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

The Limpopo health department is recruiting experienced professional nurses on a sessional basis for specialist posts at several public hospitals across the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. These are sessional appointments, meaning work is structured in hourly sessions, up to a maximum of 20 sessions per week per nurse, with each session lasting one hour. The roles are graded on the nursing OSD career path as Professional Nurse Specialty, PN-B1, at Grade 1 or Grade 2 depending on the candidate’s level of experience. Successful applicants will be placed on a departmental database for sessional professional nurses and may be called upon to render services at facilities such as Pietersburg Hospital, Mankweng Hospital, Letaba Hospital, St Ritas Hospital, Philadelphia Hospital, Tshilidzini Hospital and Mokopane Hospital, among others. The specialty disciplines available include operating theatre nursing, adult critical care, child nursing, child critical care, trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and renal nursing.

Applicants must hold a minimum basic R425 nursing qualification, such as a diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent qualification allowing registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. In addition, a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the recognised specialty areas is required, with a duration of at least one year and accredited by the SANC, except in the case of neonatal ICU nursing where the exception is noted. Current registration with the SANC as a professional nurse in the appropriate specialty is essential. For entry at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate and recognisable nursing experience after registration in general nursing is needed. For Grade 2, candidates require at least fourteen years of appropriate nursing experience, of which ten years must be in the relevant specialty after obtaining the post-basic qualification. Nurses must also be willing to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when required.

The core duties of these specialists involve directing and supervising the implementation of the nursing care plan to ensure quality patient care, practising nursing in line with professional standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulations, and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team. Efficient use of human, material and physical resources is also a key responsibility. The department is looking for candidates with strong knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures within their 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 a separate but related recruitment, the department is also accepting sessional applications for professional nurses with midwifery at Grade 1 to Grade 3, with the same maximum of 20 sessions per week. These posts are based at hospitals across the Vhembe, Waterberg, Capricorn and Mopani districts, including Elim, Siloam, Donald Frazer, Malamulele, Messina, Louis Trichardt, Hayani, Ellisras, Witpoort, Warmbaths, FH Odendaal, George Masebe, Thabazimbi, Voortrekker, Mokopane, Helene Franz, Seshego, WF Knobel, Botlokwa, Lebowakgomo, Zebediela, Thabamoopo, Nkhensani, Dr CN Phatudi, Maphutha L Malatjie, Kgapane, Sekororo, Van Velden, Letaba and Evuxakeni hospitals. Remuneration for all these sessional posts is determined according to recognisable experience after SANC registration and based on sessional rates approved by the relevant government authority. These opportunities are ideal for qualified specialist and midwifery nurses seeking flexible, hourly-based work within the provincial public health system.