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

These sessional appointments are for specialist professional nurses at designated public hospitals in Limpopo, with posts available in the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. The positions are filled on an hourly sessional basis, normally up to twenty hour-long sessions per week, rather than as permanent full-time posts. The specialties covered include operational theatre nursing, adult critical care (ICU), child nursing and paediatrics, child critical care nursing (ICU), trauma nursing, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedic nursing and renal nursing. The appointments are graded at PN-B1, and sessional remuneration is set according to Department of Public Service and Administration-approved sessional rates, based on the nurse’s appropriate and recognisable experience after registration with the South African Nursing Council.

In order to be considered, candidates must hold a basic R425 nursing diploma or degree, or another equivalent qualification that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. They must also have a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty areas, with a minimum duration of one year, accredited by the SANC, except in the case of Neonatal ICU nursing. Current registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse in the relevant specialty is essential. For appointment at Grade 1, applicants need at least four years’ appropriate recognisable nursing experience after registering as a Professional Nurse in general nursing. For Grade 2, the requirement is at least fourteen years’ similar experience, of which ten years must have been gained in the specific specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. Candidates must be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime.

The core duties involve directing and supervising the implementation of nursing care plans, ensuring quality patient care, and practicing nursing in line with applicable standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations. Specialist nurses will work as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team and must contribute to effective collaboration. They are also expected to use human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. The work demands sound knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures in the relevant specialty, as well as good communication, report writing, facilitation, liaison, networking and problem-solving skills. Information management skills and computer literacy are also required.

In addition to the specialist posts, the same advertisement creates a separate sessional stream for Professional Nurse with Midwifery at a broader list of hospitals in the Vhembe, Waterberg, Capricorn and Mopani districts. These midwifery appointments are also sessional and fall within the same provincial staffing initiative. All sessional professional nurses will be captured on a sessional professional nurse database, and each hospital and specialty has its own application route, so applicants should follow the district and institution-specific link that matches their chosen specialty and preferred facility.