About this programme

The Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Adult Critical Care Nursing (ACCN) is a one-year, full-time programme offered at the following Netcare Education campuses:

• Gauteng South West (GSW) in Auckland Park

• Gauteng North East (GNE) in Centurion

• Kwa Zulu Natal (KZN) in Durban

This programme is designed for professional nurses (PNs) who wish to specialise in the care of critically ill adult patients. It equips the PN with advanced clinical skills and in-depth theoretical knowledge to provide high quality, evidence-informed critical care based on sound clinical judgment, as well as the ability to coordinate and lead teams of critical care nurses, communicate assertively within the interprofessional team, set standards of care and work with people from diverse backgrounds.

This programme is accredited by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

Institution selection criteria

It is compulsory for candidates wanting to register for this programme to have one of the following nursing qualifications:

• Professional Nurse (PN) and Midwife â€" NQF Level 8, four-year degree/diploma (R425 of 1985, as amended)

• General Nurse (GN) (R171 or R683) plus Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (ADM) (R1497), NQF Level 7, registered with SANC

• General Nurse (GN) two-year diploma (Regulation 683 of 1989) plus a one-year Diploma in Midwifery (Regulation 254 of 1975)

Candidates must also have successfully completed the following:

• In-Service Certificate (ISC) in Elementary Critical Care Nursing (ECCN) for registered nurses (RN)

• The pre-selection physiology update e-learning programme for PGD applicants, currently offered by Netcare Education (NetEd)

Candidates must have worked a minimum of six consecutive months, in the period directly prior to registration for the programme, in the critical care environment. This may form part of the two years' experience as a PN or RN and midwife, which includes the prescribed period of community service, where applicable.

Registration requirements

For registrations to be successfully approved, the following documents must be submitted:

• Hospital Permission Letter

• Matric certificate

• Nursing qualifications

• ISC ECCN for RN certificate

• Physiology e-learning Update Completion letter

• SANC annual practicing license (APL) certificate

• Valid basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certificate

• Certified copy of Identity Document (ID)

• Proof of residence not older than three months

Foreign national applicants have additional requirements â€" please see the downloadable brochure below for full details.