May 2005 – SANC

Press Release 3/2005 Information about International Nurses Day – 12 May 2005

10 May 2005

To be released on 12 May 2005:

International Nurses Day – 12 May 2005

Today 12 May 2005 is a day set aside internationally to commemorate nurses. The members of the profession of nursing are committed to serve people whose health status is compromised and to maintain the health status of those that are healthy.

The profession of nursing began humbly with the commitment of Florence Nightingale who sought to tend to and restore the dignity of the sick and injured in the Crimean War. Today nursing has grown into a fully-fledged profession that plays a significant role in health care delivery.

For this day of commemoration the international community has identified the theme “Nurses for patient safety: Targeting Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines”.

Counterfeit and Substandard Medicine is not only costly to consumers, it is a particular serious area of crime because it puts the lives and well-being of patients at risk, leads to loss of confidence in the medical profession, and in the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine they prescribe.

“Today on this 12th day of May 2005 on behalf of the South African Nursing Council, I pay tribute to the contribution the 177 000 nurses in South Africa make to our health care system”, said Hasina Subedar, the Registrar of the South African Nursing Council.

We salute those nurses who:

	Work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year to ensure that the health care needs of South Africans are met.
	Provide health care to all, rich and poor, young and old, sick and well, newborn infants and those that are dying.
	Are the backbone of the South African Health care system and carry the burden of providing health care in very adverse conditions.
	Work in rural and remote communities and who are often the only health care provider available to meet the health care needs of these communities.
	Restore the dignity of the sick, the elderly, the young and the terminally ill.
	Have remained in South Africa through their commitment to serve the people of our country.

Issued by the South African Nursing Council in Pretoria.

For further enquiries please contact the Communications Officer at 012 420 1000.

ENDS

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

Circular 1/2005: Notice of the Council’s position regarding nurses non-compliance with prescribed dress code

4 May 2005

TO:	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH	Heads of Health
		Health Facility Managers
		Nursing Service Managers

Non-compliance of Nurses with the Prescribed Requirements for Uniforms and Distinguishing Devices

South African Nursing Council is aware of the protest action embarked on by some nurses against the uniform allowances by reporting for work in inappropriate attire, in the Gauteng and North West Provinces.

The Council in response to this protest action provides the following guidance to employers:

Employers must ensure that nurses who do not wear the accepted uniform and distinguishing devices do not place patients in their health facilities at risk.
The Regulations of the South African Nursing Council require nurses to wear distinguishing devices with suitable attire that befits the image of the profession of nursing. Nurses that are inappropriately attired taint the image of both the nursing profession and the health care system.
Nurses who violate the South African Nursing Council Regulations pertaining to the distinguishing devices and uniforms for nurses, are liable to be charged with unprofessional conduct and should be reported to the South African Nursing Council.

You are also advised to contact the Council if you require any further assistance or guidance in this matter.

(signed)
Hasina Subedar
REGISTRAR