Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing is to strengthen and deepen the students’ knowledge and expertise in occupational health nursing as a speciality of the nursing profession. It is designed to develop the student’s skills based on current thinking, practice and research methods in the field of occupational health nursing. A high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence is needed to acquire the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts, to undertake professional and highly skilled teaching ability in the occupational health nursing specialty.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing allows for Certification and Registration as an Occupational Health Nursing Specialist with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Vertically, graduates may articulate into any relevant degree at NQF level 9 in health, for example a Master’s in Occupational Health Nursing or Master’s in Public Health. Horizontally, articulation is possible to the newly regulated postgraduate diplomas within nursing and other fields in Health Science at NQF level 8. Your career opportunities will be related to the roles and functions of the specialist occupational health nurse, which include provider/collaborator/facilitator, professional, and advocacy roles.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing programme, a potential student must have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (R.174) and the Diploma in Nursing: General Nurse (R. 171) with Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (R.1497) must have been achieved.
• 4 Year Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery offered under Regulation 45 of 22 February 1985 as amended
• 2 Year Diploma (Bridging course) leading to registration as General or Psychiatric Nurse offered under Regulation 683 of 14 April 1989 as amended, followed by 1-year Diploma in Midwifery offered under Regulation 254 of 14 February 1975 as amended.
• Proof of current registration as a Professional Nurse or a General Nurse with a Midwifery qualification.
• A student can enter the programme with at least two (2) years’ experience after registration as a Professional Nurse or General Nurse and Midwife. The two years include the year of community service.
• Professional indemnity
• If the student is employed, proof of permission to study by the employer to assist with the practical component.

Selection Process

Students are admitted in accordance with the national prescribed admittance criteria as provided by the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF), and institutional policies which include the Academic Regulations Policy and the Policy on Admission and Selection of the University of Johannesburg. The latter policy states that academics involved in selection and admission “considers the need to redress past inequalities, aims to provide equity, quality and academic excellence…” The UJ Academic Regulations Policy instructs academics to ensure that admission is subject to the student equity profile.

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