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 registered professional nurses the opportunity to join the Limpopo provincial health sector on a sessional basis, working in specialty clinical disciplines across multiple hospital settings. Appointments are made on a sessional roster, with a maximum of twenty sessions per week per professional nurse, and one session equating to one hour of service. The posts are situated within five district health structures: Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg, and each district lists specific hospitals where these sessional nurses are needed. Among the hospitals included are Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane, among others. The specialty areas in which applications are invited include operational theatre nursing, adult critical care (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing, trauma nursing, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, renal nursing and paediatric and child nursing. This is an excellent opportunity for specialist nurses who wish to contribute their skills on a flexible, hourly-session basis rather than through full-time employment, while remaining part of a multidisciplinary public healthcare environment.

Applicants for the professional nurse specialty posts must hold a minimum 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. In addition, a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty disciplines is required, with the qualification being accredited by the SANC and lasting at least one year. One exception is noted for neonatal ICU nursing, where a different arrangement may apply. Current registration with the SANC in the appropriate specialty category is essential. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate and recognisable nursing experience after registration as a professional nurse in general nursing is required. For Grade 2, 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. In addition to these formal requirements, candidates must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime as operational needs demand. The role demands sound knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures within the relevant specialty, as well as good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving skills. Information management skills and computer literacy are also listed as inherent requirements.

The key performance areas for these sessional posts include providing direction and supervision for the implementation of nursing care plans, ensuring quality patient care at all times, and practising nursing and healthcare in line with professional standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations. Nurses will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical teamainer and must utilise human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. The department is also building a database of sessional professional nurses, suggesting that successful applicants may be called upon as and when sessions become available at the various hospitals, rather than being attached to a single fixed post.

In addition, a separate category of sessional appointment is advertised for professional nurses with midwifery qualification, at grades 1 to 3lor. This stream covers hospitals in Vhembe, Waterberg, Capricorn and Mopani districts, including facilities such as Elim, Siloam, Donald Frazer, Malamulele, Messina, Louis Trichardt, Hayani, Ellisras, Witpoort, Warmbaths, FH Odendaal, George Masebe, Thabazimbi, Voortrekker, Mokopane, Helene Franz, Seshego, WF Knobel, Botlokwa, Lebowakgomo, Zebediela, Pietersburg-Mankweng Complex, Thabamoopo, Nkhensani, Dr CN Phatudi, Maphutha L Malatjie, Kgapane, Sekororo, Van Velden, Letaba and Evuxakeni hospitals. These midwifery posts are similarly sessional, with remuneration determined by the recognised experience of the applicant after registration with the South African Nursing Council, and based on sessional rates approved by the relevant public service authorities. This is a meaningful opportunity for midwives and specialist nurses to contribute essential services across a wide geographic footprint, with flexible arrangements that recognise both professional expertise and years of service.