Course dates: Course runs for 16 weeks in February and August every year. 

Applications for the 27th Jan - 25th May 2025 course are now closed, but adverts will appear on our social media sites in first half of 2025 for the Aug - Nov course. 

Admission requirements:
All applicants need to:

• Have completed basic nurse training and be registered with the South African Nursing Council (or equivalent) as a Professional or Enrolled Nurse.
• Be working with critically sick children, either regularly or occasionally, irrespective of clinical setting. You do not need to work in a paediatric intensive care unit to register for this course. 
• Have easy and regular access to a computer (not just a smartphone) and reliable, strong internet connection. Access to a printer may also be beneficial on occasion.  

Learning outcomes: At the end of the course, participants will be able to

1. Articulate their role, within the complex system and environments in which critically sick children are nursed to ensure safe and efficient care for best possible outcomes.
2. Explain the anatomical, physiological, and developmental differences across the age-span of a critically sick child and how this impacts their response to illness and the required nature of care.
3. More confidently provide safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care to critically sick children, using the Regul8 Framework as a guide.
4. Recognise and utilise the important supportive role and resource of the principal caregiver and family in the pathway of a critically sick child.

Course content:

Block 1 (weeks 1- 9)

Break week – no studies this week.

Block 2 (weeks 10 - 16)

Format:
The course is offered FULLY ONLINE using Vula (University of Cape Town’s (UCT) electronic learning platform).

This means that there is no need to be in class, or even online, at any set time in the week. The course can be completed at a time to suit the participant, scheduled around other family/work/life commitments.

Course offered in English.

Certification:
A UCT Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those that have completed all learning activities and completed and submitted the asssignment for feedback to a adequate standard.

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To apply, click here: 
We encourage you to apply as soon as the advert for each intake is released. Places on the course are limited and offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

Fees:
R7,200 (Includes full online access to course material and support from Specialist Children’s Nurse Educators).

N.B. If offered a place, FULL payment is required within approx. 5 weeks of the closing date. Failure to make payment by this date will result in loss of your place on the course.

A limited number of African Paediatric Fellowship Programme bursaries are available for nurses from other African countries (not South Africa). To apply for a bursary, tick the appropriate box on the application form and submit the following TWO documents to faiza.pearce@uct.ac.za:

1.     A letter of motivation written by yourself explaining why this course will be beneficial to you and your clinical setting
2.    A letter of motivation from your manager explaining why the applicant's completion of the course will be beneficial to the clinical setting

These letters need to be received before the course application closing date. Failure to complete this process will make one ineligible for a bursary. Please note that there are only a limited number of bursaries available and an application for a bursary does not guarantee receipt of one.