UKZN – B Nursing Undergraduate Degree

By enrolling for the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, you can make a difference to your society and your country. South Africa is in a challenging and exciting era, and the changes that will occur involve all spheres of the society – including the health system. You can form an integral part of this dynamic process!

B Nursing is a 4 year degree in Nursing Science which will enable you to register with the South African Nursing Council, as a General Nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and community health nurse. On graduation you can work in a hospital, but also in a clinic, or a hospice, or a ship, or in specialised units such as Critical Care. You can also follow a research career, or study further to obtain a Masters or a Doctoral degree.

A Unique Programme:

The unique and very exciting nature of this programme can be seen in three ways.

• First, there is a strong emphasis on Primary Health Care. This implies that you, the student, move away from the traditional hospital-based training to an active hands-on involvement in various communities. By so doing, you will work in close association with the people of that community, identify their specific health needs and plan strategies to meet these needs.
• A second aspect that makes this programme so unique is the type of teaching-learning interaction that occurs between the student and the lecturer. Gone are the days of falling asleep during lectures! You now get actively involved in the process of acquiring new knowledge by learning from real problems. We use both case-based and problem-based learning.
• Third, during the first and second year you will not be nursing during semester times, which gives you the opportunity to concentrate fully on being a university student.

A Stimulating School

The School of Nursing is one of the best in the country. This can be recognised by the following:

• It is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Africa.
• It has one of the best track records for research in the country.
• It has been in the forefront of nursing education development over the last ten years.
• It attracts students from many countries.
• It collaborates with Schools of Nursing from a range of countries.

Structure of the Course

First Year
Commence, usually, in the fourth week of January

1. Fundamental Nursing
2. Four (4) non-nursing semester modules from social science or other schools of the university. (16 credits per module).
3. Anatomy.
4. Physics and Chemistry (Special Science).
5. Clinical work during all university vacations.
6. Physiology during 2nd semester.

Second Year

1. Four non-nursing subjects, Two of which must be on 2nd year level.
2. Community Health Nursing: Health promotion and illness prevention.
3. Physiology in the first semester
4. Clinical work during all university vacations.

Third Year

1. General Nursing including Unit Administration
2. Nursing Research
3. Pharmacology
4. Three days a week will be spent in a hospital setting, as well as during university
   vacations.

Fourth year

1. Midwifery
2. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.
3. Primary Health Care
4. Four days per week will be spent in the communities, as well as during university vacations.

Requirements

1. You must have a matriculation exemption. If you are still in Standard 10/Grade 12, you may be included in the selection procedure, but your selection is conditional pending your final matric results.
2. You need to be in reasonably good health (will have a physical examination)

Application requirements

APS score of 27/32, with compulsory NSC subject English 4 (HL/FAL)and Mathematics Literacy or Mathematics at Level 3 and Life Orientation Level 4, or matric exemption 32 points

How to apply

The Central Admissions Office handles admissions to all tertiary education institutions in the region, so make sure that you indicate that you want to study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Your completed application form must be returned to the office by the 30 September, together with a completed Health Questionnaire, which is obtainable with the application form from the Central Application Office, COA contact details : 031 268 4444.