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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 Nursing Management |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 119082 | Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Management | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| University of the Western Cape | ||||
| 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 0333/25 | 2025-07-10 | 2028-07-10 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2029-07-10 | 2032-07-10 | |||
| 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 is replaced by: |
| Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
| 124185 | Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management | Not Applicable | NQF Level 08 | 120 | Will occur as soon as [NEW] is registered |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| Purpose:
The qualification aims to produce Nurse managers who have a deep sense of recognition and value for the ethics and ethos of the Nursing profession, who display highly developed critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills and who can conduct research and use evidence-based practice to evaluate Nursing management and health system practices in the interest of improving the quality of health systems. A focus on the academic aspects of Nursing and health service management will equip the Nurse manager to apply new knowledge and new approaches to management and leadership and enable them to monitor and evaluate the quality of health systems. The qualification will provide a basis for understanding moral theory and leadership theories in nursing and health service management in the health context. The skills of these Nurse managers will be in line with the outcomes of the postgraduate diploma qualification in Nursing management and the Nurse manager competencies as endorsed by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). At the end of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to: Rationale: The South African Nursing Council (SANC) has realigned the Nursing qualifications to the changes in the new NQF Act, 2008 (Act No. 67 of 2008). New Nursing Management standards and curriculum guidelines have been published and the scope of practice of the envisaged new Nursing cadres is being completed. Further review of the current Nursing qualifications by the SANC is based on the need for Nursing managers with a specific set of competencies and exit level outcomes. This is supported by the Nursing Act No.33 of 2005 and current Regulation 1501 as amended by R2554 to be amended prior to 2020. This qualification, therefore, provides a career path for Professional Nurse who have an interest in Nursing and health service management. Professionals learning towards this qualification become specialized Nursing managers, a much-needed human resource in a currently changing South African health service environment. The qualification intends to equip the Nursing professionals with the necessary knowledge on the management of healthcare facilities within the ethical-legal parameters of the Nursing profession using decision making and moral reasoning models and the application of research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of health system management. The focus, therefore, is to prepare these professionals to demonstrate advanced management skills and professionalism, abilities to think and plan strategically to improve organisational performance, to apply principles of budgetary governance, and to develop and evaluate the process and standard guidelines for use in health system management. The professional Nurse managers will be able to implement strategies to develop themselves, their peers, and others through mentoring and precepting and to apply principles of evidence-based practice to improve the quality of health service management. Improving the quality of health care delivery is an important global priority. Around the world, the purpose of health care quality improvement initiatives is to ensure patient safety, improve clinical effectiveness, and promote public accountability. In South Africa, the government has established an independent quality of care regulator, the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC), as part of an overall suite of health sector reforms that aim to achieve universal health coverage. The OHSC aims to protect and promote the health and safety of health service users, through the effective management of patient complaints and the enforcement of compliance with prescribed norms and standards. There is well-documented global evidence that the number, competencies, and effectiveness of Nurses are critical in determining the quality of care in hospitals and the nature of patient outcomes. Nurse unit managers play a key role in coordinating patient care activities and in ensuring safety and quality care in hospital wards. The unit managers are professional Nurses registered with the SANC, with at least four years of nurses training, and extensive clinical experience. The nurse unit manager sometimes referred to as Charge Nurse or Operational manager is responsible for the management of nursing care to patients; all nursing staff within the unit; and the resources associated with health care delivery in the unit. The unit managers in both the private and public health sectors are held accountable for the quality of patient care in their units or wards, and they enter into performance management agreements that outline their operational management responsibilities. As a graduate of this qualification, learners may pursue future career options in hospitals and long-term care facilities, such as: |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification. RPL for access: RPL for exemption of modules: RPL for credit: Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: Or Or Or |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| 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: |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Demonstrate the ability to apply the basic principles and process of research, evidence-based practice, professional development, management, and leadership within the area of Nursing management.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles and theories of management and leadership for Nursing management. 3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to specific contexts. 4. Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of the components of leadership and the management process in the management of a health service. 5. Organize the management of a defined health care unit by managing complex issues, using evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments, and demonstrating the application of the components of the management process in the management of a health service. 6. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role of information systems and technology in the performance and delivery of health services. 7. Control the quality of management and performance of health care in the defined service through scientific-based solutions and evaluation. 8. Conduct fair and cost-effective human resource management by engaging with current research and scholarly literature pertaining to sound human resource management. 9. Implement financial principles by engaging with current research and scholarly literature pertaining to sound financial management. 10. demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within a system, or manage a system based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements within the system. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6 Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10: INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT The qualification aligns with the assessment policy of the institution in this way: Each module guide designed by lecturers will inform learners about the type and weight of the assessment and the dates on which assessments are due. Learners will be assessed continuously, and the assessment will include: The assessments could be paper-based, online, or oral and the number of assessments per module will depend on the module credits. Learners will be required to complete certain tasks in class as individuals or in groups. Oral presentations will be done in class, individually and with groups. This will allow learners to work co-operatively, share experiences and learn from each other, and gain confidence as they participate in class. All these forms of formative assessments aim at strengthening learners' communication skills, their sense of independence and their ability to work as a team. They prepare them for the world of work as nursing educators where they must work as members of an academic team. An assessment plan will be given to learners at the start of the semester as per the module descriptor. These activities will aim at assessing the learners' level of competence in both theory and practice and the extent to which they can apply, analyse, critique, and evaluate knowledge and practice as prospective nursing educators. Formative and summative assessment: The continuous and final assessments are used where the formative assessments make up the continuous assessments and the summative assessment in the form of a final assessment. In this qualification, learner assessments will be mostly continuous and contain a final assessment. Each assessment will carry a specific weight/percentage towards the final mark for the module. Lecturers will give regular feedback on continuous assessment tasks which include: These assessments will be reviewed by individual lecturers and clinical supervisors. Feedback will be provided to learners either individually or as a group to enable learners to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement where necessary. The lecturers will also be able to identify struggling or at-risk learners who require additional support. The final assessment will occur at the end of each module, at the end of a semester. It usually occurs in May/June and in October/November of each year. This assessment usually contributes the highest weighting/ percentage towards the final mark. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| Postgraduate qualifications in Nursing Management are offered internationally in various forms and under various names. In the United Kingdom, a one-year Master of Business Administration is available online for International Healthcare Management. In Australia, the University of Flinders offers a graduate diploma for one year as well as a Master's degree for one and a half years in Health Administration on campus. In the United States of America (USA) online courses are available through Sigma leading certification as a Nursing Manager after completion of all the online modules.
Country: United Kingdom (UK) Institution: University of Dundee Qualification Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Healthcare NQF Level: Scottish Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 11 Delivery mode: Distance Learning Duration: 24 months Purpose/Rationale: The purpose of the qualification is to develop the core leadership skills required to take on a range of leadership roles and to lead changes in practice. This qualification will support learners, both personally and professionally, to develop knowledge and understanding of leadership within the context of healthcare. The qualification takes account of leadership theory and evidence from other fields and disciplines, and in applying this knowledge, learners will be encouraged to reflect on and develop their leadership skills and values. Change is an integral component of leadership, so developing an understanding of the drivers for change and how to lead and implement change are also core components of the qualification. Designed to offer flexible learning, this qualification is relevant to learners across local, national, and international healthcare settings. It is delivered by a team who have all held leadership roles in practice settings and educational contexts. Learners will be taught via online distance learning; however, some masterclasses and assessment support sessions will be delivered locally and will be available for learners to attend. For those who cannot attend, the masterclasses will be recorded, and support sessions will be delivered by web conference. Qualification structure: The qualification comprises four modules. Similarities: Differences: Country: Australia Institution: University of Flinders Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma of Nursing Specialisation Leadership and Management in Health (GDNG) Duration: One year part-time and two years part-time Entry requirements: Recognition of prior learning or work experience: Learners may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if they have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that they need to study to finish the qualification. Purpose/Rationale: The purpose of the qualification is to equip learners with the following skills and knowledge: After completing the Graduate Diploma of Nursing, the learner can take credit from these courses and continue to complete the Master of Nursing. Graduates have the skills to transition into leadership and managerial roles within health care organisations. Qualification structure: To complete this degree learners must complete eight units. Most modules are valued at one unit. To study full-time learners would usually complete four units per semester. Similarities: Differences: The Australian qualification consists of eight compulsory modules while the South African qualification consists of six modules. Country: India Institution: Global Institute of Healthcare Management (GIHM) Qualification Title: Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing Administration, PGDNA and Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Healthcare Management, PGDHHM Duration: 11 Months Entry requirements: Purpose/Rationale: This Post- Graduate Diploma qualification is designed to meet the needs of Nurses currently employed or aspiring to be employed in leadership and management roles within healthcare settings. It is specially designed to prepare advanced practice Nursing to provide professional leadership in their chosen fields. The qualification provides a broad range of Opportunities, a learning environment and an education that is responsive to a breadth of ideas and the complexities of caring for highly diverse populations within a variety of political, socioeconomic and health care systems. This qualification builds foundational leadership and management skills to prepare learners for roles as Nursing administrators and Nursing managers and helps to evaluate the factors that influence health and identify and plan health promotion interventions appropriate to patient/client needs in their areas of care. Hospital and Healthcare Management is a recession-free and challenging profession. Hospital Administration is one of the most competitive and challenging careers learners can embark on and one of the most rewarding. The hospital administration is concerned with planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, controlling, and evaluating health services for the community to provide maximum patient care of superior quality at low cost. The hospital administrator is responsible for the overall management of the hospital and healthcare services. Hospital administrators are in great demand and are the most sought-after professionals in the healthcare sector today. Hospitals are becoming highly scientific and complex medical centres and are becoming a hub of the whole system of healthcare. The medical sector is becoming increasingly competitive and capital intensive the need for managing hospitals has become even more acute. The hospital administrator plays a vital role in saving lives, without having to take a scalpel in hand. The growth of the healthcare service sector has increased the need for management professionals to manage hospital affairs. Hospital management has become the need of the hour today. Healthcare is the world's largest and fastest-growing industry. According to World Health Organisation (WHO): The value of the Indian healthcare industry is estimated at 2.7 trillion. The industry is growing at a fast rate of 13% per annum. The private sector accounts for nearly 88% of the total healthcare market in India while the public sector accounts for the rest. Honesty is the highest form of Respect. This qualification will prepare the learners for administrative and managerial roles in the hospital sector. Successful learners may find job opportunities across the spectrum of healthcare services such as small and large clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and medical colleges. In addition, opportunities exist in allied industries like health insurance, medical KPOs, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Qualification structure: The PGDNA consists of three compulsory modules and the PGDHHM qualification consists of the following compulsory modules. Similarities: Differences: Conclusion: This qualification compares best with these international qualifications in that the entry requirements, duration, purpose, exit level outcomes, content structure and articulation are similar. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| MODERATION OPTIONS |
| N/A |
| CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
| N/A |
| NOTES |
| N/A |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement. |
| 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. |
| 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. |