Professional Nurse Grade 1 to 2 (Specialty: ICU) (6 posts) (Permanent position)

This permanent vacancy, advertised as six posts, places Professional Nurses within the Intensive Care Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch. The role is graded at either Professional Nurse Grade 1 or Grade 2, with remuneration and service benefits aligned to the relevant grade. Successful candidates will join a dedicated nursing team at a leading children’s hospital, providing specialised critical care to paediatric patients within a supportive, multi-disciplinary environment.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification, being a diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent R683 qualification that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. In addition, candidates need a post-basic nursing qualification of at least one year, accredited by the SANC, in Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing (Child or General), or a four-year Bachelor Degree in Nursing (R174) or equivalent qualification (R171 plus R1497), or a post-graduate diploma (R635) accredited in Critical Care Nursing (Adult or Child) or Child Nursing. Registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse is a core requirement.

Experience expectations differ by grade. For Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate, 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, with at least ten of those years gained after obtaining the one-year post-basic qualification or post-graduate diploma in the relevant specialty.

The role demands an in-depth understanding of nursing legislation, legal and ethical practice, and how these affect service delivery. Strong interpersonal, leadership, organisational, decision-making and conflict-resolution skills are essential, as is a sound grasp of human resources and financial policies. Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook is required, along with knowledge of Functional Business Unit functions and the ability to work collaboratively within them.

Key duties include providing comprehensive specialised nursing care within a professional legal framework, participating with the multi-disciplinary team to deliver holistic health care, maintaining good documentation, care planning and health education, supporting clinical practice development initiatives, educational activities and research, and using human and financial resources effectively. The post also involves supporting the supervisor and the nursing division, and deputising for the Operational Manager: Nursing when needed.

Inherent to the job is a willingness to work shifts, public holidays, after-hours, night duty and weekend cover. Notably, candidates who do not yet hold the required qualification may be appointed into the general stream and must obtain the necessary qualification within a predetermined period. Similarly, those lacking the stipulated registration requirements may apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed fees to the relevant council on or before the day of the interview; this concession applies only to first-time applicants for registration in the relevant post-basic qualification or post-graduate diploma.