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 advertising sessional appointments for Professional Nurses with a specialty qualification, at Grade 1 and Grade 2 levels under the PN-B1 career stream. These part-time hourly posts are capped at a maximum of 20 one-hour sessions per week per nurse and are based at selected hospitals across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts, including Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane hospitals, among others. The specialty disciplines covered by this advertisement are operational theatre, critical care adult (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing (ICU), trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and renal nursing. The posts are part of a sessional professional nurses database totalling 138 positions, intended to provide the department with a flexible pool of qualified specialty nurses.

To qualify for this role, applicants must hold the basic R425 nursing qualification, namely a diploma or degree in nursing or an equivalent qualification that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Professional Nurse. In addition, a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the named specialty areas is required, with a minimum duration of one year and accredited by the SANC in the relevant specialty, except for neonatal ICU nursing where the requirement is adjusted. Current registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse in the appropriate specialty is mandatory. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable experience in nursing after registration as a Professional Nurse with the SANC in general nursing is required. For Grade 2, a minimum of fourteen years of such experience is needed, of which ten years must be appropriate experience in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. Candidates must also possess knowledge and skills in nursing care processes and procedures specific to the specialty, as well as good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving skills, along with information management skills and computer literacy.

The key performance areas for this role include providing direction and supervision for the implementation of the nursing care plan and ensuring quality patient care. The nurse will practice nursing and healthcare in accordance with relevant standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations, and will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team. Efficient and effective utilisation of human, material and physical resources is also a core responsibility. Given the sessional nature of the appointment, successful candidates must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when required.

These are sessional appointments rather than permanent posts, and remuneration is based on sessional rates approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration, determined according to the nurse’s appropriate and recognisable experience after registration with the SANC. Appointment is linked to specific district hospitals and specialty disciplines, meaning applicants must be matched to the hospital and specialty for which they have applied. The department is building a database of specialty nurses available for hourly sessions, allowing it to respond flexibly to service demands in public hospitals. Only applicants with the relevant post-basic specialty qualification and current SANC registration in that specialty will be considered, and the role demands a high standard of professional conduct, clinical competence and the ability to deliver safe, effective nursing care in a busy public health environment.