Professional Nurse Grade 1 to 3 (General Nursing) (Sessional) (20 hours per week) (Contract till 31 March 2029) (Contract position)

This position offers an opportunity for registered professional nurses to contribute to primary healthcare delivery within the Drakenstein Sub-district, working on a sessional basis for 20 hours per week under a contract that runs until 31 March 2029. The role is graded at Professional Nurse Level 1 to 3 in General Nursing, meaning the appointed candidate will be placed according to their years of relevant nursing experience. As a sessional worker, the nurse will provide services on a part-time, hourly-remunerated basis, with the hourly rate determined by the grade at which the appointment is made. The post is based within the Western Cape Department of Health and requires a willingness to work across a variety of settings, including fixed facilities, a mobile unit, hospitals, and within the community as part of the COPC (Community-Oriented Primary Care) concept. This flexibility is essential to meeting the sub-district’s diverse healthcare needs.

Applicants must hold a qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. This includes a basic R425 diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent qualification such as R683 plus R254, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing (R174) or equivalent combinations such as R683 plus R1497 or R171 plus R1497. Current registration with the SANC is required, and proof of that registration must be submitted. For appointment at Grade 1, no prior nursing experience is required. For Grade 2, a minimum of ten years of appropriate and recognisable nursing experience after registration as a Professional Nurse in General Nursing is needed. For Grade 3, the requirement is at least twenty years of such experience. A valid code B or EB driver’s licence is also an inherent requirement of the job, as travel between facilities is expected.

The core duties involve providing primary healthcare in line with the guidelines and protocols of the Western Cape, maintaining accurate clinical records, statistics registers, and referral documentation, and making effective use of resources and stock within budget constraints. The nurse will participate in community events and initiate awareness around health-related issues, while also contributing to inter-professional and multi-disciplinary teamwork. The role requires the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively, and includes supervising and mentoring lower categories of staff to improve the quality of health services. Maintaining professional growth, ethical standards, and self-development is also a key responsibility. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, along with knowledge of relevant public-sector nursing legislation and policy, and basic computer literacy in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook for capturing patient information, checking results, recording data, and tracking referrals on electronic systems.

Candidates who do not yet hold the stipulated registration may still apply, but they will only be considered for appointment if they submit proof of application for registration to the relevant council, along with proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees, on or before the day of the interview. This concession applies only to health professionals applying for the first time for registration in a specific category, including those who must apply for a change in registration status. No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. A practical test may form part of the selection process, so applicants should be prepared for that possibility. This is a contract position, and interested nurses should ensure they meet the mobility, licensing, and registration requirements before applying.