Nursing

The Discipline of Nursing, previously known as the School of Nursing, is accredited to offer undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications that lead to registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The SANC Reference number for the UKZN Nursing Education Institution (NEI) is S95. The Discipline of Nursing is recognised for its innovative competency-based and primary health care (PHC) oriented educational programmes, its research activities, extensive work in Africa, and international network of scholars. It is one of the four World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing and Midwifery in the African Region. The Discipline was initially awarded the WHOCC status in 1999 and has been consistently renewed. There are five (5) major focus areas of research within the School, viz. HIV/AIDS care; psycho-social rehabilitation; PHC and community health promotion; innovative teaching and learning; critical care and trauma management.

Vision

The vision of the discipline is to establish itself as a centre of excellence in Nursing and Midwifery education in Africa and the rest of the World.

Mission

The discipline’s mission is to contribute to the development of Regional, National and International Communities of health professionals and scholars by extending the boundaries of knowledge through innovative research and education transferring such knowledge into health care practice in a dynamic and diverse society.

A Legacy of Firsts

Our journey began in 1956 with the introduction of the Advanced Diploma in Nursing Education at the then University of Natal. In 1962, we welcomed our first cohort of 10 students into the Bachelor of Social Science (BSoc Sc) in Nursing. Since then, the School has grown significantly, now serving over 1,750 undergraduate students and approximately 90 postgraduate students.

In 1971, the University appointed its first Professional Chair in the Department of Nursing. The School played a pivotal role in advocating for equal education opportunities for African nurses, culminating in the appointment of the first African academic in 1988.

National and International Recognition

Renowned for our community-based education initiatives, the School has earned both national and international acclaim for academic excellence and forward-thinking leadership. In 2004, following the merger of the Universities of Natal and Durban-Westville, the School became one of six schools within the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Our postgraduate programmes are designed to meet the evolving healthcare needs of South Africa and the broader African continent. As a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in the African Region, first awarded in 1999 and renewed in 2003, we have taken on a leadership role across the continent.

Advancing Evidence-Based Practice

In 2002, the School was designated the South Africa Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Collaborating Centre for evidence-based nursing. This recognition has expanded our global footprint, enabling us to participate in high-impact projects at local, national, and international levels.

Strategic Partnerships and Global Impact

Our partnerships span the globe:

Uthukela Partnership for Health: Collaborating with district health providers on child survival and adolescent health initiatives.
Rural Women’s Health Project: In partnership with the Provincial Department of Health and McMaster University.
Curriculum Development and Consultancy: Active collaborations with institutions in the UAE, Rwanda, Eritrea, Niger, Lesotho, Eswatini, Burundi, Tanzania, and Kenya.

We are also deeply involved in HIV/AIDS research, including:

A five-year project on AIDS stigma with the University of California, San Francisco and SANNAM.
Collaborative research with Johns Hopkins and the University of California on the impact of pregnancy on HIV progression.
Studies on tuberculosis and antiretroviral treatment adherence with the Massachusetts Institute of Health Professionals.

Global Collaborations

In 2005, we formalized partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding with:

Hochschule Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (USA)
Jyväskylä Polytechnic (Finland)

Why Choose Us?

With a rich history, a commitment to innovation, and a global network of collaborators, the School of Nursing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal continues to shape the future of healthcare education in Africa and beyond.