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
125039  Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Critical Care Nursing 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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  Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Undefined  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0836/25  2025-11-13  2028-11-13 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-11-13   2032-11-13  

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 Adult Critical Care Nursing qualification is to strengthen and deepen the learners' knowledge and expertise in Critical Care Nursing of adult patients as a specialty. It will enable the Critical Care Nurse Specialist to engage in their specialist area of practice with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to enhance professional independence and optimum health outcomes. This includes preventing disease, injury, and complications.
It also entails screening, appropriate management, and prompt referral of patients with specific and complex problems in all clinical settings.

The qualification further equips the learners with facilitation of teaching and learning, including management skills at all levels of practice. The qualification provides an opportunity for further postgraduate study. Learners will have the capacity to apply high-level academic, clinical, and management skills as well as comprehensive and systematic knowledge in the specialised field of critical care nursing of adult patients.

An Adult Critical Care Nurse Specialist is found in the following workplace settings:
  • Primary and community care rapid response teams
  • Medical emergency and trauma settings
  • High acuity and high dependency care units at various levels
  • Intensive care units
  • Settings of care and specialist services for adults who require complex long-term and rehabilitation care.

    Upon completion of the qualification, a qualifying learner will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice in the specialist field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
  • Appraise and develop self, peers, and nurse specialist learners by facilitating self-directedness/leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.
  • Facilitate advocacy for the profession and provision of specialist professional support for personnel, patients, families, and communities.
  • Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing a specialist unit.

    Rationale:
    The South African health care system has adopted a primary health care approach, which is nurse-led and needs nurses with in-depth knowledge to engage at the forefront of a specialist field with an understanding of theories, methodologies, methods, and techniques to apply in a particular context.
    The healthcare system, again in the interest of the right of access to health, enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996), is embarking on a National Health Insurance (NHI) system to promote access to quality, essential healthcare services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. This approach is in response to an increase in the burden of disease from quadruple diseases, including communicable diseases (predominantly HIV and AIDS and TB), non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer), and injury-related disorders.

    The COVID pandemic and the admission of adult patients with multiple co-morbidities to critical care units have brought the importance of this specialist role to the fore. Furthermore, the NHI system has necessitated a focus on quality care to ensure patient safety and good patient outcomes, which the knowledgeable Nurse Specialist can drive. While the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promote inter-sectoral collaboration, the Nurse Specialist is appropriately positioned to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of persons admitted to adult critical care units through their active engagement in promotive, preventive, curative, and developmental health services, representing components of the primary Health Care approach. More specifically, Critical Care Nursing supports the primary health approach in South Africa, hence the adoption of the concept Critical Care Nursing rather than Intensive Care Nursing, the latter being a component of the former.

    To align Critical Care Nursing to the Primary Health Care Approach, the Critical Care Nurse Specialist proposes to adopt Comprehensive Critical Care, which includes both Preventive (initiating action with urgency) and Reactive Critical Care Nursing (conventional critical care).

    Critical Care Nursing is the care of patients with life-threatening illnesses and injuries, and it occurs within a continuum from the scene of initial incident or onset of critical illness, through stabilisation, transfer/transportation, emergency and intensive care, up to and including transfer to care in lower acuity levels/step down units. Critical care is complex care that includes the use of technology by highly skilled and knowledgeable nurses within a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Care of the critically ill adult patient includes having excellent interpersonal skills to assist the family/support system to deal with complex situations.

    The focus of Midwifery is to care for the health needs of childbearing women, including adolescents, newborn infants, and families across the continuum throughout pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, post-partum, and the early weeks of life. Midwifery services are a core part of universal health coverage.
    In their practice, nurses and midwives encounter people in various age ranges, stages of health and illness, and individuals and families or larger groups of people. Therefore, central to their practice is a commitment to interpersonal relationships and partnership.

    Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing of adult patients will provide specialist training for nurses locally and internationally, and will qualify successful candidates for registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Nurse Specialist.

    The qualification provides an opportunity for further postgraduate study. Learners will have the capacity to apply high-level academic, clinical, and management skills as well as comprehensive and systematic knowledge in the specialised field of critical care nursing of adult patients. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Because of the use of legacy access routes, RPL becomes part of the traditional application and admission process.

    RPL for access:
    At this stage, there is no anticipated RPL for access.
    The SANC's Education and Training Guideline for Postgraduate Diplomas is specific with regard to the: Minimum requirements for admission:
    Proof of current registration as a Professional Nurse and Midwife or a General Nurse with a Midwifery qualification. Considering this requirement, it is challenging for a higher education institution to accommodate applicants via the route of RPL for access. The future possibility of RPL for access may be an implementable option in the case of

    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 Nursing Science, NQF Level 7.
    And
  • Registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse and Midwife.
    or
  • Registration with the SANC as a General Nurse with a Midwifery. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    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:
  • Foundations of Specialist Practice, 24.
  • Leading Quality and Safety in Adult Critical Care Nursing, 16.
  • Principles of Adult Critical Care Nursing, 40.
  • Adult Critical Care Nursing Practice, 40. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Practice and facilitate specialist critical care nursing within ethical-legal parameters of the profession.
    2. Apply the knowledge of and facilitate evidence-based practice in the specialist field to solve contextual problems and develop policies and guidelines.
    3. Appraise and develop self, peers, and nurse specialist learners by facilitating self-directedness or leadership and lifelong learning to maintain competence.
    4. Facilitate advocacy for the profession and provision of specialist professional support for personnel, patients, families, and communities.
    5. Engage in planning, commissioning, and managing a specialist unit.
    6. Engage in scholarly activities to inform evidence-based practice.
    7. Utilise, manage, and communicate data to support decision-making and research. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Conform to the code of ethics in the practice of specialist nursing.
  • Apply critical decision-making and moral reasoning models and principles for clinical judgement and to resolve ethical dilemmas within the specialist practice.
  • Account for own professional judgment, actions, outcomes of specialist care provided, and continued competence.
  • Define and apply current relevant legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines about specialist practice.
  • Evaluate documentation for plagiarism in accordance with the relevant legislation.
  • Manage professional misconduct according to institutional protocols and professional ethical/legal frameworks.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Engage in specialist practice and show understanding and the process of evidence-based practice.
  • Apply evidence-based specialist practice taking into consideration the appropriate methodology of gathering evidence for practice, for example, systematic or scoping reviews, appraisal of articles, practice-based research, and publications.
  • Apply evidence-based practice that shows knowledge and critical analysis of the various levels of evidence.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply leadership skills that are demonstrated through application of appropriate leadership styles, principles, and theories in critical care health services.
  • Effectively facilitate continuous Professional Development (CPD) for self and others 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 demonstrates understanding of the purpose and processes of the performance management and development system.
  • Utilise feedback gained from self-reflection, peers, learners, and management to improve effectiveness in the specialist role
  • Identify and apply various risk factors for stress and burnout at the workplace and strategies used to care for oneself and peers/employees/learners.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Examine the purpose of the advocacy role for a nurse specialist.
  • Apply advocacy principles to advocate for safe and quality care in healthcare institutions
  • Apply appropriate communication skills and channels.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Commission and show understanding of levels and or classification of critical care specialist units.
  • Take into consideration the burden of diseases and priority services as determined by current events.
  • Participate in the evaluation of the existing specialist unit, demonstrating knowledge of guidelines for provisioning a specialist unit.
  • Engage, plan, and commission with an understanding of the role and responsibilities in this task within the inter-professional team.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Apply knowledge and competence of the adult critical care using appropriate search engines and databases for review of literature to inform evidence-based practice.
  • Apply appropriate methods to generate evidence for utilisation in specialist practice.
  • Illustrate awareness and use of peer-reviewed journals for sharing of evidence.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Documents all data or information gathered in the context of the specialist practice for utilisation and storage in accordance with set standards.
  • Utilise specialist practice with comprehensive data, information, and emerging evidence pertinent to the context
  • Document all data or information gathered in the context of the specialist practice for utilisation and storage in accordance with intellectual property, and without plagiarism.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
    All assessments are aligned with the Assessment Policy of the institution to provide a safe and effective learning environment, free from harassment, intimidation and discrimination, support and developmental opportunities for teaching, and to provide all reasonable facilities and structures to support learners success.

    Continuous (formative) assessment during the year contributes 40% of the final year mark for three courses and 50% for the Practice course; summative evaluation at the end of the year contributes 50>60% of the final year mark, depending on the course, and as approved by the Health Sciences' Faculty Board.

    Assessment weightings and strategies as specified for each course are published in the Faculty of Health Sciences Postgraduate Handbook annually. A minimum of 80% of the summative assessment for the clinical courses will be conducted in real-life situations.

    Formative and Summative Assessment:
    There is continuous integration of theory and practice throughout the period of the qualification. The assessment approach is to use formative, continuous, and summative assessments of learning in the form of:
  • Written and clinical examinations
  • Assignments
  • Individual and group projects
  • Portfolios and teaching practice for integrated learning
    An ability to apply theory to practice is tested. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    South Africa is an active member of the International Council for Nursing (ICN) as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Commonwealth of Nations. The proposed qualification would meet recognition requirements and competencies in most of the member countries of these organisations and throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Country: United Kingdom
    Institution name: City University of London
    Qualification title: Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care
    Duration Forty Weeks
    NQF Level: Level 7
    Credits: 60

    Entry requirements:
  • First Degree (minimum 2:2)
    Or
  • Evidence of higher-level study undertaken within the last five years
    And
  • Must be working currently in a critical care setting (providing Level 2 & 3 care), with 12 months of experience in critical care.

    Rationale/Purpose:
    Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Critical Care, designed for registered nurses and allied health professionals working in level 3 critical care settings. The qualification focuses on enhancing knowledge and skills in critical care through a blended learning approach, incorporating the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N).
    It is targeted at registered nurses and allied health professionals with experience in level 3 critical care. It is focused on developing advanced knowledge and skills in critical care nursing, preparing practitioners for advanced roles.

    Qualification structure
    Modules:
  • Core Concepts in Critical Care
  • Dimensions of Critical Care

    Similarities:
  • City University of London (CU) and the South African (SA) qualification both acept learners who have completed a junior degree in the relevant field.
  • Both qualifications require practicing nurses who are registered with the nursing councils of their respective countries.
  • The SA qualification will enable the Critical Care Nurse Specialist to engage in their specialist area of practice with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to enhance professional independence and optimum health outcomes.
  • Similarly, the CU qualification focuses on enhancing knowledge and skills in critical care through a blended learning approach, incorporating the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N).
  • Both qualifications offer modules with a focus on critical care.

    Differences:
  • The CU qualification is offered over forty weeks with 60 credits, whereas the SA qualification is offered over twelve months and consists of 120 credits.
    Country: Australia
    Institution name: Deakin University
    Qualification title: Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing
    Duration: Two years part-time
    NQF Level: AQF: Level 8

    Entry requirements
  • Registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) with no conditions or restrictions.
    And
  • Evidence of secure, ongoing employment of at least 24 hours per week in a collaborating hospital within Australia, working in a relevant speciality practice area with appropriate clinical supervision.

    Purpose/Rationale
    Critical care nurses work in some of the most complex health environments across emergency departments, ICUs, and other high dependency units. The advanced specialist skills required to manage and provide care to the critically ill as part of a multidisciplinary team are in demand now more than ever across regional, rural, or metropolitan hospitals. Deakin's Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing prepares to meet that demand.

    Qualification structure
    Modules:
  • Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin
  • Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing
  • Critical Care Nursing, comparable to Adult Critical Care Nursing Practice
  • Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice
  • Pathophysiology of Diabetes
  • Management of Diabetes
  • Contemporary Approaches to Diabetes Education
  • Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts
  • Ethical Dimensions in Nursing
  • Leadership and Management in Nursing, comparable to Leading Quality and Safety in Adult Critical Care Nursing
  • Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning

    Similarities:
  • The Deakin University (DU) and the South African qualification both accept learners who are registered with the health council of each respective country.
  • The DU qualification prepares and provide learners with the advanced specialist skills required to manage and provide care to the critically ill as part of a multidisciplinary team across regional, rural or metropolitan hospitals.
  • Similarly, the SA qualification will enable the Critical Care Nurse Specialist to engage in their specialist area of practice with in-depth knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to enhance professional independence and optimum health outcomes.
  • Both qualifications are offered at level 8 of the qualification's framework and articulate into a master's degree in the relevant field.
  • Both qualifications share similar modules such as Critical Care Nursing, Adult Critical Care Nursing Practice, Leadership and Management in Nursing, and Leading Quality and Safety in Adult Critical Care Nursing.

    Differences:
  • The SA qualification accepts learners who have completed a bachelor's degree, whereas the DU qualification is not clear on the level of education required to qualify for study, except for evidence of secure, ongoing employment of at least 24 hours per week in a collaborating hospital within Australia. 
    		•

    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.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Philosophy in Adult Critical Care, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Nursing Science, NQF Level 9.

    Diagonal Articulation:
    At present, there are no cognate occupational or further education qualifications at NQF level 8 or 9 on the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF) or the General and Further Education and Training Sub-Framework (GFETQSF) that provide viable pathways for articulation. Progression and mobility in nursing qualifications are further regulated by the South African Nursing Council, which sets professional requirements for practice. Accordingly, there are no valid diagonal articulation options for this qualification. 
    		•

    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. University of Cape Town 


    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.