Health Sciences and Social Services Curative Health

Provide Relevant Nursing Care In Order To Meet Needs Identified According To The Scientific Approach To Nursing Training

SAQA US 120174 | NQF 3 | Credits 28 | Duration 25 Days
From $4,007 per delegate

Description

This course equips nursing professionals with the skills to apply the scientific approach to nursing, including assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Learners will provide holistic, patient-centred care that addresses identified needs, ensuring compliance with South African nursing standards and ethical guidelines.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply the scientific nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
  • Analyze patient data to identify actual and potential health needs using evidence-based frameworks.
  • Design individualized nursing care plans that prioritize interventions based on identified needs.
  • Implement nursing interventions safely and ethically, adapting to changing patient conditions.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care against expected outcomes and modify plans accordingly.
  • Demonstrate professional accountability and documentation in accordance with SAQA standards.

Target Audience

Registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and nursing auxiliaries seeking to enhance their clinical reasoning and care planning skills in line with the scientific approach to nursing.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to the Scientific Approach in Nursing

Objectives:
• Define the scientific approach and its relevance to nursing practice.
• Identify the steps of the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation.
• Explain the role of evidence-based practice in nursing.
• Differentiate between subjective and objective data collection methods.

Topics:
• Overview of the nursing process
• Scientific method vs. nursing process
• Importance of critical thinking
• Introduction to evidence-based practice
• Data collection techniques
• Ethical considerations in nursing care

Day 2: Comprehensive Health Assessment

Objectives:
• Conduct a systematic health assessment using inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
• Differentiate between focused and comprehensive assessments.
• Document assessment findings accurately.
• Identify normal versus abnormal findings.

Topics:
• Head-to-toe assessment framework
• Vital signs measurement and interpretation
• Health history interview techniques
• Physical examination skills
• Documentation standards (SOAP notes)
• Recognizing red flags

Day 3: Nursing Diagnosis and Problem Identification

Objectives:
• Formulate nursing diagnoses using NANDA-I taxonomy.
• Prioritize nursing diagnoses based on urgency and patient needs.
• Differentiate between nursing and medical diagnoses.
• Apply clinical reasoning to validate diagnoses.

Topics:
• NANDA-I nursing diagnoses
• Diagnostic process: clustering cues
• Prioritization frameworks (Maslow, ABCs)
• Collaborative problems
• Common diagnostic errors
• Case studies: formulating diagnoses

Day 4: Planning Patient-Centred Care

Objectives:
• Develop SMART goals and outcomes for patient care.
• Design individualized care plans incorporating patient preferences.
• Select appropriate nursing interventions based on evidence.
• Outline evaluation criteria for expected outcomes.

Topics:
• Goal setting: SMART framework
• Care plan components
• Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC)
• Patient-centred care principles
• Interdisciplinary collaboration in planning
• Documenting care plans

Day 5: Implementation of Nursing Interventions

Objectives:
• Execute nursing interventions safely and effectively.
• Adapt interventions to patient responses and changing conditions.
• Demonstrate proper technique for common procedures.
• Communicate interventions clearly to healthcare team.

Topics:
• Direct vs. indirect care interventions
• Standard precautions and infection control
• Medication administration safety
• Wound care basics
• Patient education techniques
• Delegation and supervision

Day 6: Evaluation of Nursing Care

Objectives:
• Evaluate patient progress toward expected outcomes.
• Modify care plans based on evaluation findings.
• Use evaluation data to improve nursing practice.
• Document evaluation results appropriately.

Topics:
• Outcome evaluation methods
• Reassessment techniques
• Quality improvement indicators
• Audit and feedback
• Revising care plans
• Case study: evaluation cycle

Day 7: Pain Assessment and Management

Objectives:
• Assess pain using validated tools (numeric, Wong-Baker, etc.).
• Develop a pain management plan incorporating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Evaluate effectiveness of pain interventions.
• Address barriers to pain management.

Topics:
• Pain physiology and types
• Pain assessment scales
• Pharmacological: analgesics, adjuvants
• Non-pharmacological: heat/cold, relaxation
• Pain documentation
• Cultural considerations

Day 8: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance

Objectives:
• Identify imbalances in fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base status.
• Interpret relevant laboratory values (e.g., Na+, K+, pH).
• Implement nursing interventions to correct imbalances.
• Monitor patient response to therapy.

Topics:
• Fluid compartments and regulation
• Electrolyte imbalances: causes and symptoms
• ABG interpretation basics
• IV therapy and maintenance
• Documentation of intake and output
• Complications of imbalance

Day 9: Nutrition and Elimination Needs

Objectives:
• Assess nutritional status and elimination patterns.
• Develop care plans addressing nutritional deficits and elimination issues.
• Implement interventions such as feeding assistance and bowel management.
• Educate patients on dietary modifications.

Topics:
• Nutritional screening tools (MUST, MNA)
• Enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Bowel elimination: constipation, diarrhoea
• Urinary elimination: incontinence, retention
• Dietary modifications for chronic conditions
• Documentation of nutrition and elimination

Day 10: Mobility and Safety Needs

Objectives:
• Assess mobility and risk for falls.
• Implement fall prevention strategies.
• Assist patients with safe transfers and ambulation.
• Use assistive devices appropriately.

Topics:
• Mobility assessment (e.g., get-up-and-go test)
• Fall risk assessment tools
• Safe patient handling techniques
• Use of walkers, canes, wheelchairs
• Environmental safety modifications
• Restraint alternatives

Day 11: Skin Integrity and Wound Care

Objectives:
• Assess skin integrity and pressure injury risk (Braden scale).
• Implement preventive measures for pressure injuries.
• Clean and dress wounds using aseptic technique.
• Monitor wound healing and document appropriately.

Topics:
• Skin assessment techniques
• Pressure injury staging
• Wound cleansing and debridement
• Dressing selection
• Negative pressure wound therapy basics
• Documentation of wound status

Day 12: Infection Prevention and Control

Objectives:
• Apply standard and transmission-based precautions.
• Identify signs and symptoms of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Implement infection control measures in daily care.
• Educate patients and families on infection prevention.

Topics:
• Hand hygiene compliance
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Isolation precautions
• Sterile technique for procedures
• HAI surveillance
• Antibiotic stewardship basics

Day 13: Perioperative Nursing Care

Objectives:
• Prepare patients physically and psychologically for surgery.
• Provide intraoperative and postoperative care.
• Monitor for complications such as haemorrhage or infection.
• Educate patients on postoperative recovery.

Topics:
• Preoperative assessment and teaching
• Surgical site marking and consent
• Intraoperative nursing roles
• Postoperative monitoring (vital signs, pain)
• Wound and drain management
• Discharge planning

Day 14: Care of Patients with Chronic Conditions

Objectives:
• Assess and manage common chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, COPD).
• Develop self-management education plans.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary care for chronic disease.
• Monitor for complications and exacerbations.

Topics:
• Chronic disease pathophysiology overview
• Medication management
• Lifestyle modifications
• Home monitoring techniques
• Support groups and resources
• Palliative care integration

Day 15: Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs

Objectives:
• Assess mental health status using screening tools.
• Provide therapeutic communication and support.
• Identify signs of common mental health disorders (depression, anxiety).
• Implement de-escalation techniques for agitated patients.

Topics:
• Mental status examination (MSE)
• Therapeutic communication techniques
• Common psychiatric conditions
• Crisis intervention
• Psychotropic medication basics
• Stigma reduction

Day 16: Maternal and Child Health Nursing

Objectives:
• Provide antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.
• Assess newborn health using APGAR and other tools.
• Educate mothers on breastfeeding and newborn care.
• Identify complications in pregnancy and postpartum.

Topics:
• Antenatal assessments and screenings
• Stages of labour and nursing support
• Postpartum haemorrhage prevention
• Newborn assessment and resuscitation
• Immunization schedules
• Family planning counselling

Day 17: Paediatric Nursing Care

Objectives:
• Assess growth and development using age-appropriate tools.
• Provide family-centred care for paediatric patients.
• Administer medications safely to children.
• Recognize signs of child abuse and neglect.

Topics:
• Growth charts and developmental milestones
• Paediatric pain assessment
• Medication dosage calculations
• Common childhood illnesses
• Child protection protocols
• Play therapy and distraction

Day 18: Gerontological Nursing Care

Objectives:
• Assess age-related changes in physical and cognitive function.
• Implement interventions to promote healthy ageing.
• Manage polypharmacy and medication interactions.
• Address elder abuse and end-of-life issues.

Topics:
• Physiological ageing changes
• Cognitive assessment (MMSE, MoCA)
• Fall prevention in elderly
• Medication review and reconciliation
• Advanced care planning
• Elder abuse screening

Day 19: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Objectives:
• Apply legal frameworks (Nursing Act, Health Professions Act) to practice.
• Obtain informed consent and maintain confidentiality.
• Resolve ethical dilemmas using decision-making models.
• Document care in compliance with legal standards.

Topics:
• Scope of practice and accountability
• Patient rights and advocacy
• Informed consent process
• Confidentiality and POPIA
• Ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, justice
• Incident reporting and disclosure

Day 20: Integration and Capstone Assessment

Objectives:
• Synthesize all nursing process steps in a comprehensive care plan.
• Demonstrate clinical reasoning and decision-making in complex scenarios.
• Present a case study integrating assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Reflect on professional growth and areas for development.

Topics:
• Comprehensive case study analysis
• Simulated patient scenarios
• Peer review and feedback
• Quality improvement project presentation
• Self-assessment and reflective practice
• Final assessment: written and practical

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

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Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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