PROFESSIONAL NURSE: SPECIALTY [PN-B1] GRADE 1–2 SESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS: MAXIMUM OF 20 SESSIONS PER WEEK PER PN (1 SESSION = 1 HOUR)

The Limpopo Department of Health is offering sessional appointments for professional nurses with specialised skills across a wide network of hospitals in the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. These are not permanent posts but paid per hour, with a maximum of twenty one-hour sessions per week per nurse, allowing for flexible staffing in critical areas. The first category of roles is that of Professional Nurse: Specialty, graded as PN-B1 at Grade 1 or Grade 2, and open to nurses who hold a post-basic qualification in one of the recognised specialities. These include operational theatre nursing, critical care for adults (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing (paediatric ICU), trauma nursing, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and renal nursing. Positions are available at hospitals such as Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane, among others. The second category is for Professional Nurse with Midwifery at Grade 1 to 3, also sessional, with a much longer list of hospitals across the same districts, including Elim, Siloam, Ellisras, Warmbaths, Helene Franz, Seshego, Nkhensani and many others.

To qualify for the specialty posts, applicants must have the minimum basic R425 qualification, that is a diploma or degree in nursing that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a professional nurse. In addition, they need a post-basic nursing qualification in the chosen specialty, of at least one year in duration and accredited by the SANC, with the exception of neonatal ICU nursing. Current registration with SANC in the appropriate specialty is essential. For entry at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable nursing experience after registration as a professional nurse in general nursing is required. For Grade 2, a minimum of fourteen years of such experience is expected, of which at least ten years must be in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. The midwifery roles presumably require a similar foundation, with a recognised midwifery qualification and current SANC registration as a professional nurse and midwife.

The core duties of these sessional nurses include taking direction and providing supervision in the implementation of the nursing care plan, ensuring quality patient care in line with professional standards. They must practise nursing and healthcare according to relevant legislation, regulations and quality indicators, and work collaboratively within multidisciplinary clinical teams. Efficient and effective use of human, material and physical resources is also a key performance area. Essential knowledge and skills include a thorough understanding of nursing care processes and procedures in the specialty area, good communication and report writing abilities, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving skills, information management skills, and basic computer literacy. Given the sessional nature of the appointments, candidates must be willing to work shifts, flexible hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when required. These appointments appear to be part of a database of sessional professional nurses, and applicants should select the specific hospital and specialty discipline for which they wish to be considered, as application links are provided for each combination.