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 Perioperative Nursing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
121385  Postgraduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
Western Cape 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 1221/24  2024-01-30  2027-01-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-01-30   2031-01-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing qualification aims to produce competent, service-driven perioperative nurses who provide person-centred perioperative care integrating family involvement and acknowledging the patient as part of a community, culture and active society within the interprofessional team.

The demanding and escalating roles of nurses in perioperative nursing and advances in technologies necessitate additional training to prepare them for effective participation as perioperative nurses in various settings and spheres. Trauma is a leading cause of admissions in hospitals in South Africa where surgical interventions are required as a means of treatment.

There is an increase in cancer cases worldwide including South Africa that requires specialist skill and knowledge in caring for those who need diagnostic, medical, and surgical interventions.

Nurses are now expected to have comprehensive and extensive knowledge of their field of expertise to equip the next generation of nurses to address the lack of skills in South Africa, thus the need for this course.

Upon completion of the qualification, a qualified learner will be able to:
  • Practice as a competent, committed, independent perioperative nursing practitioner in providing scientific, safe comprehensive quality perioperative nursing care in all hospitals and community settings.
  • Promote healing, prevent complications, and alleviate suffering based on acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies in perioperative nursing care.
  • Be an independent perioperative nurse specialist who conducts safe perioperative nursing care, based on scientific evidence and technology.
  • Provide perioperative nursing care through in-depth theoretical knowledge and competency in clinical skills, managerial and leadership skills.
  • Establish a research culture that will lead to evidence-based and reflective practice in perioperative nursing.
  • Uphold the image of nursing through the application of an ethical, legal, and professional framework in perioperative nursing.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing qualification will offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life, which include:
  • Capacity to assess, develop, implement, and evaluate health and other policies.
  • Ability to plan, commission and manage projects of a varied nature.
  • Participation in interprofessional team activities to advocate for evidence-based care.

    The needs of the perioperative client will be met through:
  • A holistic nursing care approach by the delivery of comprehensive, individualised perioperative care based on the patient`s needs within the public and private health care domain.
  • Learners progressing into the marketplace as perioperative nurses with advanced knowledge, skills, and competencies.
  • The implementation of safety precautions and protocols by the perioperative nurse to ensure that the rights of the surgical patients (clients) are respected.
  • Promoting perioperative nursing practice as an essential part of health service delivery to improve quality perioperative patient care.
  • Utilising specialised knowledge and skills to provide safe, competent patient-centred care in the perioperative environment.
  • Working within the interprofessional health care team and ensuring that patients receive holistic, comprehensive care before, during and after the surgery.
  • Providing pre- and post-operative health education to patients and their families to ensure that they are well informed and prepared for the post-operative care that will be provided.

    Rationale:
    The rationale for this qualification is to develop a nurse with advanced knowledge and expert clinical skills in line with the National and Provincial Health Care Plans and Sustainable Goals.
    The intention is to promote the health status of the South African population, alleviate the lack of skills and practitioners to address the burden of disease in the healthcare system and practice within a specialised field in hospitals, clinics, industries and communities in both public and private health sectors.

    Nurses are required to take responsibility for complex operating room equipment and instrumentation and are challenged regularly with newer specialist technology for better surgical results. In the Western Cape there is currently a shortage of 98 perioperative nurses. The attrition and retirement of skilled perioperative nurses are not included in this data. The backlog of perioperative nurses will not be filled in the foreseeable future. In South Africa, there is no vision to replace the perioperative specialist with a technician.

    Nurses are the only category of health workers charged with accountability for patient care in theatre. The perioperative nurse must be equipped with the skill and scientific-based knowledge to render holistic quality nursing care to the patient undergoing surgery.

    A constructivist paradigm was chosen as the most appropriate framework according to which the curriculum will be developed. Through the above-mentioned paradigm, a learning environment will be designed with clear learning outcomes, which will allow the qualification to be presented in a classroom or online (blended learning). Blended learning is a learner-centred approach to creating a learning experience whereby the learner interacts with other learners, with the instructor, and with content through the thoughtful integration of online and face-to-face environments (Thompson 2016).
    Learners will function within the approved scope of practice as specified by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). 
    		•

    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 Preoperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Trauma and Emergency Nursing, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    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.
  • Nursing research and professional ethics, 12 Credits.
  • Leadership and management in advanced nursing practice, 12 Credits.
  • Foundations of perioperative practice, 20 Credits.
  • Surgical efficiency one, 28 Credits.
  • Surgical efficiency two, 28 Credits.
  • Anaesthetic Nursing, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes
    1. Practice and facilitate perioperative nursing, nursing education or health services management within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession.
    2. Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice, nursing education or management in the perioperative nursing field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
    3. Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing a perioperative nursing unit, an educational entity, or a health service.
    4. Engage in scholarly activities to inform evidence-based practice, education, or management related to perioperative nursing.
    5. Utilize, manage, and communicate data to support decision-making and research in perioperative nursing.
    6. Render and co-ordinate patient-centred perioperative nursing practice within a continuum of care using the scientific approach, integrating biomedical and psychosocial sciences including advanced pharmacology nursing.
    7. Mobilize appropriate resources to implement standards of practice relevant to perioperative nursing, to ensure quality patient care and safety.
    8. Develop and implement institutional policies, protocols, and guidelines in perioperative nursing, utilising the process of change management in the improvement of quality of care.
    9. Facilitate advocacy for the profession and provision of perioperative nursing professional support for personnel, patients, families, and communities.
    10. Appraise and develop self, peers, and perioperative nursing learners by facilitating self-directedness/leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.
    11. Collaborate within the inter-professional team by engaging in health dialogue, shared leadership, decision-making and sound clinical judgment related to perioperative nursing.
    12. Participate in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of perioperative nursing policies, qualifications and projects at provincial or national level. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1.
  • Integrate relevant legislation and legal framework in perioperative nursing care such as the declaration of Helsinki, Singapore Statement, Bill of Rights, South African Constitution, National Health Act, No. 61 of 2003 as amended, Patients' Right Charter and Batho Pele Principles.
  • Apply ethics and ethical frameworks to guide decision-making in perioperative nursing practice.
  • Manage moral distress in the perioperative-related interprofessional team and empower perioperative nurses to manage moral distress.
  • Conduct and monitor the continuous professional development of the perioperative nursing team.
  • Apply ethical principles when conducting clinical research in perioperative nursing.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2.
  • Evaluate the importance of research and clinical evidence-based guidelines in implementing evidence-based practice in perioperative nursing.
  • Reflect on the ways that research literature can be used as evidence for perioperative nursing practice.
  • Judge practices of infection control in perioperative nursing against new evidence-based information/research findings made available.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3.
  • Participate in the entire process of planning, commissioning, and management of a perioperative unit on all levels including all role-players.
  • Explore the dynamics that may impact the financial management in a perioperative nursing unit within the healthcare facility.
  • Apply knowledge to summarize the role of the operational manager and
    submit the perioperative unit's needs for inclusion in the capital budget.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4.
  • Apply leadership and management skills in the management of the perioperative nursing unit based on evidence from audits.
  • Carry out practical patient care procedures by using the given support to learners in the perioperative unit.
  • Conduct a needs analysis of the perioperative nursing staff training needs.
  • Develop a proposal to nursing management for training activities to be included in the annual institutional CPD plan for the perioperative nursing unit.
  • Explore evidence-based research in perioperative nursing care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5.
  • Explore how research is used as evidence guiding the practice of perioperative nursing care and communicate these findings to the interprofessional team.
  • Interpret qualitative and quantitative data related to perioperative nursing and communicate these findings to the interprofessional team to improve the health of the perioperative patient.
  • Employ communication and ethical reasoning skills to address ethical challenges associated with moral distress in the perioperative nursing unit.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6.
  • Apply psychosocial science and pharmacology to dissect the approach to perioperative nursing care through a scientific approach.
  • Explain the surgical pharmacological management of the perioperative patient.
  • Dissect the approach to perioperative nursing care through a scientific approach, applying psychosocial science and pharmacology.
  • Explain the surgical pharmacological management of the perioperative patient.
  • Apply knowledge to perform a comprehensive, individualised preoperative assessment of the patient`s needs based on the following medical history and treatment, physical examination, laboratory results and related investigations.
  • Apply vigilance in identifying physical and psychosocial changes in the patient during the perioperative period.
  • Liaise with the relevant departments/interprofessional team to ensure comprehensive patient-centred care to the surgical patient.
  • Construct comprehensive individualised nursing care plans for surgical patients in all related surgical interventions.
  • Design a comprehensive individualised perioperative nursing care plan for the anaesthetic patient.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7.
  • Review the relevance of perioperative nursing guidelines and standards to remain relevant with current practice nationally and internationally.
  • Develop and apply nursing practice standards, guidelines, and policies in perioperative nursing practice.
  • Utilise policies to ensure patient safety during surgery such as swab needle and instrument control, bowel technique, handling of specimens, electrocoagulation control and surgical devices related to specific surgical disciplines.
  • Apply policies, protocols, and guidelines to ensure patient safety during anaesthesia.
  • Debate the implementation of aseptic and sterile techniques during the perioperative period to ensure patient safety.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 8.
  • Provide input on risk management strategies, through participation in local, national, and international perioperative nursing forums to provide.
  • Implement safety precautions and protocols to ensure that the rights of surgical patients are respected.
  • Evaluate the universal standards and precautions on infection control in the perioperative setting.
  • Apply policies and protocols to ensure patient safety before, during and after surgery.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 9.
  • Promote continuous professional development to advance competencies and improve the quality of perioperative nursing care.
  • Illustrate practical procedures for perioperative nursing learners in the unit.
  • Advocate for the rights of the patient through adherence to surgery-related protocols and policies.
  • Participate in interprofessional team activities to advocate for evidence-based care in perioperative nursing.
  • Advocate and portray a professional role in patient care, communication with the community and lobbying for change in perioperative nursing care.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 10.
  • Justify the advantages and contributions of continuous professional development to perioperative nursing practice.
  • Apply knowledge of and assume responsibility for own professional development and those nursing team members assigned to the perioperative nursing team to promote continuous professional development to advance competencies and improve the quality of perioperative nursing care.
  • Promote and monitor CPD attendance for perioperative nursing staff.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 11.
  • Participate in planning committee meetings and monitor adherence to identified needs and standards on all levels related to perioperative nursing care.
  • Appraise the contribution of supporting services to the perioperative setting such as the central sterilisation department, facility infection control unit, waste management contractor, maintenance department, environmental cleaning, laboratories and linen management.
  • Portray the role of family liaison to the surgical patient and family concerning postoperative care as the perioperative nurse information specialist.
  • Manage the integration of the different services rendered during the time of surgery.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 12.
  • Collect and compile data to identify needs and envisage improvement in perioperative service delivery.
  • Assess potential environmental sources of injury to patients and personnel in the perioperative environment to improve standards of care.
  • Contribute towards planning committee meetings and the monitoring of adherence to identified needs and standards regarding perioperative nursing practices related to all health care levels.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
    Assessment consists of a continuous assessment system comprising formative and summative assessments.

    Formative Assessments:
    Assessment tasks such as:
  • Quiz
  • Essay or report in writing
  • Test
  • Assignment

    Summative Assessments:
  • Assignments
  • Case studies
  • Tests,
  • OSCE
  • Portfolios
  • Workbooks.
    Learners' progress will be assessed at the end of a section of work rather than exclusively by final assessment at the end of the semester/year.
    A minimum of two and a maximum of three assessments will be performed for a semester subject.

    For year subjects a minimum of three and a maximum of five assessments will be conducted. Assessments (theory and clinical) will contribute equal weight (percentage) towards the final mark.
    The theory comprises 40% and Work Integrated Learning comprises 60%. Learners must pass both the theory and Work Integrated Learning components to pass the subject. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: Australia
    Institution: St Vincent Hospital
    Qualification title: Postgraduate Perioperative Nursing Course
    Duration: One year
    Credits: 20

    Entry requirements:
  • Have a minimum of 12 months post-registration medical/surgical nursing experience in the chosen speciality by the course commencement date.
  • Be concurrently enrolled in tertiary clinical nursing studies or Clinical Practice Nursing Units.
  • Be registered as a Registered Nurse in Australia,
  • Have a minimum of 12 months post-registration nursing experience including a minimum of 6 months perioperative instrument/circulating nursing experience.

    Purpose:
    This qualification aims to prepare graduate registered nurses to work as specialists in perioperative nursing in the roles of the instrument and circulating nurse and to gain experience in the anaesthetic & recovery nursing roles. The qualification provides opportunities for learners to expand their knowledge and skills by integrating theory and perioperative nursing clinical practice to engage in clinical decision-making.

    The St Vincent's Hospital (SVH) Postgraduate Perioperative Nursing Course is run over one year and incorporates two perioperative units - Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 1 and Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 2 and clinical rotations.

    Modules:
  • Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 1, compares with Foundations of perioperative practice.
  • Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 2

    Assessment criteria
    Assessments:
    Learners' progress throughout clinical rotations is assessed on an individual basis utilising a variety of assessment methods and tools.
    Assessments will include:
  • Specialty clinical competencies
  • Clinical workbooks for speciality rotations
  • Professional performance reviews
  • Presentations
  • Written assessments.

    Similarities:
  • The St Vincent Hospital (SVH) and South African (SA) qualifications are both offered over one year.
  • The SVH qualification aims to provide opportunities for learners to expand their knowledge and skills by integrating theory and perioperative nursing clinical practice to engage in clinical decision-making.
  • Similarly, the SA qualification will offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life, which include the capacity to assess, develop, implement, and evaluate health and other policies.
  • Both the SVH and SA qualifications share similar modules such as Foundations of Perioperative Practice.
  • The SVH qualification assesses learners' progress throughout clinical rotations on an individual basis utilising a variety of assessment methods and tools.
  • The SA qualification similarly assesses learners' progress at the end of a section of work rather than exclusively by final assessment at the end of the semester/year.
  • The SVH qualification requires learners to have evidence of Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Authority Registration.
  • The SA qualification follows the prescribed entry criteria of the South African Council of Nursing (Education and Training Guidelines for Postgraduate Diploma Qualifications, 2020:21).

    Differences.
  • The SVH qualification carries 20 credits, whereas the SA qualification carries 120 credits.
  • The SVH qualification accepts learners who are concurrently enrolled in tertiary clinical nursing studies or clinical practice nursing units, whereas the SA qualification accepts learners who have completed learning in a relevant bachelor's or advanced diploma.

    Country: United Kingdom
    Institution name: Birmingham City University
    Qualification title: Post Graduate Certificate Professional Practice (Perioperative Practice)
    Credits: 100
    Duration: two years

    Entry requirement:
  • Relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent
    Or
  • 60 credit Level 6 award in an appropriate subject area.
    Or
  • Applicants with evidence of completing Level 6 study within the preceding 2 years.
  • Five 20-credit modules at Level 6
    Or
  • Complete three modules at Level 6 plus a 40-credit Level 5 portfolio module.

    Purpose:
    The Professional Practice Course is flexible, practice-led, responsive and aims to foster excellence. This qualification will develop knowledgeable, critical thinking, proactive, professional practitioners who are fit to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare provision in the global arena.

    A learner who has already qualified as a healthcare professional, such as a nurse or operating department practitioner, who is looking to progress and/or specialise in their career, then the Professional Practice Framework is designed to help facilitate that. Learners can choose from a huge range of modules and perhaps gradually look to build up a qualification. Alternatively, might have a specific pathway, such as cardiac care, already in mind.

    The type of award a learner receives upon graduating depends on both the existing qualifications and the combination of modules and pathways that they choose to study.
    Modules:
  • Acute Cardiac Conditions.
  • Adolescence and Mental Health
  • Adult Critical Care Transfer
  • Applied Leadership, Change Management, and Innovation Theory compares with Leadership and management in advanced nursing practice.
  • Applied Principles of Pathophysiology for the Critically Ill Patient
  • Becoming the Effective Reflective Practitioner, compares with Foundations of perioperative practice.
  • Care of a Patient Receiving a Stem Cell Transplant
  • Childhood and Mental Health
  • Coaching and Supervising in Healthcare
  • Community Practice Teaching, Education in Practice
  • Core Concepts in International Perspectives in Emergency and Critical Care

    Similarities:
  • The Postgraduate Professional Practice (Perioperative Practice) (PPP) aim is to develop knowledgeable, critical-thinking, proactive, professional practitioners who are fit to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare provision in the global arena.
  • Similarly, the South African (SA) qualification will offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life.
    Both qualifications.
  • Both qualifications offer learners who have already qualified as healthcare professionals an opportunity to progress in their careers and become specialists in their field.
  • Both qualifications share similar modules such as Foundations of Perioperative Practice and Leadership and Management in Advanced Nursing Practice.
  • The PPP qualification accepts learners who have completed a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent,
  • Similarly, the SA qualification accepts learners who have completed a bachelor's degree in nursing or an advanced diploma in the relevant field.
  • The PPP qualification, upon completion of year two, a learner articulates to a master's degree.
  • For the SA qualification as well, upon completion of the qualification, a learner vertically articulates to a master's degree.

    Differences:
  • The PPP qualification is offered over two years and carries 100 credits in its offering.
  • The SA qualification is offered over one year with 120 credits. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Health Services Management, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Education, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Operation Theatre Nursing, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Nursing Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing Science in Operating Room, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Nursing in Critical Care and Trauma, NQF Level 9.

    Diagonal Articulation
    Diagonal articulation options are not available. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    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. Western Cape 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.