Professional Nurse Grade 1 to Grade 2 (Specialty: Emergency Unit) (Permanent position)

This permanent position offers an opportunity for qualified professional nurses to join the Emergency Unit at Karl Bremer Hospital, working within a busy public healthcare environment in the Western Cape. The post is available on a Grade 1 or Grade 2 basis, depending on the applicant’s level of experience and qualifications, and forms part of the department’s specialised nursing service. Nurses appointed in this role will be expected to deliver a high standard of emergency and trauma care, working alongside a multi-disciplinary team to manage patients who require urgent medical attention. The role is demanding and requires a strong commitment to professional nursing practice, ethical conduct, and the ability to perform effectively under pressure.

Candidates must hold a basic nursing qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse, such as a diploma or degree in nursing. In addition, applicants need a post-basic qualification of at least one year, accredited by the SANC, in critical care nursing, trauma and emergency nursing, or an equivalent qualification. Alternatively, a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing or a postgraduate diploma in emergency or adult critical care nursing will also meet the educational requirement. Registration with the South African Nursing Council is essential. A special concession applies to candidates who do not yet possess the required registration for the post-basic or postgraduate specialty qualification: they may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed fees before the interview. This concession is reserved for first-time applicants for registration in the relevant specialty.

The experience required differs by grade. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate nursing experience after registration as a Professional Nurse is required. For Grade 2, the requirement is at least fourteen years of appropriate nursing experience, with at least ten of those years gained after completing the relevant post-basic or postgraduate specialty qualification. These experience requirements ensure that appointees have the depth of clinical knowledge and practical skill needed to manage complex emergency cases.

Key duties include providing optimal, holistic and specialised nursing care within a professional and legal framework, making effective use of resources, participating in training and research activities, and supporting nursing services in the Emergency Centre. The nurse will also be responsible for maintaining professional growth, ethical standards and ongoing self-development. The successful candidate must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, basic computer literacy, and a thorough understanding of nursing legislation and legal-ethical practices. The ability to promote quality by setting, implementing and monitoring nursing standards is central to the role. The position requires someone who can function independently as well as part of a team, with strong interpersonal, decision-making, conflict resolution and organisational skills. A willingness to work shifts, including weekends, public holidays, night duty and overtime, is an inherent requirement of the job. This is an OSD-graded post with service benefits attached, and interested applicants are encouraged to review the full circular for application procedures.