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 Adult Critical Care Nursing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
121237  Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Critical Care Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
Gauteng College of Nursing 
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  Preventive 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 010/23  2023-11-14  2026-11-14 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-11-14   2030-11-14  

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Critical Care Nursing aims to produce independent postgraduate Critical Care Nurse Specialists who can demonstrate competencies in critical, analytical thinking, autonomy, and advocacy, who can also apply clinical judgment and reasoning skills to enable rendering of comprehensive critical care which includes both preventative, curative, and reactive care within the interprofessional team in various critical care settings.

The competencies acquired by this specialist nurse include being clinically focused and service-orientated, delivering specialized care, including preventative, promotive, curative, emergency, and rehabilitative care, depending on the scope of the speciality, using a wide range of skills such as accountability, service ethics and effective decision-making.

The specialist nurse's important role is to form a strong basis for referral from health care professionals. Their role in consultancy is crucial and, in this way, they contribute to expanding the theoretical base. The expected skills for these specialist nurses are of higher order, they will do higher-level functions for individuals, families, and communities. They are required to work with and care for critically ill, highly unstable patients and provide leadership in the health care team.

An outcomes-based approach is used whereby learners are placed for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in a variety of specialized healthcare settings to learn and apply the required competencies. A collaborative teaching and learning approach is embodied that promotes the use of evidence-based practice.

On completion of the qualification, the learner will be registered as a Critical Care Nurse (Adult) Specialist with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) to practice as defined by the Nursing Act No 33 of 2005.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Practice and facilitate specialised critical care nursing within ethical and legal parameters of the profession.
  • Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice in the specialised critical care field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
  • Mobilize appropriate resources to implement standards of practice relevant to critical care specialisation, to ensure quality patient care and safety.
  • Develop and implement policies, protocols, and guidelines in the critical care practice, utilising the process of change management in the improvement of quality of care.
  • Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing specialised critical care units.

    Rationale:
    Positioning nursing education within the higher education band is a legislative mandate responding to both transformation in the education system of the country and the health care system agenda.

    In compliance with the provisions of the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997 as amended in 2008), the change in the educational landscape of the country mandates the alignment of the nursing qualifications to the National Qualification Framework (NQF), whereas the Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005 provides for training, leading to registration as a Specialist Nurse in Critical Care Nursing (Adult).

    In the South African context, there is a need for the right skills at the point of service. The specialist nurses contribute to policy changes; they work at regional, provincial, and even national levels, and are drawn into planning. The specialist nurse helps to maintain and improve the expertise in practice.

    This qualification is aimed at producing an Adult Critical Care Specialist Nurse with competencies to respond to the complexities within diverse healthcare settings. The learning and teaching process incorporates government qualifications in addressing the burden of life-threatening diseases, injuries, emergencies, and complications through the primary health care approach displaying an understanding of theories, methodologies, and techniques to provide effective and accessible health care services.

    The qualified learners will do higher-level functions for individuals, families, and communities. They are required to work with and care for critically ill, highly unstable patients and provide leadership in the health care team.

    SANC Regulation No. 635 of 2020 prescribes the requirements for registration in the category of Critical Care Nurse Specialist (Adult).

    Both public and private healthcare facilities need specialised and trained critical care nurses. 
    		•

    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:

    Advanced Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
    Advanced Diploma in Trauma and Emergency Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
    Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Studies, NQF Level 7.
    And
    Proof of current SANC registration as a Professional Nurse and Midwife. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 144 Credits.

    Compulsory modules, Level 8, 144 Credits.
  • Health Service Dynamics, 16 Credits.
  • Health Science Research, 12 Credits.
  • Critical Care Nursing Adult Specialty 1, 30 Credits.
  • Critical Care Nursing Adult Specialty 2, 16 Credits.
  • Critical Care Nursing WIL, 70 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes
    1. Practice and facilitate specialised critical care nursing within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession.
    2. Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice in the specialised critical care field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
    3. Appraise and develop self, peers, and critical care specialist learners by facilitating self-directedness/leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.
    4. Facilitate advocacy for the profession and provision of specialised critical care professional support for personnel, patients, families, and communities.
    5. Engage in planning, commissioning and managing specialised critical care units.
    6. Engage in scholarly activities to inform evidenced-based practice in specialised critical care units.
    7. Utilize, manage, and communicate data to support decision-making and research.
    8. Mobilize appropriate resources to implement standards of practice relevant to critical care specialisation, to ensure quality patient care and safety.
    9. Collaborate within the inter-professional team by engaging in health dialogue, shared leadership, decision-making and sound clinical judgment.
    10. Develop and implement policies, protocols, and guidelines in critical care practice, utilising the process of change management in the improvement of quality of care. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1.
  • Illustrate conformity to the relevant code of ethics in the practice of specialised critical care through personal attributes and behaviour.
  • Appy critical decision-making and moral reasoning models and principles to make clinical judgements and resolve ethical dilemmas within the specialised critical care practice.
  • Take accountability of own professional judgement, actions, and outcomes of specialised critical care and provide continued competence.
  • Identify and apply relevant current legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to specialized critical care practice.
  • Accurately document comprehensive specialised critical care activities and timeously consider the legal requirements for record keeping.
  • Apply knowledge of the critical care nurse specialist role in the management of professional misconduct and risks taking into consideration the institutional protocols and protocols and ethical-legal framework.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2.
  • Engage in specialized critical care practice and show an understanding of the process of evidence-based practice.
  • Apply evidence-based and specialized critical care practice, taking into consideration the appropriate methodology of gathering evidence for the practice, for example, systematic or scoping reviews, appraisal of articles, practice-based research and publication.
  • Apply knowledge of and use evidence-based specialized critical care practice, and critical analysis of the various levels of evidence.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3.
  • Illustrate leadership skills through the application of appropriate leadership styles, principles, and theories.
  • Facilitate Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for self and others effectively for lifelong learning by creating a positive learning climate in the workplace through the processes of mentorship, preceptorship, supervision, performance appraisal, etc.
  • Engage in performance appraisal and demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and processes of the performance management and development system.
  • Utilise feedback gained from self-reflection, peers, learners, management, and other relevant stakeholders to improve effectiveness in the critical care nurse specialist's role.
  • Illustrate understanding of the various risk factors that impact health and wellness within the workplace and apply strategies to care for self, peers, employees and learners.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4.
  • Illustrate understanding of the purpose of the advocacy role for a critical care nurse specialist.
  • Apply advocacy principles to ensure safe and quality care in various critical care settings.
  • Apply appropriate use of communication skills and channels in facilitating advocacy.
  • Illustrate ability to lobby and/or participate in interest groups to influence legislation and policy affecting the role performance.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5.
  • Apply knowledge to show understanding of levels and/or classification of the respective specialized critical care units.
  • Command tasks taking into consideration the burden of diseases and priority services as determined by current events.
  • Participate in the evaluation of the existing specialized critical care unit and demonstrate knowledge of guidelines for provisioning a specialized critical care unit.
  • Engage in planning and commissioning to show understanding of the role and responsibilities in the task within inter and intra-professional teams.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6.
  • Apply specialized critical care setting; show knowledge of appropriate search engines and databases for review of literature to inform evidence-based practice in specialized critical care.
  • Apply appropriate methods to generate evidence for utilization in specialized critical care practice such as research, systematic reviews, etc.
  • Illustrate awareness of peer-reviewed journals and use them for sharing of evidence.
  • Utilise activities based on scientifically proven evidence in the specialized critical care practice.
  • Actively participate in inter and intra-professional dialogues, debates or discourses in quality improvement.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7.
  • Document all data or information gathered in the context of the specialized critical care practice, for utilization and storage in accordance with the set standards.
  • Utilise data, information and emerging evidence pertinent to the respective specialized critical care practice.
  • Identify problems, diagnoses and opportunities for improvement based on gathered and critically analyzed assessment data from the patients/clients, families, communities, learners or employees including current scientific evidence.
  • Document data and apply skills that show respect for intellectual property and recorded information is without plagiarism.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 8.
  • Apply knowledge and show understanding of the infrastructure and equipment needed in the specific area of critical care specialization.
  • Render care ability to operate and monitor the equipment used in the critical care specialist area.
  • Employ sound asset management principles to ensure appropriate, adequate, well maintained and up-to-date equipment.
  • Assign staff to critical care nursing taking into consideration the critical care specialist's qualification and competencies, experience, standard nurse-patient ratios for the area of critical care specialization, job description and skill mix.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 9.
  • Identify practice problems in the specialized critical care area, share and collaboratively solve them by informed decisions and sound clinical judgement.
  • Provide appropriate and timely consultation in the provision of holistic care in a healthcare continuum through awareness of one's competence.
  • Carry out appropriately and timeously patient referrals as dictated by the patient's condition and in accordance with the referral guidelines.
  • Promote participation in the inter- and intra-professional team, and ensure its visibility and recognition by the members of the team.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 10.
  • Participate in the development of policies, programmes, and projects to show understanding of the steps followed in the process of change management in the improvement of quality of care.
  • Illustrate knowledge of own role and responsibilities within inter and intra-professional policy/project team by participating in project and policy development.
  • Apply knowledge and participate in policy and project development to show advocacy for the critical care profession and patients, families, and communities in the critical care specialist area.
  • Apply knowledge in the process of developing policies, standards, guidelines, and protocols.
  • Use appropriate methods in the process of development and evaluation or testing of guidelines and protocols.
  • Implement the new policies, protocols and guidelines to the specialist area showing understanding and application of the change process.
  • Collaboratively revise developed policies, protocols and guidelines at appropriate intervals approved as per the institutional policy for the critical care specialist area. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: India
    Institution: MGM Institute of Health Sciences
    Qualification title: Post Basic Diploma in Critical Care Nursing
    Credits: 184
    Duration: Two years

    Entry requirement:
    Registered nurse (R.N. &R.M.) or equivalent.
    And possess a minimum of one year experience as a staff nurse.

    Purpose
    The purpose of Post Basic Diploma in Critical Care Nursing is to provide quality care to critically ill patients, manage and supervise care of critically ill patients, teach nurses, allied health professionals and family members in areas related to critical care nursing and conduct research in areas of critical care nursing.

    This qualification will enable the learners to develop an understanding of philosophy, principles, methods and issues, management, education, and research in critical care nursing. Furthermore, this qualification will enable them to develop skills and attitudes in providing competent critical care nursing.
    At the end of the qualification the learners will be able to:
  • Describe the concepts and principles of critical care nursing.
  • Communicate effectively with critically ill patients and their family members.
  • Perform advanced cardiac life support skills.
  • Apply the nursing process in caring for critically ill patients.
  • Participate effectively as a member of the health team.
  • Organize and demonstrate skills in the management of critical care nursing services.
  • Make a plan for the organization of critical care units.
  • Conduct research in critical care nursing.
  • Teach and supervise nurses and allied health workers.

    Qualification structure:

    Compulsory Modules
  • Critical Care Nursing - I, compares with Critical Care Specialty
  • Critical Care Nursing - II
  • Supervision and Management, Clinical Teaching,
    Elementary Research and Statistics, compares with Health Sciences Research.
  • Internship

    Similarities:
    The MGM Institute of Health Sciences (HIS) qualification and the South African qualification (SA) share similar modules such as Health Sciences Research, and Critical Care Nursing with Critical Care speciality.

    The purposes of the MGM HIS is to provide quality care to critically ill patients and manage and supervise the care of critically ill patients. Similarly, the SA qualification aims at rendering comprehensive critical care which includes both preventative, curative, and reactive care within the interprofessional team in various critical care settings.

    Differences:
    The MGM HIS qualification is offered over a two-year period and carries 184 credits whereas the SA qualification is offered over a one-year period and carries 120 credits.

    Country: New Zealand
    Institution: Curtin University
    Qualification title: Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing
    Credits: 200
    Duration: Two years

    Entry requirements:
    Bachelor's degree in nursing
    Or
    Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing

    And registration as a comprehensive or general nurse in Division One with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

    Purpose
    The Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing is designed to provide the theoretical foundations of nursing science, together with clinical knowledge and skills. A significant component of the qualification is conducted in a healthcare institution at Graduate Certificate level.

    The qualification focuses on the development of clinical leadership, promotion, and integration of evidence-based nursing practice to foster the development of learners consistent with the profile of the nurse specialist, offering the advanced-level nurse further clinical skills and an opportunity to extend career options.

    The learner will be able to:
  • Analyse critically and evaluate advanced concepts of speciality nursing practice; integrate expert knowledge and integrated understanding to demonstrate competency at a level in accordance with speciality competency standards.
  • Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise the environmental, physical and psychosocial aspects of the individual for effective clinical decision-making; recognise own abilities and level of professional competence.
  • Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex evidence and scientific literature to inform decision-making in speciality practice.
  • Integrate advanced communication skills within a legal and ethical framework related to complex clinical issues in the area of speciality; interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Effectively anticipate, plan for, and use complex technology applications relevant to speciality practice.
  • Integrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability, and responsibility as a lifelong learner in specialiity practice; participate in research and critically appraise research findings and incorporate evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice.
  • Critically appraise, evaluate, and incorporate national and global health issues and strategic healthcare directions into specialty nursing practice.

    Similarities:
    The Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing (GDCCN) and the South African qualification accept learners towards their studies, who have completed a bachelor's degree in nursing. Both institutions require learners to be registered with the nursing councils or regulators of their respective countries as a pre-requisite for study acceptance.

    The SA qualification aims to produce independent care nurse specialists who can apply clinical judgment and reasoning skills to enable the rendering of comprehensive critical care. The GDCCN focuses on the development of clinical leadership, promotion, and integration of evidence-based nursing practice to foster the development of learners consistent with the profile of the nurse specialist, offering the advanced-level nurse further clinical skills and an opportunity to extend career options.

    Differences:
    The GDCCN qualification is offered over two years and has 200 credits, whereas the SA qualification is offered over one year and has 120 credits. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Nursing Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science Honours, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9
  • Master of Nursing in Critical Care and Trauma, NQF Level 9
  • Master of Nursing Science, NQF Level 9

    Diagonal Articulation:
    Diagonal articulation options not available. 
    		•

    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. Gauteng College of Nursing 


    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.