PROFESSIONAL NURSE: SPECIALTY [PN-B1] GRADE 1–2 SESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS: MAXIMUM OF 20 SESSIONS PER WEEK PER PN (1 SESSION = 1 HOUR)

The Limpopo Department of Health is offering sessional appointments for professional nurses with a specialty qualification, as well as for professional nurses with midwifery, across a wide network of hospitals in the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. These are not full-time permanent posts but sessional engagements, with each professional nurse able to work a maximum of twenty one-hour sessions per week. The specialty disciplines open for application include operational theatre nursing, critical care adult (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing (ICU), trauma nursing, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, renal nursing, and paediatric or child nursing. The midwifery stream covers a separate range of hospitals in the same districts, including major facilities such as Elim, Siloam, Tshilidzini, Mokopane, Pietersburg-Mankweng Complex, Letaba, and many others, with grading from one to three depending on experience.

To be considered for the specialty posts, candidates must hold a minimum basic R425 qualification, meaning a diploma or degree in nursing or an equivalent qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. In addition, a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty areas is required, with a minimum duration of one year and accreditation by the South African Nursing Council, except in the case of neonatal ICU nursing. Current registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse in the relevant specialty is also essential. For appointment at grade one, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable experience in nursing after registration as a professional nurse in general nursing is required. For grade two, candidates need at least fourteen years of such experience, of which ten years must be in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. The midwifery posts similarly require appropriate registration and experience, with grades one to three available depending on years of service and recognisable midwifery practice. All applicants must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays, and overtime when required, as these are sessional posts within hospital environments that operate around the clock.

The core duties of these roles revolve around providing specialised nursing care and ensuring quality patient outcomes. Successful candidates will be expected to provide direction and supervision for the implementation of the nursing care plan, ensuring that patient care is delivered to the required standard. They must practice nursing and healthcare in accordance with relevant standards, quality indicators, legislation, and regulations. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team is a key part of the role, as is the efficient and effective utilisation of human, material, and physical resources. The department also expects professional nurses to possess sound knowledge and skills in nursing care processes and procedures within their specialty, along with good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking, and problem-solving abilities. Information management skills and computer literacy are also listed as inherent requirements, reflecting the administrative and coordination responsibilities that accompany clinical duties.

These sessional appointments form part of a professional nurses database for sessional work, and remuneration is based on the sessional rates approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration, determined by the appropriate and recognisable experience of the nurse after registration with the South African Nursing Council. Because these are sessional posts, they offer a flexible working arrangement while allowing the department to draw on specialised skills as needed across multiple hospitals. Applicants should note that the advertisement provides separate application links for each hospital and specialty discipline, so it is important to apply specifically for the centre and specialty of interest. The posts are subject to the standard government employment conditions for sessional health workers, including the requirement to be available for unsocial hours and emergency call-outs. This is an opportunity for experienced professional nurses with specialist qualifications to contribute to public healthcare delivery in Limpopo while enjoying the flexibility of sessional work.