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 inviting suitably qualified professional nurses to register on a sessional appointments database for specialty nursing posts, offering flexible work on an hourly session basis, with a maximum of 20 one-hour sessions per week per nurse. These Professional Nurse Specialty (PN-B1) Grade 1 and Grade 2 sessional appointments are available at a range of hospitals across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts, including Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane hospitals. The specialty disciplines in demand are operational theatre, critical care adult (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing (ICU), trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and renal nursing. In addition, a separate sessional appointment stream exists for professional nurses with midwifery qualifications at a wider group of hospitals across the same districts, including Elim, Siloam, Donald Frazer, Ellisras, Warmbaths, Helene Franz, Seshego and Nkhensani hospitals, among others.

To be considered, applicants must hold a minimum basic R425 qualification, namely a diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. A post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty areas, with a minimum duration of one year and accredited by the SANC in the relevant specialty, is required, except in the case of neonatal ICU nursing. Current registration with the SANC as a professional nurse in the appropriate specialty is essential. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate and recognisable nursing experience is required after registration as a professional nurse in general nursing. For Grade 2, candidates need at least fourteen years of such experience, of which ten years must be appropriate experience in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification.

The key performance areas of these roles include providing direction and supervision for the implementation of the nursing care plan, ensuring quality patient care, and practising nursing and healthcare in accordance with standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations relevant to the field. Sessional nurses must also work collaboratively within multidisciplinary clinical teams and utilise human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. In terms of knowledge and skills, applicants should demonstrate a solid grasp of nursing care processes and procedures within their specialty areas, along with good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving abilities. Information management skills and computer literacy are also required.

These sessional posts come with the expectation of flexibility, as incumbents must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when required. Remuneration is based on sessional rates approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration, determined according to the nurse’s appropriate and recognisable experience after registration with the SANC. This is an excellent opportunity for specialist nurses in Limpopo to contribute to public healthcare on a sessional basis while gaining valuable experience in a variety of hospital settings.