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

This vacancy offers sessional appointments for professional nurses with a recognised specialty, together with a related sessional stream for professional nurses with midwifery, within the Limpopo Department of Health. The specialty posts are based at hospitals across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts, including facilities such as Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane hospitals. The midwifery appointments are available at a wider network of provincial hospitals across the same districts. These are sessional posts, with a maximum of twenty one-hour sessions per week per professional nurse, and remuneration is set according to DPSA-approved sessional rates, based on the nurse’s recognisable experience after registration with the South African Nursing Council.

The specialty disciplines open under the PN-B1 Grade 1 to Grade 2 posts include operational theatre, critical care adult ICU, child nursing or paediatrics, child critical care nursing ICU, trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, renal, and paediatric or child nursing. To qualify, candidates must hold a basic R425 qualification, namely a diploma or degree in nursing or an equivalent qualification that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. Applicants must also have a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty areas, with a minimum duration of one year and accredited by SANC in that specialty, and must be currently registered with SANC in the appropriate specialty. For appointment at Grade 1, 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 2, candidates need at least fourteen years of appropriate experience in general nursing, of which ten years must be in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification.

The role demands sound knowledge and skills in nursing care processes and procedures within the relevant specialty, as well as good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking, problem-solving and information management skills. Computer literacy is also required. Successful appointees must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when necessary.

In terms of key performance areas, the professional nurse will provide direction and supervision for the implementation of the nursing care plan and ensure quality patient care. They must practise nursing and healthcare in accordance with professional standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations, work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team, and utilise human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. These posts form part of the professional nurses database for sessional appointments, so selected candidates may be engaged as needs arise at the specified hospitals, subject to the weekly session limit. Applicants should ensure all qualifications and registrations are current and recognised by the South African Nursing Council.