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

These sessional professional nurse appointments are based at public hospitals in Limpopo, spread across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. They are part of a professional nurse sessional database, meaning suitable applicants can be drawn upon for hourly sessions, with one session equal to one hour and a maximum of twenty sessions per week for each appointed professional nurse. The main specialty stream covers disciplines in operational theatre, critical care adult nursing, child nursing, child critical care, trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and renal nursing. The specialty posts are based at hospitals including Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane, with the exact hospital linked to the discipline applied for.

Applicants must hold the minimum basic R425 nursing qualification, a diploma or degree in nursing or an equivalent allowing registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. A post-basic qualification in one of the listed specialties is also required, with at least one year of accredited study in that specialty, except for neonatal ICU nursing. Current registration with the SANC in the appropriate specialty is essential. For Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable nursing experience after registration in general nursing is required. For Grade 2, applicants need fourteen years of nursing experience after registration, of which ten years must be in the relevant specialty after completing the post-basic qualification. Candidates must also be prepared to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when necessary.

Key duties include directing and supervising the implementation of nursing care plans, ensuring quality patient care, practising nursing in line with legislation, regulations and quality standards, collaborating with the multidisciplinary clinical team, and using human, material and physical resources efficiently. Successful nurses will need sound knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures in their specialty, good communication and report-writing skills, facilitation and liaison abilities, networking and problem-solving skills, information management skills and computer literacy.

These appointments are remunerated on a sessional basis, determined by the nurse’s appropriate experience after SANC registration and paid according to DPSA-approved sessional rates; Grade 1 and Grade 2 have separate rates, and the posts are graded at PN-B1 levels. A separate sessional stream exists for Professional Nurses with Midwifery, graded from Grade 1 to Grade 3, with appointments at a larger list of hospitals across Vhembe, Waterberg, Capricorn and Mopani districts. Those hospitals include Elim, Siloam, Donald Frazer, Malamulele, Messina, Louis Trichardt, Tshilidzini, Hayani, Ellisras, Witpoort, Warmbaths, FH Odendaal/MDR TB, George Masebe, Thabazimbi, Voortrekker, Mokopane, Helene Franz, Seshego, WF Knobel, Botlokwa, Lebowakgomo, Zebiediela, Pietersburg-Mankweng Complex, Thabamoopo, Nkhensani, Dr CN Phatudi, Maphutha L Malatjie, Kgapane, Sekororo, Van Velden, Letaba and Evuxakeni. Midwifery sessional appointments follow the same hourly session model and are intended to provide flexible nursing cover at these facilities. All posts require a commitment to professional standards and the ability to respond to patient needs within a sessional working arrangement.