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 professionalism in own practice and promote and maintain professionalism in a health care unit and facility 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252148  Demonstrate professionalism in own practice and promote and maintain professionalism in a health care unit and facility 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nursing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Preventive Health 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  8 
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 qualification will enable the learner to function as a clinically focused, service orientated, independent registered professional nurse, who is able to render comprehensive care across all spheres of health, as determined by the appropriate legislative framework. The qualifying learner will apply evidence-based research to enhance nursing practice.

This unit standard will recognise the essential knowledge and skills required to demonstrate professionalism when providing nursing care and will further promote and maintain professionalism amongst members of the nursing team allocated to a health care unit and facility.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate the understanding of professionalism.
  • Display core components essential for professionalism in the practice of nursing.
  • Promote and maintain an environment that is conducive for providing professional nursing care. 
    		•

    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:
  • Nursing team roles and responsibilities.
  • Conflict management.
  • Ethical and Legal Codes.
  • Advocacy skills. 
    		•

    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:
  • Learners function within the scope of practice of a professional nurse as formulated by the SANC. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate the understanding of professionalism. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The conditions for professional conduct in own field are clearly articulated and agree with the provisions of current legislation, codes of conduct and minimum standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Professional is characterised by:
  • Underpinning and recognised body of knowledge; self regulation (Council); ethical stance based on professional norms of service to community; formalised in code of ethics; genuine autonomy of practice.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The parameters of the scope of practice of both the nursing profession and that of each category of nurse are clearly described in line with current legislation and scope of nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Own role and key duties are clearly described in line with the requirements of current legislation and organisational descriptions. The description acknowledges specific duties and responsibilities towards individuals and towards society as part of service provision. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The Profession's right to train, admit, discipline and dismiss its members for failure to act competently, or observe duties and responsibilities, is discussed in line with the professional code of conduct and registration requirements for nurses. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Display core components essential for professionalism in the practice of nursing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Approach to all areas of nursing practice is characterised by honesty and integrity, in line with the professional code of nursing practice. Provision of nursing care is free from the interference of self-interest or interest of others. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Public needs are addressed in an accountable manner that upholds the nursing profession's ethical precepts of practice and takes responsibility for errors made in practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Respect and regard for individual worth and dignity, cultural preferences, rights and choices is displayed in daily actions, decisions and choices in nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Compassion and empathy are demonstrated as central components of nursing care provision, in line with the professional code of nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Confidentiality of patient health information and status is maintained in accordance with the professional code and current legislation and regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Communication and collaboration are conducted in a manner that promotes the co-operative relations required for health care delivery, in accordance with the professional code of nursing practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Self awareness and self knowledge provides the basis for decision-making and self-development with respect to personal and professional relationships and interaction. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Awareness and knowledge include:
  • Need for guidance and supervision; recognition of professional boundaries; insight into the impact of own behaviour on others.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Personal and professional growth, development and competence is facilitated through regular appraisal of the effectiveness of own practice. Remedial action, as required, is consistent with personal development plan. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Promote and maintain an environment that is conducive for providing professional nursing care. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Contexts for care include:
  • Community, Curative and Rehabilitative Services. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Own practice provides examples of excellence which demonstrate expertise through illustration, teaching and explanation in ways that respect and support, without disempowering, the accompanee. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Practice includes:
  • Simulations; role plays; demonstration; shadowing; direct interventions in real situations including emergencies.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appraisals and assessments of colleagues and/or staff members are conducted in a manner that reflects an understanding of new and experienced staff members and their differing needs, and follows the approved format for the organisation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Appraisals include:
  • Evaluation of professionalism, the ethical and legal code set for nursing profession.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The accompanee is encouraged to reflect on skills required to function professionally within their own practice, and to identify areas for further development. Structured observation of accompanee's work is used to assist in the reflective process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Observations reflected to accompanees of their work and professionalism are accurate, and suggested improvements, where required, are supported by reference to accepted theory and best practice in the field. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Development plans for each accompanee are consistent with identified needs and provide specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound guidelines for mentoring and coaching activities. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Plans include:
  • Personal and professional development plans.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Training and development opportunities, including internal experience and external interventions, are consistent with identified needs, and appropriate to the particular individual and context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Professional behaviour is recognised and rewarded in accordance with institutional policies and procedures. Lack of professionalism is addressed through remedial and corrective action in accordance with established policy and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Factors that promote professional behaviour are identified and supported. Factors that act as barriers to maintaining professionalism are identified and addressed, where possible, through improved scheduling, resource allocation and support, or reported to appropriate authorities. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Factors as barriers include:
  • Fatigue, abuse, lack of support, poor working conditions, short staff, disempowered professionals.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Requirements of staff are ensured to comply with ethical codes of practice and the scope of practice for nurses, in line with institutional policies and procedures. 


    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:
  • Definition, elements & components of professionalism.
  • Professional, ethical and moral values and behaviour.
  • Professional performance appraisal and management.
  • Ethical and legal code.
  • Personal and professional growth and enhancement. 
    		•

    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: Identifying implications of professional practice and implementing them implies problem-solving and effective decision making. 

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

    Note: Health care provision is team based. 

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

    Note: Implementing professional practice implies effective organisation. 

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

    Note: Central to monitoring and evaluation components. 

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

    Note: Core competence in professional practice; awareness raising amongst staff. 

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

    Note: Used in assessment and monitoring compliance. 

    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: Factors impacting on the quality of service delivery. 

    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:
  • The SANC guidelines are used as a reference for integrated assessment.
  • Formative 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:
  • Accompanee is the person under the guidance of the skilled professional nurse or accompanist.
  • Accompanist is the person who plays a 'supervisory' or 'mentorship' role.
  • Mentor is a role model of choice. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    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.