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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Nursing Honours 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97029  Bachelor of Nursing Honours 
ORIGINATOR
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Bachelor of Nursing Honours consists of the following specialisations:
  • Advanced Psychiatric Nursing.
  • Nursing Education.
  • Advanced Community Health Nursing Science.
  • Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science.
  • Health Service Management.

    The purpose of this qualification is to strengthen and deepen the learners' knowledge and expertise in their respective specialisations. This qualification enables nurses to undertake advanced reflection and development using a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in their field or discipline. Also, this qualification aims to develop specialist in respective specialisations who will use expert knowledge to enhance patient care. The enhancement of patient care includes preventing disease, injury, complications, screening, appropriate management and prompt referral of patients with specific and complex problems in all clinical settings. The qualification will provide a high level of theoretical engagement, sound clinical judgement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts in order to render professional and competent nurses. Finally, this qualification aims to undertake advanced reflection and development using a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in their field or discipline.

    Rationale:
    Learners who have completed this qualification will be able to:
  • Provide clinical leadership in the care of patient/s throughout the lifespan in a nurse specialist field.
  • Provide comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care including technology for patients in a specialist psychiatric field.
  • Practise within an ethical-legal framework.
  • Evaluate health care outcomes and make innovative suggestions to improve quality care and safety.
  • Provide professional support for personnel, patients, families and group to promote.
  • Independence and behavioural change.
  • Explore and improve current practices to meet the changing needs of patients and communities.
  • Make recommendations to improve the cost-effectiveness of care.
  • Demonstrate accountability and moral reasoning for independent clinical decisions made regarding patient care.
  • Participate in research activities such as fieldwork and publication of clinical findings.
  • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team members and refer patients to relevant organisations/services. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is for access to this qualification or credit-bearing exemptions. An application is submitted according to the RPL Policy of the specialisation for an individual assessment. Only learners whose prior learning has been validated using a well- structured and credible Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) are eligible to be awarded RPL for access and Credit Accumulation.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Appropriate Bachelor of Nursing, NQF, Level 7.
    And
  • Proof of registration with the South African Nursing Council. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Elective Modules per Specialisation, Level 8, 88 Credits:
    Advanced Psychiatric Nursing:
  • Psychiatric Capita Selecta, Level 8, 28 Credits.
  • Psychiatric Nursing Skills and Practice, Level 8, 32 Credits.
  • Psychiatric Nursing Specialist, Level 8, 28 Credits.

    Or
    Nursing Education:
  • Theoretical Nursing Education, Level 8, 24 Credits.
  • Contemporary Issues in Nursing Education, 32 Credits.
  • Issues and Task in Nursing education, 32 Credits.

    Or
    Community Health Nursing Science:
  • Primary Health Care, Level 8, 16 Credits.
  • Models and Theories in Community Health Nursing, Level 8, 20 Credits.
  • Community Nurse Science Specialist, Level 8, 28 Credits.
  • Advanced Community Health Nursing Science, Level 8, 24 Credits.

    Or
    Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science:
  • Advanced Integrated Assessment in Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science, Level 8, 28 Credits.
  • Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Science Practice, Level 8, 40 Credits.
  • Psychosocial enquiry and management, Level 8, 20 Credits.

    Or
    Health Service Management:
    Elective Modules, Level 8, 88 Credits:
  • Health Service Management General Aspects, Level 8, 44 Credits.
  • Advanced Health Service Management, Level 8, 44 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    (Advanced Psychiatric Nursing, Advanced Community Health Nursing Science, Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science).

    1. Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession and resolves professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
    2. Apply knowledge and principles of the research process applicable to specialist clinical practice.
    3. Render and co-ordinate comprehensive specialist nursing/midwifery care according to the patients' needs using the scientific approach.
    4. Implement standards to ensure quality patient care and safety.
    5. Apply specialist knowledge and principles when communicating, making theoretical arguments or developing documentation.
    6. Participate actively in the multi-professional team by demonstrating shared leadership and decision-making.
    7. Facilitate learning in a positive learning environment to optimise competence in nursing practice.
    8. Participate in the design and development of new curricular; interpret, apply and evaluate an existing curriculum for a nursing programme.
    9. Implement appropriate strategies to develop self and other nurse leaders.
    10. Manage a health care unit and health facility based on the understanding of the roles and relationships within the multidisciplinary team.

    Or
    (Nursing Education and Health Service Management)

    1. Educate nursing learners or manage a healthcare facility within the ethical-legal parameters and resolve ethical dilemmas by using decision making and moral reasoning models.
    2. Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of nursing education.
    3. Apply the knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process to evaluate the standard of guidelines used in nursing education or health systems management.
    4. Facilitate learning to promote the learner's ability to make sound clinical judgment and demonstrate metacognition in the area of nursing education.
    5. Demonstrate advanced management skills and professionalism.
    6. Facilitate curriculum or programme development.
    7. Think and plan strategically to improve organisational performance.
    8. Evaluate the management of an educational programme based on the national, professional and institutional standards.
    9. Apply principles of budgetary governance.
    10. Implement strategies to develop self, peers and others by promoting self- directedness through a process of mentoring and precepting.
    11. Apply principles of evidence-based practice or nursing education in order to improve quality of education or Health Services management. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Advanced Psychiatric Nursing, Advanced Community Health Nursing Science, Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science).

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
  • Utilise an appropriate code of ethics.
  • Guide knowledge of the legal and ethical framework within psychiatric nursing.
  • Demonstrate practice and patient centred care.
  • Use ethical decision-making and moral reasoning models to resolve professional and ethical dilemmas.
  • Use problem based or clinical case studies and policy guidelines to identify, analyse and
    discuss limitations in ethical and legal practice to make recommendations for resolution.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 2:
  • Apply knowledge and principles of the research process applicable to psychiatric specialist clinical practice.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 3:
  • Analyse National and Provincial Policies and implement them to ensure compliance with the National Health Strategy.
  • Inform comprehensive service by providing current vital and health statistics.
  • Apply specialised psychiatric nursing care in meeting the health needs of the patient utilising the scientific approach.
  • Manage Psychiatric Nursing emergencies according to protocol.
  • Identify, implement and adhere to current best practice guidelines in providing evidence-based psychiatric nursing care.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 4:
  • Implement and maintain Standards for Risk Management.
  • Adhere to National Core Standards in order to improve quality care.
  • Create a safe environment for patients and staff.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 5:
  • Review Information and practices critically in order to make creative suggestions in response to challenges in their field or discipline.
  • Utilise the relevant and up to date information when developing and communicating professional and occupational ideas.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 6:
  • Appropriate leadership styles are evident in particular contexts
  • Achieve shared decision-making with effective communication.
  • Provide consultancy and referral to Colleagues through a client-consultee and service-centred process and district health service teams.
  • Advocate the Human Rights of patients.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 7:
  • Apply appropriate learning theories during the facilitation of learning.
  • Use theory-practice integration in nursing by facilitating a variety of methods and
    Techniques.
  • Establish an environment conducive to learning through fostering respect between learners and educator, which is nurturing cultural sensitivity, and promoting community engagement and stakeholder Involvement.
  • Promote the professional socialisation of learners in the nursing profession.
  • Demonstrate role model, professional, ethical and legal integrity as a facilitator of learning.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 8:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of curriculum design and development at macro, meso and
    micro-levels.
  • Assess the relevance of a curriculum within a specific context.
  • Evaluate the alignment of a curriculum with the institutional, educational paradigm, outcomes, and assessment methods.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 9:
  • Identify their preferred leadership style among the range of styles and its appropriateness for the context.
  • Identify personal gaps in the use of technology and language proficiency required for the role of a Nurse Manager.
  • Engage in academic networks to demonstrate participation in academic governance and quality improvement.
  • Identify strategies to develop young Nurse Leaders.
  • Demonstrate professional, ethical and legal integrity as a leader.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 10:
  • Plan and provide for health care based on sound assessment and informed decision making. Planning is inclusive of the patient and other key stakeholders.
  • Unit philosophy, vision, mission, goals, policy and procedures developed for nursing and midwifery care provision and personnel management within a health care unit comply with the current legislation, SANC requirements and international best practice for the profession.
  • Promote established systems that are cost-effective and efficient for service delivery within a health care unit.
  • Direct the management and leadership activities towards the establishment of a team approach to health care, and the effective delivery of service within a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 11:
  • Use current evidence-based guidelines in Health services management and evaluate them by applying knowledge of the systematic review and guideline development process.
  • Demonstrate academic writing in reports and guidelines.
  • Formulate research questions according to the PICO format and any other format.
  • Search database using Boolean and other information strategies.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 12:
  • Promote Quality of Health Services management by implementing evidence-based practice.
  • Use systematic reviews to improve health services management.
  • Perform quality audits aimed at improving health services management at predetermined times.
  • Access and use benchmarks to develop indicators for quality and cost-effectiveness best practices in Health Services management.
  • Critique, develop and implement standards for health services management.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 13:
  • Provide mentorship and preceptorship to novices through documented evidence by using appropriate techniques.
  • Design and present education qualifications for Nurses/Midwives Specialists and other team members are designed and presented to ensure best practice in health care services.
  • Evaluate peers and learners/learners using valid and reliable instruments to ensure competent health care practitioners.
  • Design education qualifications for patients, families and communities that would promote independence and behavioural change to enhance health outcomes.

    Or
    (Nursing Education and Health Service Management):

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
  • Use critical decision making and moral reasoning models to resolve ethical dilemmas within Higher Education system or Health Services management.
  • Identify and debate the relevant latest legislation, policies, regulations and guidelines pertaining to nursing education or Health Services Management.
  • Use advocacy principles to advocate for safe and quality care/ service or nursing education.
  • Manage professional or academic misconduct according to institutional and legal protocols.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 2:
  • Demonstrate academic writing skills in research reports.
  • Appraise research articles in the field of nursing education through the application of basic knowledge of research methodology.
  • Differentiate qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research designs.
  • Demonstrate scholarship through evidence-based education.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 3:
  • Evaluate standard of guidelines used in nursing education or Health services management by applying knowledge of the systematic review and guideline development process.
  • Demonstrate academic writing in reports and guidelines.
  • Formulate research questions according to the PICO format and any other frameworks.
  • Search databases are searched by using Boolean and other information search strategies.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 4:
  • Design and execute a plan for learning facilitation sessions that promote the metacognition and clinical judgment processes in nursing learners.
  • Differentiate teaching and learning paradigms are differentiated.
  • Debate and compare learning theories.
  • Align teaching and learning approaches with learning theories.
  • Compare and align different knowledge taxonomies with teaching and learning approaches.
  • Explain thinking operations.
  • Formulate and align learning outcomes with a selected knowledge taxonomy.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 5:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the components of the management process.
  • Debate principles and theories of health services management and leadership.
  • Implement supervisory models to control the quality of management and nursing care.
  • Manage resources cost-effectively in a way that supports optimal care provision.
  • Debate change management models that are applicable to healthcare.
  • Reflect on team functions and team leadership and compare with available best evidence on collaborative group work.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 6:
  • Explore and debate curriculum design processes.
  • Use curriculum/programme accreditation criteria to assess a qualification.
  • Debate the purpose of generic exit level outcomes.
  • Evaluate the exit level outcomes of a qualification against the level descriptors as formulated by the South African Qualifications Authority.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 7:
  • Differentiate strategic thinking and strategic planning.
  • Display strategic thinking for a healthcare facility that is informed by global trends in health, politics, available resources, population growth, etc.
  • Do and visually present a comprehensive stakeholder analysis.
  • Do a situational analysis by means of a standardised strategy e.g. SWOT analysis, TOWS matrix etc.
  • Develop a strategic plan for a Nurse Manager in a healthcare facility according to the strategic planning steps.
  • Evaluate and debate strategy implementation and execution in a healthcare facility are.
  • Use action learning and planning strategies to monitor innovations.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 8:
  • Use National, professional and institutional standards to evaluate the management of an educational programme.
  • Mobilise and utilise resources are to optimize nursing education referral.
  • Utilise statistics pertinent to Higher Education to inform decision making and to improve the quality of nursing education.
  • Debate the influence of global trends; social, political, and economic factors; as well as disease profiles on Higher Education and communicate recommendations to authorities.
  • Explore and debate collaborative leadership styles.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 9:
  • Compare proportion of National Budget allocated to Healthcare with other countries and debated.
  • Debate budget distribution down to the healthcare facility.
  • Debate stages of the budget execution cycle.
  • Use budget compliance control measures to evaluate institutional practice.
  • Explore and debate issues related to the management and monitoring of budget execution.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 10:
  • Use mentoring models to develop self and novices.
  • Establish academic/professional networks to sustain lifelong learning.
  • Create a positive learning climate by establishing positive relationships.
  • Conduct activities towards enhancing Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
  • Use performance appraisal principles to monitor own development within the programme.
  • Use collaborative mentoring models to develop self and novices.
  • Explore and debate collaborative leadership styles.

    Associative Assessment Outcome for Exit Level Outcomes 11:
  • Promote quality of education or Health Services management by implementing evidence-based practice.
  • Use systematic reviews to improve education or health services management.
  • Perform quality audits aimed at improving health services management at predetermined times.
  • Access and use benchmarks and best practices are accessed and used to develop indicators for quality and cost effectiveness in Health Services management.
  • Critique, develop and implement standards for health services management.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative theory assessment includes Theory: tests, seminars, presentations and assignments. Also, practice: group and individual projects and assignments, case studies, portfolios containing a proof of learning process, Clinical teaching and Clinical assessment. Summative assessment includes theory: one written three-hour papers per module while practising: clinical case presentation, research project. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Professional Nurses and those with this qualification are highly employable globally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 Limpopo 


    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.