Yearbooks

Programme: BCur Community Nursing Science

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty
10131085 Faculty of Health Sciences
Credits Duration
Minimum duration of study: 3 years
Contact:
Prof FM Mulaudzi
[email protected]
+27 (0)123541908

Programme information

The Bachelor of Nursing Science (Education and Administration) [BCur(I et A)] provides professional nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council (SANC), with the opportunity of obtaining post-basic, professional qualifications in any of the following areas of specialisation (major speciality):

  1. Nursing Management
  2. Nursing Education
  3. Community Nursing Science
  4. Clinical Nursing Science, with a selected subspeciality in the second year of study, namely:
  • Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science
  • Neonatal Nursing Science
  • Child Nursing Science
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing: General
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing:
  • Paediatric
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing: Trauma and Emergency Nursing
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Operating Theatre Nursing
  • Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care.

Successful completion of the degree programme will also provide graduates with the opportunity to further their studies, in their chosen fields of specialisation at postgraduate level, provided there are sufficient applications.

Candidates who comply with the admission requirements must compile a suitable curriculum in the selected area of specialisation, in consultation with the head of department.
The curriculum mentioned in iii above, must be reviewed on an annual basis in consultation with the head of department.

Conferment of the degree
The Bachelor of Nursing Science (Education and Administration) [BCur(I et A)] is conferred on students who comply with all the requirements for the degree programme and who have completed all required practical and/or clinical training.

The degree certificate will be endorsed with the specific area of specialisation (and the relevant subspeciality, in the case of Clinical Nursing).

Note: Also consult the General Regulations.

Admission requirements

Registration as a nurse with two years’ experience

Please note that Grade 12 learners cannot apply for these programmes.

Adiitional requirement:

  • Candidates who intend following Community Nursing Science must also be registered with the South African Nursing Council as Midwife/Accoucheur.

Additional requirements

Proof of registration with the South African Nursing Council as a General Nurse.

  1. Candidates who intend following Community Nursing Science must also be registered with the South African Nursing Council as Midwife/Accoucheur.
  2. At least two years of appropriate experience in the workplace as registered nurse (excluding other nursing-related coursework) for Nursing Management and Nursing Education.

Additional admission requirements for Clinical Nursing Science

  1. At least one year of appropriate experience in the workplace, relevant to the area of specialisation and approved by the head of department; excluding other nursing-related coursework.
  2. Students must have access, at least on a part-time basis, to clinical training facilities which are suitable for the proposed area of specialisation and approved by the head of department.
  3. With the exception of the subspecialities Critical Care Nursing – General; Trauma and Emergency Nursing and Operating Theatre Nursing, students must also be registered with the South African Nursing Council as Midwife/Accoucheur.

Other programme-specific information

A minimum of 360 credits is required, subject to:

  1. The successful completion, at 100, 200 and 300 level, of two approved major subjects (core modules) within a given area of specialisation.
  2. Successful completion of all prescribed fundamental modules.
  3. Satisfactory performance and successful completion of the required practical work and/or clinical training specified for the field of specialisation in question.
  4. Successful completion of an approved curriculum (degree programme) compiled of modules equivalent to ten year modules.

Transitional measures

Students will be exempted from corresponding modules passed in the preceding seven (7) years.

Examinations and pass requirements

Academic exclusion from further study

  1. In accordance with the stipulations of the General Regulations, a student must complete the degree programme for which he or she is registered within the prescribed minimum period of study plus two years.
  2. Subject to the stipulations mentioned in a. above, a student in the School of Health Sciences, who fails a year of study for the second time, will only be allowed one opportunity to repeat a year of study, and will have to submit a written application for readmission to the programme in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
  • In accordance with the stipulations of the General Regulations, no minimum year or semester mark is needed for admission to the examination, and all registered students are admitted to the examination automatically.
  • The final mark for a specific module in Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Therapy and Human Nutrition (at least 50% is required to pass) is calculated from the examination mark as well as the mark compiled from the evaluation of a student during continuous, objective and controlled assessment opportunities during the course of the quarter/semester/year. At least one formal assessment per module is set as the minimum norm, and students will be exposed on a continuous and regular basis to self-directed assignments in order to promote reflective learning.
  • In the case of modules with practical components, students are required to also comply with the applicable attendance requirements with regard to acquiring practical skills before a pass mark can be obtained for the module.
  • There are two main examination opportunities per annum, the first and second examination. In respect of first-semester modules, the first examination opportunity is in May/June and the second examination opportunity in July. In respect of second-semester modules, the first examination opportunity is in October/ November and the second examination opportunity in November/December of the same year. Where students need to work additional clinical hours to be allowed to do a second examination, the Head of Department will determine the second examination opportunity.
  • Only two examination opportunities per module are allowed. If a student fails a module at the second examination opportunity, the module must be repeated.
  • A second examination opportunity in a module is granted to students in the following cases:

- If a student obtains a final mark of less than 50% in the relevant module at the first examination opportunity and thus fails.

- If a student does not obtain the subminimum in the examination, as required for a specific module.

- If a student does not sit the examination in a module at the first examination opportunity due to illness or extraordinary circumstances.

  • Students intending to sit the second examination due to the reasons mentioned above, must register for the second examination opportunity 24 hours after the results have been made public.
  • If a student fails a module at the first examination opportunity, the examination mark obtained in the relevant module at the second examination opportunity will be calculated as the final mark. The marks obtained with continuous evaluation during the course of the quarter/semester/year will not be taken into calculation. If the student passes the module at the second examination opportunity, a maximum of 50% is awarded as a pass mark to the module in question.
  • If a student could not sit the examination in a module at the first examination opportunity due to illness or extraordinary circumstances, the continuous evaluation mark, together with the examination mark obtained in the module in question at the second examination opportunity, will be calculated as the final mark obtained in the module.
  • The School of Healthcare Sciences applies the General Regulations, according to which a student requiring a limited number of modules to complete his or her degree, may in terms of faculty regulations, be admitted to a special examination in the modules in question.

Promotion to next study year

  • A student must pass in all the prescribed core modules of a specific year of study to be promoted to a subsequent year of study. A student can only be promoted to a subsequent year of study if the student has not failed more than two fundamental modules of seven weeks each per semester or one module of 14 weeks per semester. A non-negotiable prerequisite for admission to the final year of study is pass marks in all the core and fundamental modules of the preceding years of study. Refer to the programmes for fundamental modules in each discipline.
  • A pass mark refers to a final mark of at least 50%.
  • Modules with practical and clinical training credits cannot be passed unless all the prescribed clinical hours and practical activities have been completed to the satisfaction of the head of department.
  • The Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting may, after assessing the student’s total profile, grant special approval to be promoted to the next year of study.
  • The exception is the Department of Human Nutrition, where the regulations as applicable in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences regarding the modules presented by that Faculty, are relevant.
  • Modules can only be taken in advance or repeated if it can be accommodated in the existing examination timetable.
  • A student who must repeat a year of study may, with the approval of the Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting and the head of department concerned, be allowed to take fundamental modules of the subsequent year, if he/she complies with all the prerequisites for the relevant modules. No adjustment to existing timetables will be allowed.

The following fundamental modules are relevant:

  • Department of Nursing Science: SLK 110, 120; FSG 251,252
  • Department of Physiotherapy: SOH 254; FSG 251, 252, 261, 262; SLK 210, ANP 210; GMB 252, 253, 254; FAR 381, 382
  • Department of Occupational Therapy: ZUL 110; SEP 110; SLK 210, 220; FSG 251, 252, 261, 262; ANP 210; RPD 481, GNK 286
  • Department of Human Nutrition: FLG 211, 212, 221, 222; BCM 251, 252, 261, 262; FAR 381, 382, VDS 322; VDB 321
  • Department of Radiography: FSG 251, 252, 262; GNK 286; ANP 210.

Practical/clinical/internship information

Certain hospitals and healthcare facilities have been approved for the purposes of practical and/or clinical training. Students will be required to complete their practical work and/or clinical training at these facilities.

Pass with distinction

The degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained an average of at least 75% in the required 300-level modules.

General information

Faculty certificates

  1. Students who exit from the programme before completing the degree, and who fulfil all the requirements for registration of an additional qualification with the SANC, will be issued with an applicable Faculty Certificate.
  2. Listing or registration with the SANC can be obtained in the following areas of specialisation, depending on the specific modules passed:
  1. Listing: Handling of Medicine in Nursing and the Physical Evaluation of Patients
  2. Registration:
  • Nursing Administration
  • Nursing Education
  • Community Nursing Science
  • Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science
  • Neonatal Nursing Science
  • Child Nursing Science
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing – General
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing – Paediatric
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing – Trauma and Emergency Nursing
  • Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Operating Theatre Nursing
  • Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care

Minimum credits: 268

Fundamental modules

  • Module content:

    Healthcare environment: structure, dynamics and impact on the clinical standards of nursing practice.
    National population and health profiles. Epidemiological viewpoints on health. The healthcare environment and the dynamics of healthcare services. Factors influencing contemporary health service delivery. Policies and the rendering of healthcare in South Africa. Selected healthcare practice models (including the characteristics of nursing practice). The basic principles and methodology of nursing research. Applying research to nursing practice.
    Leadership principles in nursing practice.
    Leadership styles and skills. Directing in the nursing unit. Principles of human resource management and development. The principles of adult teaching and learning in clinical practice. The adult learner and evaluation.

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  • Module content:

    Communication and management principles for nursing practice.
    Assertiveness and interpersonal communication, team building, and managing cultural diversity and change. Written communications. Management of conflict, crisis intervention and stress management. Facilitation of health, wellness and community development.
    Basic first-level management principles in nursing practice. Quality assurance and standards for nursing practice. Principles of financial planning and management. Private nursing practice.
    Ethical-legal framework for nursing practice.
    Professional tasks and responsibilities of registered nurses and midwives/accoucheurs. Development of the nursing profession, nursing ethos and fundamental viewpoints. Principles of professional practice. Conduct, statutory control and professional self-regulation. Human rights, the rights of patients and international perspectives on patient care. Ethics, ethical dilemmas and ethical decision-making in nursing practice.

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Core modules

  • Module content:

    The community nursing context.
    Community health, community-based nursing care and primary health care (PHC).
    Processes in community nursing.
    Assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation. Health education and home healthcare nursing.

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  • Module content:

    Care of individuals, families and communities in the community nursing context. Comprehensive approach to the care of infants, children, women, men and those within unique settings or circumstances (e. g. the elderly, the homeless, marginalised communities, emergency situations and reproductive health). Common community health problems.
    Communicable diseases and immunisation, HIV/Aids. Chronic physical and mental health problems. Social pathology in the community.

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  • Module content:

    *Attendance module only
    Community nursing science practical work.
    Compulsory practical work, which includes mother and child health, school health, occupational health and safety, geriatric care, the prevention and control of communicable diseases, rehabilitation services and community resources, environmental safety, physical and nursing assessment of patients, diagnosis and care and health education.
    Family study and community profile.

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  • Module content:

    Systems approach, theories and policies: Application in nursing management. Ethical code and the generic administrative process. Planning and organising on first-level management. Healthcare facilities, financial planning and time utilisation. Problem-solving, change and organisation.

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  • Module content:

    Directing on first-level management. Provision and utilisation of personnel. Leadership. Control on first-level management. Inspections and supervision. Patient classification and record keeping.

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  • Module content:

    *Attendance module only
    Nursing management practical work.
    Compulsory practical work, including budgeting, statistics, non-nursing duties, job descriptions, memoranda and report writing. Performance appraisal tool.

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Minimum credits: 76

Core modules

Minimum credits: 126

Fundamental modules

Core modules


The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

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