PROFESSIONAL NURSE SPECIALTY- ADVANCED MIDWIFE REF NO: GS 26/26 Component: Nursing Department- Maternity Unit

The position of Professional Nurse Specialty in Advanced Midwifery is a senior nursing role based at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. The incumbent will work in the Maternity Unit as part of the Nursing Department, taking responsibility for the delivery of high-quality maternal and neonatal care in a busy tertiary setting. The role is central to the department’s efforts to reduce infant, under-five and maternal mortality, and to improve overall women’s health outcomes. The successful candidate will be expected to provide clinical leadership, ensure the implementation of national and provincial health programmes, and support the nursing management team within the unit.

Applicants must hold a Grade 12 certificate, together with a degree or diploma in General Nursing that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. In addition, a one-year post-basic or postgraduate qualification in Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science, commonly referred to as Advanced Midwifery, is required, along with current SANC registration for 2026. The post is graded at two levels based on experience. For Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate experience as a General Nurse after SANC registration is required. For Grade 2, candidates must have at least fourteen years of relevant nursing experience, of which at least ten years must be specific to the specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. The role demands a thorough knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures, as well as relevant legislation including the Nursing Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Patients’ Rights Charter, Batho Pele principles, public service regulations, labour relations issues, disciplinary codes and grievance procedures. Financial and budgetary insight, leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, and strong interpersonal capabilities are also essential, as is basic computer literacy.

The core duties are wide-ranging and focused on improving maternal and child health. The nurse will implement activities aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality, and will ensure that programmes such as CARMA, ESMOE, KINC, Helping Babies Breathe, and IMCI are properly and consistently applied. The role also involves implementing Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) and related antenatal programmes, ensuring that all pregnant women accessing the facility receive appropriate care, and integrating HAST (HIV/AIDS, STIs and Tuberculosis) programmes into the maternity unit. Additional responsibilities include managing the utilisation and supervision of resources, coordinating effective training and research initiatives in maternal and child health, instilling discipline and professionalism among staff, and ensuring compliance with quality assurance and infection prevention and control frameworks such as the Ideal Hospital Realisation and Maintenance programme and Norms and Standards. The incumbent must maintain constructive working relationships within the multi-disciplinary team and provide effective support to nursing services, including assisting with relief duties for nursing management within the unit.

This is an OSD-graded post with specific employment equity targets, namely African Male, Coloured Male, White Male and White Female candidates. There are also important application conditions: applicants must submit the newly prescribed Z83 form and a detailed curriculum vitae, ensuring all sections of the form are fully completed and signed. Shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo a practical exercise and an integrity assessment as part of the selection process. This summary should serve as a comprehensive guide for prospective applicants, as it contains all the essential details regarding the role, requirements and duties for this specialist nursing vacancy.