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

This advertisement covers sessional appointments for professional nurses in specialty disciplines, with posts based at public hospitals across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts of Limpopo. The roles are graded as Professional Nurse Specialty PN-B1 Grade 1 and Grade 2, and they operate on a session basis: one session equals one hour, and each nurse may be appointed for up to twenty sessions per week. This flexible arrangement allows hospitals to bring in experienced specialist nurses according to service demand while enabling the nurses to structure their work around a weekly session limit. The specialties open for application are operational theatre nursing, adult critical care or ICU, child nursing or paediatrics, child critical care nursing, trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, renal nursing and paediatric child nursing. Successful appointees will be placed in the relevant unit of one of the named hospitals and will be expected to deliver focused, high-quality care within their clinical specialty.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification, which is a diploma or degree in nursing that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. In addition, they need a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialities, with a minimum duration of one year and accredited by SANC in that specialty, except for neonatal ICU nursing where special dispensation applies. Current registration with SANC as a professional nurse in the appropriate specialty is essential. For entry at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable nursing experience after registration as a professional nurse in general nursing is required. For Grade 2, candidates must have at least fourteen years of such experience, of which ten years must be in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. The role also calls for strong knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures within the chosen specialty, along with good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving skills. Information management skills and computer literacy are equally important for record-keeping and coordination.

The key performance areas include directing and supervising the implementation of the nursing care plan to ensure quality patient care, practising nursing in accordance with professional standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations, and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team. Nurses are also expected to use human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. Given the hospital environment, appointees must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime as required.

In addition to the specialty nurse roles, the same advertisement lists sessional appointments for professional nurses with midwifery at Grade 1–3, available at numerous hospitals across the same districts, including Elim, Siloam, Malamulele, Messina, Louis Trichardt, Hayani, Ellisras, Witpoort, Warmbaths, FH Odendaal, George Masebe, Thabazimbi, Voortrekker, Helene Franz, Seshego, WF Knobel, Botlokwa, Lebowakgomo, Zebediela, Pietersburg-Mankweng, Thabamoopo, Nkhensani, Dr CN Phatudi, Maphutha L Malatjie, Kgapane, Sekororo, Van Velden, Letaba, Evuxakeni and Mokopane, as well as others. These midwifery sessional posts follow a similar session-based arrangement, with remuneration determined by approved sessional rates that are linked to the nurse’s recognisable experience after SANC registration. All of these appointments form part of a professional nurses database for sessional work, from which hospitals draw staff as needs arise. This creates a significant opportunity for qualified specialist and midwifery nurses to contribute to public healthcare in Limpopo while working flexibly on a session-by-session basis.