B Nursing

By enrolling for the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, you can make a difference to your society and your country. South Africa is in a challenging and exciting era, and the changes that will occur involve all spheres of the society – including the health system. You can form an integral part of this dynamic process!
B Nursing is a 4 year degree in Nursing Science which will enable you to register with the South African Nursing Council, as a General Nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and community health nurse. On graduation you can work in a hospital, but also in a clinic, or a hospice, or a ship, or in specialised units such as Critical Care. You can also follow a research career, or study further to obtain a Masters or a Doctoral degree.
A Unique Programme:
The unique and very exciting nature of this programme can be seen in three ways.

• First, there is a strong emphasis on Primary Health Care. This implies that you, the student, move away from the traditional hospital-based training to an active hands-on involvement in various communities. By so doing, you will work in close association with the people of that community, identify their specific health needs and plan strategies to meet these needs.
• A second aspect that makes this programme so unique is the type of teaching-learning interaction that occurs between the student and the lecturer. Gone are the days of falling asleep during lectures! You now get actively involved in the process of acquiring new knowledge by learning from real problems. We use both case-based and problem-based learning.
• Third, during the first and second year you will not be nursing during semester times, which gives you the opportunity to concentrate fully on being a university student.

A Stimulating School
The School of Nursing is one of the best in the country. This can be recognised by the following:

• It is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Africa.
• It has one of the best track records for research in the country.
• It has been in the forefront of nursing education development over the last ten years.
• It attracts students from many countries.
• It collaborates with Schools of Nursing from a range of countries.

Structure of the Course
First Year
Commence, usually, in the fourth week of January

1. Fundamental Nursing
2. Four (4) non-nursing semester modules from social science or other schools of the university. (16 credits per module).
3. Anatomy.
4. Physics and Chemistry (Special Science).
5. Clinical work during all university vacations.
6. Physiology during 2nd semester.

Second Year

1. Four non-nursing subjects, Two of which must be on 2nd year level.
2. Community Health Nursing: Health promotion and illness prevention.
3. Physiology in the first semester
4. Clinical work during all university vacations.

Third Year

1. General Nursing including Unit Administration
2. Nursing Research
3. Pharmacology
4. Three days a week will be spent in a hospital setting, as well as during university
   vacations.

Fourth year

1. Midwifery
2. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.
3. Primary Health Care
4. Four days per week will be spent in the communities, as well as during university vacations.

Requirements

1. You must have a matriculation exemption. If you are still in Standard 10/Grade 12, you may be included in the selection procedure, but your selection is conditional pending your final matric results.
2. You need to be in reasonably good health (will have a physical examination)

Application requirements
APS score of 27/32, with compulsory NSC subject English 4 (HL/FAL)and Mathematics Literacy or Mathematics at Level 3 and Life Orientation Level 4, or matric exemption 32 points
How to apply
The Central Admissions Office handles admissions to all tertiary education institutions in the region, so make sure that you indicate that you want to study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Your completed application form must be returned to the office by the 30 September, together with a completed Health Questionnaire, which is obtainable with the application form from the Central Application Office, COA contact details : 031 268 4444.

Certificate Courses offered are:
We offer the bridging course for enrolled to registered nurse and four certificate courses for registered nurses.
Bridging Course
Objectives of the course

• Take an active part in searching for knowledge that will assist him or her to develop theoretical and practical skills in the care of the patient and his/her family as unique physical, psychological, religious and spiritual beings.
• Develop an appreciation of group dynamics by being able to actively participate in small group discussions and in class presentations.
• Develop and utilise good communication skills when interacting with patients, families, colleague and the multidisciplinary health team for effective care of the patient.
• Apply scientific approach to nursing (Nursing Process) for individual and groups at all stages of life span in the following areas : Medical, Surgical, Operating theatre. Paediatrics, Outpatient Department and Casualty.
• Demonstrate skill in partnership building in terms of working with a nursing team in a hospital unit, as well as with a learning group.
• Apply principles of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in managing health problems at all stages of life and in all settings.
• Perform all nursing competencies within the scope of practice for the registered nurse according to SANC regulation R2598 under supervision of a registered nurse.
• Apply principles of responsibility and accountability for own nursing actions and omission according to the Nursing Act 50 of 1978 as amended.
• Demonstrate understanding of the steps of research in nursing and the ethical issues surrounding research on human subjects.
• Develop an appreciation of nursing as a profession by maintaining her/his own professional registration with SANC up to date, debate why nursing is considered a profession and discuss criteria for a profession and the role of professional bodies.
• Apply unit management skills in planning, organising, directing and controlling of a nursing unit.
• Apply principle of primary health care (PHC) in working with disadvantaged communities by being able to assess community needs, identify community health problems and give suggested plan of action for a particular community.

 
Entrance Requirements
 

• Matric or Senior Certificate or Equivalent
• Enrolled Nursing Certificate
• Proof of current enrolment as a nurse
• Two years of experience as an Enrolled Nurse
• Permanently employed and practicing in a SANC approved Hospital

 
Duration of the Course

The course is two year part-time. Classes are held once a month on a Saturday from 8am to 4pm. There is a two week block every six months (Monday to Friday 8am- 4pm)
Curriculum/course content

It comprises of integrated General Nursing Science, Social Science & Ethos and Professional Practice.
1. General Nursing I

• Medical & Surgical Nursing
• Applied Social Science I i.e. Psychology and Sociology
• Applied Ethos and Professional Practice

 
2. Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, chemistry and Pharmacology.
3. General nursing Sciences II

• Medical & Surgical nursing
• Disaster Nursing
• Ethos & professional practice
• Unit Management
• Applied Social Science II
• Applied Research

 
Accreditation
Credits – 128
Assessment criteria
*Continuous assessments, theory and practical case studies and tests
Examination – First Year

• Practical – OSCE (objective, structured clinical evaluation)
• Theory – SANC Integrated General Nursing (Paper 1& 2)

Second Year

• Practical – Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation
• Theory – SANC Integrated General Nursing (Paper 1 & 2)

 
SANC registration process/Certification
Diploma from the South African Nursing Council
The University does NOT automatically issue a certificate. If you are not planning to study further and you want a certificate for this course, you must put your request in writing to us.
Centres where the course is offered
Durban
Contact Details

Programme Co-ordinator	Waheedha Emmamally	Tel: (031) 260-1437 Fax: (031) 260-2855 Emmamally@ukzn.ac.za
Liaison Officer	Anusha Singh	Tel: (031) 260-3122 Fax: (031) 260-2855 singha35@ukzn.ac.za

 
Community Health Nursing
(NB: This course is no longer offered)
For all your outstanding quires kindly contact the following:
 
Contact Details

Liaison Officer

Miss Dolly Zondi

Tel: (031) 260-1431 Fax: (031) 260-1641 zond1@ukzn.ac.za

 
Mental Health Nursing

Objectives of the course
The overall aim of this programme is to equip registered general nurses with a body of mental health nursing skill and knowledge that will enable them to provide community-based primary, secondary and rehabilitative mental health care to individuals, families and groups. Successful completion of this programme may lead to registration with the South African Nursing Council as a psychiatric /mental health nurse.
Entrance Requirements

• Matric or Senior Certificate or Equivalent
• Registered nurse
• Basic mental health
• Advance Mental health

 
Duration of the course
The Duration of the course is 18 Months, runs between January and June of the following year.
Curriculum/Course Content
The 18-month part-time programme is divided into two terms or semesters of seven and eight months respectively. The final two months of the second semester, after the examinations, have been set aside for hospital-based psychiatric practice. The programme is built around the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation.

• The first year focuses on selected aspects of this model, namely psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Treatment methods include psychopharmacology and relapse management. Interpersonal communication is the pivot around which each of these activities revolves. You will therefore be learning and practising a variety of therapeutic communication techniques in the classroom and clinical setting.

 

• The second semester (6 months) deals with issues in risk management, psychosocial rehabilitation and primary mental health care, both of which are aspects of a comprehensive health service. Case management and group work in mental health rehabilitation and health promotion, are the focus of this semester’s work. These methods will enable you to assess and manage the needs of people with psychiatric and/or mental handicap disorders and their family members while at the same time, giving you the experience of continuous patient and family care.

Accreditation
64 credits
Assessment criteria

• Two tests contribute to the theory mark.
• Three written examination papers contribute to the theory mark.
• Clinical practice projects contribute to the clinical mark.
• On-site clinical assessments contribute to the clinical mark.
• To pass the course the student must achieve a 50% minimum for the theory portion and a 50% minimum for the clinical portion.

 
SANC Registration process/Certification
If you successfully complete the course, we lodge your name with the SANC as having completed the course. Thereafter, it is your responsibility to apply for distinguishing devices from the SANC. The SANC will send you a ”Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing Science”.
The University does NOT automatically issue a certificate. If you are not planning to study further and you want a certificate for this course, you must put your request in writing to us.
Centres where the course is offered

• Durban

 
Registration process
Fax letter of request for application forms through to the liaison officer.
Contact Details
 

Progamme Co-ordinator	A Smith	Tel: (031) 260 3578 Fax: (031) 260 1543 smitha1@ukzn.ac.za
Liaison Officer	Dolly Zondi	Tel: (031) 260-1431 Fax: (031) 260-1543 zondi1@ukzn.ac.za

 
Nursing Management

Objectives of the course
At the end of the 18 months pushed into one year, students should be able to :

• Understand the health system in which he/she functions, its inter-relationships, aims, influences in it, strengths and weaknesses.
• Manage human resources to the benefit of the service and the person involved
• Manage the physical resources in their service so that everything is used optimically, and the most efficient service is rendered to the community.
• Involve workers in service planning, management and evaluation.
• Do strategic planning for their service, implement plans and evaluate programmes, use the appropriate leadership style in different situations, which arise in the workplace.
• Effectively use the problem-solving format to address problems arising in the work setting.
• Understand the research process well enough to use research findings and statistical data in management.
• Base his/her managerial practice on a sound knowledge of, as well as legal and ethical prescriptions, theory, leadership and management.

 
Entrance requirements

• Matric or Senior Certificate or Equivalent
• General Nursing

Duration of the course
18 months
Curriculum/Course Content
The programme uses a case study, critical thinking and problem solving approach. The content is organized around management case studies, depicting realistic situations, which top and middle managers may have to handle. The theory influencing the situation and practical ways of intervening. The integrated case studies are organized around five (5) principles :

• Problem solving
• Leadership
• Health & Health Systems
• Management
• Ethical and Legal prescriptions
• All theory is accompanied by relevant examples drawn from the experiences that nurses in rural and urban hospitals and clinics have had.

Accreditation
Credits – 64
Assessment criteria

• Assignments
• Tests
• Examinations

 
SANC registration process/Certification
Diploma from the South African Nursing Council
The University does NOT automatically issue a certificate. If you are not planning to study further and you want a certificate for this course, you must put your request in writing to us.
Centres where the course is offered

• Durban

 
Contact Details

Programme Co-ordinator	Zandile Gumede	Tel: (031) 260-2402 Fax: (031) 260-2855 gumedez@ukzn.ac.za
Liaison Officer	Khanyisile Madlala	Tel: (031) 260-1471 Fax: (031) 260-1543 madlalak1@ukzn.ac.za

 
Primary Care

Objectives of the course/Introduction
There is an enormous need for more nurses to be equipped with this qualification with long name : Health assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The District Health System is being implemented in South Africa, and the emphasis of effective diagnosis and treatment of common and minor ailments at Primary Health Care level, which is part of the Primary Health Care approach, makes this essential. Over the next few years the province of kwaZulu-Natal will literally need hundreds of such trained nurses.
Entrance requirements

• Matric or Senior Certificate or Equivalent
• General Nursing
• Midwifery
• Community Health

Curriculum/Course Content
Content of this programme consist of the following modules :

• Primary level assessment and management (Adult/Child)
• Aids Counseling, Family Planning, I.M.C.I
• Pharmacology (Adult/Child)

Accreditation
Credits – 64
Assessment Criteria

• Assignments
• Exam (theory & practical)

SANC registration process/Certification
Diploma from the South African Nursing Council
The University does NOT automatically issue a certificate. If you are not planning to study further and you want a certificate for this course, you must put your request in writing to us.
Centres where course is offered

• Durban
• Pietermaritzburg
• Empangeni
• Port Shepstone
• Ladysmith/Estcourt
• Newcastle

Contact Details

Programme Co-ordinator	Thandazile Myeza	Tel: (031) 2601279 Fax: (031) 260-1641 myezat1@ukzn.ac.za
Liaison Officer	Arthie Somasundram	Tel: (031) 260-3149 Fax: (031) 260-1543 somasundrama@ukzn.ac.za

Important Notes

1. Dual registration is not allowed. Students are required to successfully complete each course before applying for another.
2. There is no graduation ceremony for these courses. Certificates of completion are only issued if these are requested in writing.

BACHELOR OF NURSING -ADVANCED PRACTICE (BN-AP) PROGRAMME
BACKGROUND
A Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Practice) is a three year degree (if taken full time) which is offered post registration as a general nurse. The aim is to allow these nurses to advance themselves academically and clinically.
If a student completes less credits than is necessary for a degree, s/he can obtain either a Diploma in Nursing or a Certificate in Nursing, depending on the number of credits obtained.
There are the following BNAP options Or streams:
*One can work towards a BN (Adv Prac) through one of the following streams:

• A Comprehensive Practice Degree: This is aimed at people who need one or more of the four basic registrations (General Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery). The student will choose the necessary modules which will lead to comprehensive registration, and also to a degree.
• An Advanced Clinical Degree: A person can also obtain one or two advanced practice (post-basic) registrations by choosing from a series of specialist modules. For instance, a BN (Adv Prac: Oncology and Palliative Care) will demand that one completes Core, specialisation and elective modules. Refer to qualifications matrix, page 8
• A Non-Clinical Degree: Nurses interested in nursing education or management can take a degree in which these qualifications are obtained and in addition complete the core and elective modules.

The school works with the School of Open Learning, which offers foundational and elective courses.
Open Learning is a modern trend in education which tries to remove the barriers which keep adults from learning. Nurses who have to work full time to support themselves and their families, who cannot obtain study leave, and who are far from educational facilities have found all these factors barriers to further education. The University of KwaZulu-Natal addresses these barriers by making some modules available at a distance, in a mixed mode.
Distance Learning means that the student and the teacher are separated by distance for most of the period of study.
The teacher bridges the distance by using aids such as workbooks, study guides, telephone contact, and decentralised libraries and other resources. Some of the nursing modules are offered in this way.
Mixed Mode means that the teaching/learning process includes both face-to-face contact, as well as resource-based teaching. For instance, the General Nursing 1 module is a mixed mode module. Students are given cases which they have to study and prepare at home. They also have classroom sessions, which allow face-to-face teaching. Usually the balance between resources and contact is 50:50.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• All students who register for any of these programmes must be a registered nurse.
• Since these are university programmes, all students must have University exemption. Please remember that even if you did not have
• University Exemption based on your matric certificate, you can obtain mature age exemption if you are 24 years or older.
• One cannot register for a specialist module namely, Advanced Mental Health Nursing and Advanced Midwifery, if you do not have
• the basic module on which it is based.

International students:
These students must process their registration with the South African Nursing Council prior to registration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Their qualifications must have been evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority.
PROGRAMME OPTIONS
TABLE 1: STUDENTS WHO EXIT WITH 384 CREDITS OBTAIN A DEGREE IN NURSING
Compulsory Core Modules:

• General Nursing 1a 32C
• General Nursing 1b 32C
• General Nursing 2a 32C
• General Nursing 2b 32C
• Nursing Research Theory 16C
• Nursing Research Project 32C
• Nursing Philosophy 16C
• Fundamental modules Non-Nursing 64C

Subtotal: 256 Credits

Introduction
The Honours degree is one of the postgraduate programmes offered by the School of Nursing. This degree can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. It is seen to be at the same level as the fourth year of the professional degree. As a result many of the courses are therefore taken with under-graduate students.
Purpose
This degree completes the four years of study that makes it possible to continue with a Masters degree. People who have a three-year degree have to take this degree if they want to continue with a research Masters degree, to give them the research background they need. The Honours Degree also caters for all candidates who have a basic degree which did not include the career option they want to pursue, such as nursing education or nursing management. It is also provided to students from 3-year programmes and the graduates who completed Bachelor of Social Science degree before Community Health Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing was incorporated.
Entry Requirements
The programme is open to students who have attained a sufficiently high standard in the final undergraduate course in Nursing, average of 60%. The candidates are advised that at least two course in two or more of the following are desirable prerequisites: Psychology, Sociology, Social Anthropology; Industrial Sociology; Industrial Psychology.
Duration and Structure of Curriculum
The programme shall extend over at least two semesters and consist of a total of 128credits.
The programme requires completion of six approved courses.
Degree Structure
Compulsory Modules

• Research Methods offered in the Faculty [16] or Nursing Research
• Nursing Philosophy [16]
• Research Project [32]
• Electives worth a total of 64 credits from the following options:
• Nursing Education
• Nursing ManagementPsychiatric Nursing
• Specialised Nursing

NB: Any of the modules listed under the B Nursing (Adv Practice) or
from other Schools in the Faculty or University, may be selected with approval from the relevant Heads of Schools.
Fees
Please make adequate arrangements regarding payment prior to arrival. Fees are increased regularly, and candidates must contact the university fees division for updated figures. Tel: (031) 2602277. Additional costs include traveling to and from Durban, board and logging in Durban, books, and photocopying of reading material. Please make adequate arrangements for finances so that this does not become an added stress during a very demanding academic programme.
Contact Details
For more information contact Carol Dhanraj
Tel: +27 (0) 31 2602255
Fax: +27 (0) 31 2601543
email: dhanrajc@ukzn.ac.za

MASTERS DEGREE IN NURSING (MN)
INTRODUCTION
The School offers two types of masters’ degrees, namely a research masters and a coursework masters. Both types take a minimum of two years when taken on a part-time basis.
1. Research Masters:
The requirements for this degree are that the candidate completes a research project and produces a dissertation.
This type of degree aims at increasing scholarly skills such as researching, theorizing, and analyzing. It does not increase clinical, teaching or managerial skills.
It is suitable for people interested in pursuing an academic career in research. It is also an option for candidates who live too far from the campus to attend course work modules on a weekly basis.
Student fees are paid per calendar year, which means that whether you register in January or November of the same year, the fees are the same fees. The School does not allow students to register throughout the year, but only at the beginning of the year.
Since students come into the programme from different undergraduate programmes, and with various research backgrounds, we require that they attend a week-long research workshop sometime in the course of the first year of registration.This renews the research knowledge of all students,and puts everybody on an equal footing. Every effort is made to pair the student with a research supervisor whose research expertise and interest is similar to the interest of the student.
2. Course Work Masters
The requirements for this degree are that the student completes 160 credits worth of course-work (about five semester courses and examination papers), appropriate experience and a research project in the student’s area of specialization in nursing.
Candidates have to attend lectures one day per week (26 days per year) two summer schools of one or two weeks each and two winter schools of one or two weeks each. Candidates must therefore make adequate arrangements with employers before registering.
The degree cannot be done by correspondence. Students may be expected to do one or two week’s clinical practica during university vacation in July and September.
For the clinical degree, students have to have full-time or part-time employment in their area of specialty and arrange to do the appropriate additional clinical practica. This means at least one day per week for four semesters (52 days). The education coursework masters is only available to full-time students.
Students do two or three semester courses during the first year, and the remaining one or two courses during the second year. The last six months should be spent on the research project. The courses available in the School are listed here; however one course may also be taken in another School within the Faculty.
Clinical masters’ degrees are offered in the specialties listed under Optional Courses. Some specialities are only offered in alternate years.

• Community Health Nursing (generally in even numbered years e.g. 2010,2012)
• Maternal and Child Health Nursing and General Nursing (generally in ordd-numbered years e.g. 2009;2011)

2.1 Compulsory Courses:

• Advanced Practice Nurse role in the S.A. context (16 credits)
• Nursing Research & Nursing Research Methods (16 credits)

2.2 Optional Courses
Critical Care and Trauma (Clinical)

• Essentials of Critical Care Nursing (16 credits)
• Applied Critical Care Nursing (16 credits)
• Trauma Nursing and Life Support (16 credits)

Mental Health Nursing (Clinical)

• Advanced psychiatric nursing skills (16 credits)
• Current issues in Psychiatric Care (16 credits)
• Psychosocial rehabilitation (16 credits)

 
Community Health Nursing (Clinical)

• Primary Care (16 credits)
• Community Health Nursing (16 credits)
• Epidemiology (16 credits)
• Health Measurement l & ll (16 credits)

 
Advanced Midwifery and Maternal-Child Health Nursing (Clinical)

• Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing (32 credits)
• Child and Adolescent Health (16 credits)
• Women’s Health (16 credits)
• Family Therapy (Optional)

 
Gerontological Nursing (Clinical)

• Theoretical Basis for Gerontological Nursing (16 Credits)
• Assessment of a geriatric client (16 credits)
• The care of the aging client (16 credits)

 
Health Services Administration

• Comparative Health Care Systems (16 credits)
• Ebaluation of Health Care Systems (16 credits)

Nursing Education

• Educational administration (24 credits)
• Progressive Education for Health Professionals l (24 credits)
• Progressive Education for Health Professionals ll (24 credits)

 
Optional Courses for Nursing Education

• Community and Problem-based education (16 credits)
• Fundamental Education (16 credits)

 
Nursing Research

• Nursing Research & Nursing Research Methods (16 credits)
• Qualitative Research (16 credits)
• Health Measurement l & ll (16 credits)

 
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Research Masters:

• A 65% average in the under-graduate degree and a 60% average in an Honours degree and / or passing an admission examination.
• An honors degree is required for this degree.

The writing of the admission examination takes a full morning, and should be arranged by appointment with the School of Nursing between July and early October of the preceding year.
FEES:
Doing a Masters degree costs about R16000. Please make adequate arrangements regarding payment prior to arrival. Additional costs include traveling to and from Durban, board and lodging in Durban, books, and photocopying of reading material. Please make adequate arrangements for finances, so that this does not become an added stress during a very full and exacting academic programme.
Fees are increased regularly, and candidates must contact the university fees division for updated figures. Tel No.: (031) 2602277.
Contact
1. Contact Mrs Carol Dhanraj at the School of Nursing

Tel.No: 031 2602255/ 260 2499;

Fax 031 2601543;

Email Address dhanrajc@ukzn.ac.za to make an appointment to visit the School and for enquirers about the entrance examination.