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 Child Nursing

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
120986	Postgraduate Diploma in Child Nursing
ORIGINATOR
Gauteng College of Nursing
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		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
Registered		EXCO 0917/23	2023-07-04	2026-07-04
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-07-04		2030-07-04

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 Child Nursing is to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge and practice in child nursing. The qualification will enable the child nurse specialist to engage in their respective specialized areas of practice with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitude, and values to enhance professional independence and health outcomes. This will include prevention of disease, injury, and complications. It also entails screening, appropriate management and prompt referral of patients with specific and complex problems.

The qualification aims to produce learners who are competent, critical and analytical child nurse specialists who possess knowledge, skills and attitude, clinical judgement and reasoning, with a high degree of autonomy, collaboration, advocacy, communication, as well as research and leadership skills that will enable them to render specialised child nursing within the multidisciplinary team in child health care settings, in response to the national burden of disease, within the legal and ethical framework. The curriculum uses an outcomes-based approach whereby learners are placed for Work Integrated Learning in a variety of specialized child health care settings to apply the required competencies. A collaborative teaching and learning approach will promote evidence-based practice.
On successful completion of the learning outcomes, the learner will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Nursing and will be registered as a Child Nurse Specialist with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) to practice as defined by the Nursing Act No 33 of 2005.

Upon completion of this qualification a qualifying learner will be able to:

Deliver specialized childcare, including promotive, curative, and emergency, preventive rehabilitative care, depending on the scope of the speciality, using a wide range of skills such as accountability, service ethics and effective decision-making.

Render specialised patient-centred child nursing practice to children with high-risk and life-threatening medical and surgical conditions within the ethical and legal frameworks.

Demonstrate ability to collaborate within the inter- and intra-professional team by engaging in health dialogue, shared leadership, decision making and sound clinical judgement.

Develop and implement institutional policies, protocols, and guidelines in the area of child specialisation, utilising the process of change management in the improvement of quality care.

Coordinate the provision of promotive health for children with high-risk and life-threatening medical and surgical conditions within the ethical and legal framework.

Rationale:
There is a need for a Child Nurse Specialist with competencies to respond to the diverse population health needs of the country. The teaching and learning process incorporates government programs in addressing the burden of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, Child Morbidity and Mortality, Injuries and Violence and Non-communicable diseases through primary care as well as a community-based approach.

Both public and private healthcare facilities need specialised and trained critical care nurses with a strong basis for referral from staff and professional nurses. Their role in consultancy is important and, in this way, they contribute to expanding the theory base.
The South African context needs the right skills at the point of service, the specialist contributes to policy changes by determining the needs and initiating policy and procedures.

This qualification is designed for registered nurses with an interest in specialised care nursing and those recommended by the healthcare facilities who register for the qualification and mostly work in specialized child nursing practice and other healthcare settings on successful completion of their learning.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Child Nursing is recognised and regulated by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The registered nurses would work at regional, provincial, and national healthcare levels.

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 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 for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

RPL for exemption of modules:

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
> Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 7.
Or

Advanced Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, NQF Level 7.
And

Registered Professional Nurse with SANC.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 144 Credits.

Child Disease Management 1, 16 Credits.

Child Disease Management 2, 14 Credits.

Child Health System, 16 Credits.

Child Clinical Practice, 70 Credits.

Health Sciences Dynamics, 16 Credits.

Health Sciences Research, 12 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply specialized patient-centred and child nursing practice to children with high-risk and life-threatening medical and surgical conditions within the ethical and legal frameworks.
2. Demonstrate an ability to mobilize appropriate resources, implement standards of practice relevant to the area of child specialization, as well as to ensure quality patient care and safety.
3. Demonstrate an ability to collaborate within the inter- and intra-professional team by engaging in health dialogue, shared leadership, decision making and sound clinical judgement.
4. Apply knowledge and participate in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing policies, qualifications, and projects at the provincial or national level.
5. Develop and implement institutional policies, protocols, and guidelines in child specialisation, utilising the process of change management in the improvement of quality of care.
6. Coordinate the provision of promotive health for children with high-risk and life-threatening medical and surgical conditions within the ethical and legal framework.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Illustrate an understanding of the position of a child specialist service within the health care system.

Apply child specialist care to integrate promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care in a healthcare continuum.

Continually monitor that the knowledge, skill, and attitudes involved in rendering child specialist care are in accordance with national and international standards and protocols of the specialist field.

Use critical decision-making to ensure that formulated child nursing or diagnoses are congruent with the patient's/client's clinical manifestations/data and are based on accurate analysis and interpretation of data obtained from scientific, laboratory, diagnostic, technological and psycho-sociocultural assessment including consultation of relevant, current literature and evidence.

Produce and communicate information to ensure that planned child nursing or interventions are individualized considering the patient's/client's needs, values, beliefs, preferences, culture, and contextual variables, for example, disease burden, health risks, national priorities, etc.

Apply critical methods to ensure that planned child nursing or interventions are based on formulated nursing diagnoses and the application of specialized knowledge and skills (competencies) including advanced pharmacology in collaboration with the inter and intra-professional team.

Monitor that planned child nursing or interventions are implemented timeously, accurately, safely, and effectively in accordance with set evidenced-based standards, guidelines, protocols, and algorithms specific to the child specialist field.

Continuously monitor that child health care interventions are planned in collaboration with the patient or client, family, and relevant members of the health care team.

Illustrate the child nursing interventions including preparation of patients/clients, families, and nurses in the lower-level care for continued care in the hospital and community in accordance with the health status and health literacy of the patient/client.

Apply critical care and ensure that child nursing or interventions are documented and revised timeously and effectively based on critical analysis of the monitoring and evaluation data and reaching a sound clinical judgement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Identify infrastructure and equipment needed in the specific area of child specialisation.

Operate and monitor the equipment used in the child specialist area.

Analyse and employ sound asset management principles to ensure appropriate, adequate, well-maintained, and up-to-date equipment.

Assign staff to nurse care considering the child specialist qualification and its competencies, experience, standard nurse-patient ratios for the area of specialisation, job description and skill mix.

Identify, share, and collaboratively solve practice problems in the child specialist area, using informed decisions and sound clinical judgement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Consult and provide appropriate, timeous, and holistic care in a healthcare continuum through awareness of one's competence.

Carry out appropriate and timeous patient referrals as dictated by the patient's condition and in accordance with the referral guidelines.

Advocate and promote the team's participation in the inter- and intra-professional teams.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Critically participate in the development of policies, qualifications, and projects and demonstrate an understanding of the process.

Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of own role and responsibilities within the inter and intra-professional policy/project development.

Apply advocacy principles in policy development for the nursing profession and patients/clients, families, and communities in the child specialist area.

Lobby and participate in interest groups to influence legislation and policy affecting the role performance.

Use appropriate communication channels to provide timely and adequate feedback to relevant stakeholders.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Apply sound knowledge of the process and/or steps of development of policies, standards, guidelines, and protocols.

Identify and engage the relevant and pre-determined stakeholders in policy development.

Employ sound and appropriate methods in the process of developing and evaluating or testing guidelines and protocols.

Develop and manage the implementation procedure that leads to understanding and application of the change processes that usher new policies, protocols, and guidelines to the child specialist area.

Collaboratively revise at appropriate intervals developed policies, protocols and guidelines that are approved as per the institutional policy for the child specialist area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Manage and co-ordinate health outcomes through specialized, high quality, culturally sensitive child health services across the continuum of child health care settings.

Develop, co-ordinate and implement comprehensive specialized childcare plans.

Use clinical reasoning to demonstrate consideration of the social determinants and risk factors affecting childcare to facilitate integrated implementation of relevant specialized childcare qualifications including management of emergencies.

Critically evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the relevant specialized childcare.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification is comparable to the following international qualifications.

Country: New Zealand
Institution: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Qualification Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health
Credits: 120
Duration: One-year full time

Entry requirements:

Bachelor of Health Science.
Or

Graduate Diploma in Health Science.
Or

Relevant professional practice or experience in a related health field equivalent to a bachelor's degree.

Qualification structure:
Compulsory Module:

Children in Context
Elective Module:

Special Topic

Innovation in Primary Health Care.

Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning.

Management of Children with Acute Illness compares with Child Disease Management.

Chronic Illness and Disability in Childhood.

Research Design and Methods compares with Health Sciences Research.

Progression:

The qualification prepares learners for further study at master's level.

Similarities:

The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and South African (SA) qualifications are offered over a period of one year full-time.

Both AUT and SA qualifications have 120 Credits.

Both AUT and SA qualifications require learners who completed a bachelor's degree and relevant professional practice or experience in a related health field equivalent to a bachelor's degree.

Both AUT and SA qualifications progress to a master's degree.

Both AUT and SA qualifications share similar modules such as Management of Children with Acute Illness and Research Design and Methods.

Country: United Kingdom
Institution: University of Southampton
Qualification Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing
Credits: 240
Duration: Two years
Entry Requirements:
Admission requires the applicant to:

Have a 2.2 degree.
Or

990 hours of relevant theoretical learning from the first degree or employment.
Or

110 hours of practice worked in a healthcare environment under the supervision of a registered healthcare.

Purpose:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health is for registered nurses, who are currently working as general practice nurses (GPN) and wish to develop their skills and progress their careers. The qualification will enable the graduate to develop knowledge and skills in critical analysis with a strong emphasis on supporting the application of theory, evidence, and research to the practice setting. The qualification prepares graduates to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (children and young people).
The qualification aims to develop the skills to provide compassionate nursing care to neonates, children, adolescents, and their families. The graduate will work across healthcare settings and learn to make complex decisions, evaluate practice and advocate for patient needs.

Exit Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrate appropriate professional conduct and values throughout the placement.

Start to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you will require to demonstrate competence in the Episode of Care at the end of part 2 of the Practice Assessment Document.

Participate in the administration of medicines under direct supervision as you continue to develop your knowledge of pharmacology, how medicines act and interact in the systems of the body, and their therapeutic action related to patients you have cared for.

Demonstrate that you are working towards the achievement of the communication /relationship management skills and nursing procedures contained within the skills passport.

Actively participate in care with minimal guidance as you work towards the achievement of the proficiencies associated with part 2 of the Practice Assessment Document.

Qualification structure:

Compulsory Modules

An Introduction to Professional Practice.

Fundamental Aspects of Care for GEN.

Global and Public Health.

Part 1 Practice Placement 1 for PG Dip compares with Child Clinical Practice.

Part 1 Practice Placement 2 for GEN.

Part 2 Practice Placement 1 for GEN.

Similarities:

The University of Southampton (US) and South African qualification (SA) require learners who have completed a bachelor's degree and relevant work practice in a healthcare environment under the supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner.

Both US and SA qualifications share a similar purpose/rationale which aims to develop the skills to provide compassionate nursing care to neonates, children, adolescents, and their families.

Both US and SA qualifications share similar learning outcomes.

Both US and SA qualifications share similar modules such as Child Clinical Practice.

Differences:

The US qualification has 240 credits whereas the SA qualification has 120 credits.

The US qualification is offered over a period of 2 years, whereas the SA qualification is offered over a period of 1 year full-time.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

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

Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Developmental Paediatrics, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Nursing Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9.

Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing in Child Nursing, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing in Community Health, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing in Critical Care and Trauma, 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.

NONE