PROFESSIONAL NURSE GRADE 1 TO 2 (SPECIALTY: MATERNITY) Central Karoo District

This position is for a Professional Nurse specialising in maternity care, based at Beaufort West Hospital in the Central Karoo District of the Western Cape. The successful candidate will join the provincial health department as part of a team delivering maternal and neonatal health services in a rural hospital setting. The role is graded as a Professional Nurse Grade 1 or Grade 2, depending on the appointee’s level of experience, and carries a non-pensionable rural allowance in recognition of the remote location. The post requires a willingness to work shifts, night duty, overtime, public holidays and weekends, as these are inherent to the provision of continuous nursing care.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification in nursing, or an equivalent qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. In addition, candidates need either a one-year post-basic qualification in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science (R212) accredited by the SANC, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing combined with a post-graduate diploma in Midwifery (R635). Registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse is a firm requirement. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate nursing experience after registration in General Nursing is required. For Grade 2, the requirement is at least fourteen years of appropriate experience, of which at least ten years must have been gained after obtaining the relevant specialty qualification. The department also allows candidates who do not yet have the stipulated registration to apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and payment of the prescribed fees by 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.

The duties of the post are broad and include providing optimal, holistic and specialised quality patient care, with a strong focus on maternal and neonatal health. The nurse will be expected to implement infection control policies and health and safety legislation, make effective use of human and physical resources, assist with financial management and cost containment, and participate in health research, data collection and quality improvement initiatives. Supervisory skills are important, as the role involves overseeing subordinates and supporting nursing services within the hospital. Good written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy, and a sound knowledge of maternal and neonatal health care services in a hospital setting are all essential competencies.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo a practical or written assessment as well as an oral assessment. No payment of any kind is required when applying. It is also important to note that the advertised post is linked to the facility that forms part of the Ecosystem Service platform, meaning that the appointed nurse may be expected to render clinical services across other institutions within the ecosystem as needed to sustain health service delivery. This is a challenging but rewarding opportunity for a qualified maternity nurse to contribute to rural health care in the Central Karoo.