University of the Witwatersrand Nursing Courses

University of the Witwatersrand Nursing Courses; The Bachelor of Nursing degree is a four year honours’ equivalent degree which prepares nursing professionals for nursing and midwifery practice.

The degree programme includes theoretical study at the Braamfontein and medical school campuses and clinical training at university affiliate hospitals, community clinics and special areas such as specialist units in hospitals and the health care train.

Nursing courses commence in the first year with correlated periods of community based learning activities and in the second semester, hospital-based clinical practice. These become incremental over the next four years of the degree.

The curriculum includes a core of knowledge in the biological, natural, physical and social sciences as well as the theory and practice of nursing science. A strong emphasis on the sciences is a characteristic of a Wits Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

The minimum entry requirements are:

English Home or First Additional Language – Level 4 (50%)
Mathematics – Level 4 (50%)
Life Science and/or Physical Science – Level 4 (50%)

First year

Introduction to Medical Sciences
Chemistry I
Comprehensive Nursing I
Physics I
Introduction to Psychology
Basic Principles of Group and Individual Psychology 1
Human Behavioural Sciences I

Second Year
Comprehensive Nursing II
Anatomy for Nurses
Physiology and Medical Biochemistry

Third Year
Comprehensive Nursing III
Microbiology
Women’s Health I
Psycho-Social I
Pharmacology
Health Psychology
Research Design and Analysis

Fourth Year
Comprehensive Nursing IV
Women’s Health II
Psycho-Social Health II

Structure of the Course

The courses are based primarily on small group learning which allows students to complete a series of clinical problems and are carefully structured to cover the whole curriculum.

The learning process is supported by a wide range of educational resources, libraries, laboratories, lecturers and clinicians, workshops, information technology facilities, seminars, fieldwork, and tutorials.

Introduction to concepts of health, wellness and illness, in relation to the individual family and community; introduction to professional practice including caring rights, values and beliefs; aspects of trans-cultural care including interpersonal relationships, communication and lifestyle; introduction to research obtain the knowledge of research principles and methodologies ; first aid and clinical skills related to the above.

The qualification is a four year full time period of study. The NQF exit level would be a level 7.