SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge of applied sociology in the care of patients 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252103  Demonstrate knowledge of applied sociology in the care of patients 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nursing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful for people working as clinically focused, service orientated, independent, registered staff nurses, who are able to render basic care to persons with stable and uncomplicated general health problems, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework.

This unit standard will recognise the essential knowledge and skills required to apply foundational knowledge and theories of anthropology and sociology in the caring for patients within a multi-cultural context.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Discuss sociological and anthropological theories as related to nursing practice.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of social and cultural concepts and principles related to nursing practice.
  • Apply knowledge of sociology and anthropology in clinical practice. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication and Maths Literacy skills at NQF Level 4. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:
  • The Nurse functions within the scope of practice of a staff nurse as formulated by the SANC and the Nursing Act. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Discuss sociological and anthropological theories as related to nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Nursing is discussed in relation to prevailing social issues that give rise to the circumstances under which care is provided, and the provisions made in legislation for addressing them. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Legislation includes:
  • Constitution; legislation dealing directly with human rights.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The manifestations of social issues in a South African context are described and explained with reference to their underlying causes in South African society. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Manifestations include:
  • Poverty; health issues (mental illness: depression and suicide); substance abuse; crime; abuse and exploitation (including violence); gangsterism; sex work; children living and working on the streets; inadequate housing; child trafficking; child abuse; redefining of family life (new and emerging issues-child headed households).
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The political focus and strategies of the day are discussed with reference to their impact on health care in the everyday lives of people. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Political consequences include:
  • Impact of apartheid on health care; HIV strategy and the roll out of ARVs.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The relationship between social context and individual well-being is described with reference to risk factors, patients in need of care, and patient resiliency. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Risk factors include:
  • Poverty; unemployment; environment; family breakdown; substance abuse and other addictions; street children; violence.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Social issues in a South African context are described and explained in terms of their impact on people and their behaviour, particularly as it relates to health care users. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Issues include:
  • South African history; racism; political (oppression) and economic systems (exploitation); gender imbalance; religious intolerance; cultural intolerance; ethno-centricism (cultural/xenophobia); sexism and heterosexism; classism; colonialism; illiteracy; urban-rural divide; globalisation; land ownership.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Particular manifestations of social issues are described in terms of their prevalence in particular areas, risk factors in those areas, and prevalence in own nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Different responses to health care issues nationally and internationally are identified and explained in terms of the world views of different societies and peoples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of social and cultural concepts and principles related to nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different communities are discussed with reference to their essential social structures and the political, social, and economic influences which shape them. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Structures include:
  • Family structures.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Theoretical interpretations of society and its structures selected offer useful insights into, and assist in developing an understanding of the different communities in which health care is provided. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Social dynamics, as they related to transformation and change, are explored for their impact on community health and the emergence of health issues. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Issues of language, culture and religion are discussed for their impact on nursing practice and implications for the approaches adopted in the provision of health care services. The discussion includes ways in which nursing care may be adapted to meet needs and accommodate different beliefs and customs, without endangering life, or infringing the law. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Responses to issues of language, culture and religion reveal cultural sensitivity which upholds the dignity of the individual. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Norms and values of particular societies are identified and discussed with reference to the determinants which drive particular societies, and the implications of this for health care provision. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Determinants include:
  • Economy; migrancy; poverty, affluence; housing.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply knowledge of sociology and anthropology in clinical practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The sociological and anthropological determinants of health are identified and integrated into health assessments for a particular context and/or community. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Determinants include:
  • Background, race and gender, class, culture, religion.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Identified health problems are interpreted within a socio-political and economic context of health and illness. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Understanding of own experience in terms of responses to social issues promotes a more understanding and less judgemental approach to patients and behaviour in context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Understanding includes:
  • Own past, political experiences, oppression and exploitation, socioeconomic circumstances, privilege and lack thereof.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Own understanding and appreciation of diversity in the context of social issues promotes empathy for, and appreciation of, the challenges facing the patient, family and/or community. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Diversity includes:
  • Social, cultural, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic or social origin, marital status, birth, conscience, pregnancy, belief, sex.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The importance of advocacy is described in relation to those social issues and their manifestations prevalent in own scope of work, and the implications of this for nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Transcultural nursing is discussed with reference to the interface between anthropology and nursing intended to guide culturally informed clinical practice, and develop appreciation of the effects of culture in the resolution of individual, group, community, and/or family problems. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Anthropological concepts include:
  • Cultural brokerage; simultaneous dual ethnocentrism; multiple clinical realities; the patient as cultural informant; cultural assessment of patient views of clinical reality.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The problems of making anthropology and transcultural nursing clinically relevant through a transcultural nursing model are presented and methods are recommended for addressing such problems. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Accreditation Options:
  • Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option:
  • The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    Embedded knowledge includes:
  • Integration of sociological theories and anthropological as well as applied sociology in the care of patients.
  • Social issues with the South African context, and their impact on health.
  • Transformation and change theories.
  • Cultural diversity. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

    Note: Core: The standard involves working with people and solving problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

    Note: Nursing care provision is team based. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: Critical in understanding and dealing with issues and problems of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: Core to the standard and gathering and recording patient information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations.

    Note: Core to the standard: Communicating with patients. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Note: Indirect: Care for the health of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

    Note: Core: Understanding the impact of events on people. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Notes to Assessors:

    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure that evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

    The following particular issues should be taken into consideration when assessing against this unit standard:
  • Formative: The SANC guidelines are used as a reference for integrated assessment. A variety of assessment strategies and/or approaches integrating theory and practice must be used. These could be tests, assignments, projects, demonstrations or clinical assessments or any other applicable method.
  • Summative: This could take a form of oral, written and/or practical assessments as agreed to with the relevant ETQA.

    Definition of Terms:

    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. Further clarification of terms is provided as follows:
  • The terms "patient" and "health care user" are used interchangeably in this unit standard. The term patient is used internationally, and the term health care user is used in the Nursing Act 33 of 2005, as well as the National Health Act 61 of 2003. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59236   National Diploma: Nursing  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2020-07-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Core  59257   Bachelor of Nursing  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.