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

This advertisement, from the Limpopo Department of Health, invites sessional appointments for specialty professional nurses graded PN-B1, at Grades 1 and 2, with a maximum of twenty one-hour sessions per week. The posts are available at designated public hospitals across Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts, including institutions such as Pietersburg, Mankweng, Letaba, St Ritas, Philadelphia, Tshilidzini and Mokopane hospitals. Specialty disciplines encompass operational theatre nursing, critical care adult (ICU), child nursing (paediatrics), child critical care nursing (ICU), trauma, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, renal and paediatric/child nursing. Remuneration is set according to sessional rates approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration, determined by the applicant's appropriate and recognisable experience after registration with the South African Nursing Council.

To be eligible, applicants must possess a basic R425 qualification, namely a diploma or degree in nursing or an equivalent that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. They must also hold a post-basic nursing qualification in one of the listed specialty areas, accredited by the SANC and of at least one year's duration, except in the case of neonatal ICU nursing, where the requirement differs. Current SANC registration as a Professional Nurse in the applicable specialty is mandatory. For entry at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate or recognisable nursing experience after general nursing registration is necessary. For Grade 2, a total of fourteen years of such experience is required, of which at least ten years must be in the relevant specialty following completion of the post-basic qualification. All appointees must be prepared to work shifts, flexi-hours, weekends, public holidays and overtime when operational needs demand.

The core responsibilities of these specialty nurses include providing direction and supervision for the implementation of nursing care plans, ensuring the delivery of quality patient care, and practising nursing in accordance with professional standards, quality indicators, legislation and regulatory requirements. They are expected to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical team and to utilise human, material and physical resources efficiently and effectively. Required knowledge and skills include a thorough understanding of nursing care processes in the specific specialty area, good communication and report-writing abilities, facilitation and liaison skills, networking and problem-solving capacity, information management expertise, and computer literacy.

Additionally, the same advertisement lists sessional appointments for Professional Nurses with Midwifery at Grades 1 to 3, also limited to twenty one-hour sessions per week. These positions are situated at various hospitals in Vhembe, Waterberg, Capricorn and Mopani districts, and carry sessional remuneration on the same basis. Both categories of appointment form part of the professional nurses database for sessional workers, enabling the department to call upon a flexible pool of qualified nursing professionals to address service needs.