PROFESSIONAL NURSE GRADE 1 TO 3 (GENERAL: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE) Garden Route District

This position offers an opportunity for a registered professional nurse to join the Garden Route District’s primary health care team at Ladismith Clinic, located within the Kannaland Sub-district. The role is graded at Professional Nurse Level 1, 2, or 3, depending on the candidate’s years of relevant nursing experience, and includes a non-pensionable rural allowance in addition to the basic salary. As part of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, the successful candidate will work within a broader ecosystem of health facilities, meaning they may be expected to render clinical services across institutions in the area as needed to sustain service delivery. This is a clinical and supervisory role focused on delivering quality comprehensive nursing care within a primary health care setting.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification, such as a diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent qualification that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Professional Nurse. Alternatively, a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing (R174) or an equivalent combination of qualifications that also allows SANC registration is acceptable. For appointment at Grade 1, no prior nursing experience is required after registration. Grade 2 requires a minimum of ten years of appropriate and recognisable experience in general nursing after registration, while Grade 3 requires at least twenty years of such experience. Candidates who do not yet have the stipulated registration may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration with SANC and 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 needing a change in registration status.

The core duties of the post include directing and supervising the implementation of comprehensive nursing care within the primary health care context. The nurse will be expected to maintain ethical practice within legal and regulatory frameworks, foster constructive working relationships with all members of the primary health care team, and use human, material, and physical resources efficiently and effectively. The role also involves participating in training programmes and research activities, as well as maintaining workplace discipline among subordinates. This requires strong planning and organisational skills, self-discipline, motivation, and the ability to function independently under pressure. Good communication skills are essential for interacting with patients, colleagues, and stakeholders.

An inherent requirement of the job is a willingness to work overtime when needed, as well as possession of a valid driver’s licence and a willingness to drive a mobile clinic vehicle. This reflects the outreach nature of primary health care services in the rural Kannaland area. The post is advertised through a circular and applications are accepted online only; no payment of any kind is required when applying. For further enquiries, the contact person is Ms S Labuschagne. This is a demanding but rewarding role for a professional nurse who is committed to community-based care and ready to take on both clinical and supervisory responsibilities in a rural Western Cape setting.