019.

At present the institution does not offer this specialisation in the Nursing Sciences field, and currently, the legacy Diploma in Nursing Management is only offered at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape through the mode of distance education (Regulation 1501 of 1983). The qualification will meet the needs of the community. According to the National list of Occupations in High Demand (2018) (Government Gazette 637, 22 June 2018), nurse managers (reference 222116) in South Africa are high in command. This qualification will address the scarce skill in health services, also for the benefit of training basic nursing learners.

Health services management and leadership in South Africa is committed to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 3 (National Department of Health (DoH), 2010); and sustainable development goals (2030) addressing the complex burden of disease; and ensuring responsiveness to population health needs. Nurse managers have a leading role in addressing these issues, and enabling legal, policy and fiscal environment to facilitate their achievement.

Nurse managers have a long-term aim of aligning services towards the vision of a long and healthy life for all South Africans (National Department of Health). The Department of Health in South Africa has indicated its commitment towards health and nursing by focusing on important initiatives. In the National Service Delivery Agreement (2010), the South African Government has agreed on key strategic outcomes. The NSDA is a charter that reflects the commitment of key stakeholders such as nurse managers to reaching certain outcomes in the public sector. This qualification will be recognised by the South African Nursing Council (SANC), for which learners will register at SANC when they complete, for the qualification of Nursing Management/Health services management.
This qualification will be useful for:

professional nurses who wish to progress within the field of nursing and health services management;

persons at a commensurate level in Health and Allied Health Sciences who wish to change direction and move into nursing management,

those wishing to progress towards a qualification such as a Master's Degree in nursing and beyond.

SANC has stipulated that it has become apparent that no single model from elsewhere in the world can adequately address the conditions and management of health services in South Africa due to the legacy of the apartheid era and political environment of the past. The population of South Africa has increased by 16% from approximately 48.687 million in 2008 (mid-year estimate) to 56.522 million in 2017 (mid-year estimate). There is a great need to have a more community-based qualification in the Western Cape Region so that engagement is facilitated. Therefore, any route such as the proposed qualification, that can be developed that recognises continuing professional development through experiences in the workplace will contribute to South African nurses' professional development.

More than 30 000 professional nurses have graduated in the past 10 years, resulting in a disparity in educational level between the experienced senior nurses in management roles, and the junior nurses whom they manage. As a result the demand for nurse managers far exceeds the number of learner nurses that should be trained per year. This is specifically more apparent with the move to a primary healthcare approach in the healthcare system of South Africa, expecting all nurses to be cognisant of the approach. A shift in leadership and management competencies are needed in a more flexible service delivery approach combatting higher levels of patient morbidity and mortality with regards to communicable and non-communicable diseases.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal, non-formal and/ or formal learning. The RPL process is multi-dimensional and multi-contextual in nature, aimed at the individual needs of applicants and is handled in accordance with an institutional RPL policy by a unit dedicated to this activity.

RPL in this qualification will relate to gaining access to the qualification and/or credits/advanced standing as described in institutional guidelines. Learners may provide evidence of prior learning to comply to the requirements of the qualification. Through RPL they may receive credit towards the qualification by means of portfolios.

Learners who have worked as nurse managers in health services will be able to apply for credits. The applicants will be required to submit a portfolio and highlight how outcomes of the subjects for which credits are applied for have been met.

Learners who do not meet entry requirements but have 5 years' experience as managers in health care institutions, will complete a portfolio of evidence. The portfolio will provide evidence that the applicants have achieved the relevant outcomes through their work experience. The portfolio of evidence will then be assessed by the relevant academic staff member who will then make a recommendation to the RPL Committee in the Faculty.

If a learner wants to register as a nursing administrator the South African Nursing Council (SANC) based on previous experience, as a nurse manager. The learner will submit an application to SANC, who will evaluate the portfolio and quality of the process and register the student accordingly.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Nursing Science, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits:

Fundamentals in research, 8 Credits.

Professional practice, 8 Credits.

Research methodology, 8 Credits.

Professional development, 16 Credits.

Management and leadership, 16 Credits.

Advanced management skills, 16 Credits.

Strategic thinking and planning, 16 Credits.

Research project in health service management, 16 Credits.

Budgetary governance and cost containment, 16 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of research articles in health services management.
2. Demonstrate accountability in managing and evaluating specialized nursing services in a variety of settings for individuals, families and communities at district, provincial and national level within the context of national health policy and international guidelines.
3. Analyse the appropriateness of a range of research methods and approaches for investigating health services management research problems to present findings comprehensive findings and ideas to members of the healthcare team and public.
4. Demonstrate a coherent and critical understanding of the principles and theories of management and leadership to identify and critique own learning strategies which effectively address his or her professional and ongoing learning needs and the professional and ongoing learning needs of others.
5. Demonstrate a comprehensive, critical and systematic knowledge and understanding of the components of the management process in the management of a health service, with a coherent and critical understanding of applying the principles and theories of management and leadership in managing health services.
6. Function effectively as a nurse manager/health service manager with other members of the health team within the healthcare system while critically reviewing and evaluating complex issues, using evidence-based solutions, strategic planning and theory driven arguments.
7. Formulate and implement an effective strategic plan for a defined healthcare service by taking cognisance of internal strengths and weaknesses and external threats and opportunities, as well as the roles and responsibilities of different components and elements to ensure a quality healthcare delivery system.
8. Demonstrate coherent and in-depth understanding of principles of budgetary governance in a health service.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Appraise research articles in the speciality field of nursing through the application of basic knowledge of research methodology.

Differentiate the qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research design.

Apply standards of the research process in appraising research articles.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Applicable legislative and regulatory requirements pertaining to healthcare management are identified and debated.

Professional misconduct is managed according to institutional and legal protocol.

Decision-making and moral reasoning models are used to resolve ethical dilemmas within health system management.

Advocacy principles are used to advocate for safe and quality care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Evaluate standard guidelines used in the field of nursing services management by applying knowledge of the systematic review and guideline development process.

Demonstrate academic writing skills in academic writing in nursing services management.

Use the appropriate format such as PICO in formulating research questions.

Apply search strategies such as Boolean in conducting a search in different databases in nursing services management.

Evaluate speciality based guidelines using standardized evaluation tools.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Demonstrate mindfulness of the principles and theories of management and leadership.

Debate the key concepts of self-responsibility, self-ownership, self-leadership and self-development.

Assess the degree of self-ownership in developing professionally to stay a competent practitioner.

Develop a framework to demonstrate the process of self-development in the professional career.

Draw and apply self-mentoring strategies to develop oneself.

Create a plan to establish academic/professional relationships to sustain lifelong learning amongst nurses.

Use performance appraisal principles to monitor own development within the context of the programme

Distinguish between the concepts 'mentor' and 'mentee'.

Develop a policy for the unit/formulation in a health and/ or midwifery service, regarding a mentoring contract.

Debate the purpose of mentorship in the nursing units.

Applying a model for implementing mentorship in a unit for novices.

Create a positive learning climate by establishing positive relationships.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the components of the management processes of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and control.

Debate the principles and theories of management.

Outline the differences between general management and corporate governance.

Implement supervisory models to control the quality of management and nursing care.

The management of a healthcare system reflects the application of the management process.

Evidence-based practice indicates that work-related behaviour is grounded in the management processes.

Debate the principles and theories of leadership.

Debate the difference between management and leadership.

Compare and practice different and collaborative leadership styles.

Demonstrate team functioning and team leadership with available best evidence on collaborative group work.

Develop a plan to empower nursing staff as leaders.

Differentiate between motivational strategies for staff satisfaction.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Resolve conflict situations between colleagues, peers and patients in a multi-disciplinary team environment.

Critically evaluate the principles, theories and models of communication in a multi-disciplinary team.

Apply action learning and planning strategies to monitor innovations.

Demonstrate the change process by comparing various change models.

Debate the differences between risks, advert events, incidences.

Draw a strategic plan for managing risks and advert events in a healthcare service

Develop a quality assurance programme on a risk identified in a unit, eg. poor record keeping.

Distinguish between the different steps and processes in quality assurance.

Analyse, resolve a labour matter according to labour relations principles in a legal environment

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Differentiate between strategic thinking and strategic planning.

Explore and debate how strategic thinking for a healthcare facility is informed by global trends in health, politics, available resources, population growth, etc.

Demonstrate how a comprehensive stakeholder analysis is done and visually presented.

Perform a situational analysis by means of a standardized strategy e.g. SWOT analysis, TOWS matrix etc.

Develop a strategic plan for a nurse manager in a healthcare facility according to the strategic planning steps.

Evaluate and debate the implementation and execution of the strategic plan in a healthcare facility

Demonstrate coherent and in-depth understanding of principles of business management pertaining to the private or public health sector.

Apply quality control criteria to improve the patient and staff satisfaction of a defined service.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Debate the different types of budget and allocation.

Compare and debate of proportion of national budget allocated to healthcare with other countries.

Outline the steps of the budget process to be followed in being successful in allocation.

Debate budget distribution down to your healthcare facility.

Motivate for the successful implementation of budgets in a cost-effective environment.

Differentiate and debate the stages of the budget execution cycle.

Apply budget compliance control measures to evaluate institutional practice in a unit.

Demonstrate the monitoring and evaluation of budgetary governance measures.

Explore and debate issues related to the management and monitoring of budget execution.

Outline the process and principles of cost containment and control in healthcare service.

Establishing accuracy through auditing and procurement processes as control measures.

Debate the principles of sound financial practices within an ethical legal framework.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The international comparison revealed that nurse managers who obtained this qualification are highly employable globally. Countries regarded as leaders, such as New Zealand and Canada, do not provide the comprehensive training that South Africa has done for Professional Nurses followed by this qualification.
Country: Namibia
Institution: International University of Namibia
A recent visit to the Department of Nursing at the International University of Namibia shed light on their offering of their post basic qualification. Their qualification is not focused on primary healthcare and places learners only in private settings with a minimal exposure to different public facilities.
The content of the new qualification is also more relevant to the current scenario of health services in solving critical issues and challenges of health service management and quality assurance in healthcare.

Country: Dublin
Institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Qualification Title: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Management
This is a bridging programme for nurses/midwives who would like to further their learning with an honours level qualification. This is a part-time, one-year qualification that is aimed at nurses following a management career pathway and employed in managerial positions. The specific modules in this qualification allow learners to explore key managerial issues in relation to health financial management; human resource management; patient safety, quality improvement and risk management; and leadership and management. These outcomes are in line with those of the new qualification. Similar to this, qualification, to be eligible for the RCSI BSc in Nursing Management qualification, applicants must be licensed with the relevant regulatory body and educated to certificate or diploma level, demonstrated through a defined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process.

Country: Australia
Institution: The University of Southern Queensland
Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma of Nursing Specialisation Leadership & Management in Health (GDNG)
The entry requirements are a 3-year bachelor degree in the area of nursing or equivalent and the learner must hold a professional registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or relevant regulatory body in the applicant's home country, which is similar to the new qualification. After completing the Graduate Diploma of Nursing, learners are eligible to take credit from these courses and continue to complete the Master of Nursing as is possible at CPUT. Learners may also apply for recognition of prior learning for previous studies or have relevant work experience.

This qualification consists of two core modules and six specialist modules while the new qualification has three core modules and six specialist modules. The Australian qualification includes outcomes related to leadership and management in nursing including human resource management and is offered part-time, as with the new qualification.

In the United States of America, similar postgraduate diplomas are offered as Master of Science in Nursing Administration qualifications. For example, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion, offers the Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration for professional nurses. Similar to this new qualification, professional nurses as learners must be licensed with the regulatory body to attend the Indiana qualification. This is a post basic-qualification similar to the level of the South African qualification. The curriculum is delivered online with practicum experiences. The curriculum ascribes to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's and The Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing and the competencies prescribed by the respective professional specialty organizations. Learners in the Nursing Administration qualification must complete a minimum of 245 hours of onsite supervised practicum.
Although the new qualification has more Work integrated learning of 500 hours, both qualifications have a similar focus with regard to the work integrated learning.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing, NQF level 8

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing, NQF Level 8

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Nursing in Nursing in Research, 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.

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