Circular 7/2007 Transitional arrangements on re-curriculation + 3 items

Circular 7/2007 Transitional arrangements on re-curriculation

 
  

26 October 2007

To All:Nursing Education Institutions
 Nursing Stakeholders

 

  1. Transitional Arrangements on Recurriculation

  2. Application for Approval of Retrospective Registration as a Learner and Retrospective Exemption from an Already Acquired Professional Registration

  3. Admission to the Second Academic Year of the Course Leading to Enrolment as a Nurse (Government Notice No. R.2175 of 19 November 1993)

  4. Compliance with Provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005 and Regulations

1.    RECURRICULATION

1.1    Introduction

Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) are required to review their curricula every five (5) years and submit these to the South African Nursing Council for approval

Currently there are legacy and provider qualifications registered by both SANC and NEIs on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)

Further, two Standard Generated Body (SGB) – generated qualifications are already registered on the NQF i.e.

National Certificate: Auxiliary Nursing
Further Education and Training Certificate: Nursing

There is no implementation directive from the Council in respect of these qualifications as yet, but the profession will be kept informed should this status change

1.2    Transitional Arrangements

In view of the above, the Council at its meeting held on 20 and 21 April 2007 resolved that recurriculation for submission to Council be put in abeyance until the transitional arrangements in line with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)’s requirements are communicated to NEIs by the Council.

Programmes that are affected by this arrangement are the following:

Course leading to enrolment as a nursing auxiliary (Government Notice No. R. 2176 of 19 November 1993 as amended)
Course leading to enrolment as a nurse (Government Notice No. R.2175 of 19 November 1993 as amended)
Bridging course for enrolled nurses leading to registration as a general nurse or psychiatric nurse (Government Notice No. R.683 of 14 April 1989 as amended)
Education and training of a nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and midwife leading to registration (Government Notice No. R.425 of 22 February 1985)

This arrangement does not affect post basic/registration programmes

 

2.    Applications for approval of retrospective registration of learners and retrospective exemption from learning content contained in an already acquired professional registration

2.1    Application for approval of retrospective registration as a learner

On submission of completion of training records, the Council has observed that some NEIs fail to register learners at commencement of training as prescribed

This is a violation of regulations regarding:

Registers for students (Government Notice No. R.3735 of 14 November 1969)
Rolls for pupils (Government Notice No. R.3736 of 14 November 1969)
Rolls for pupil nursing auxiliaries (Government Notice No. R.1833 of 20 October 1972)

Adherence to the provisions of the above mentioned regulations as well as provision of section 16 (1) of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 50 of 1978) is mandatory and failure to comply constitutes an offence.

Programmes for which learners need to be registered with the Council on commencement of training are as follows:

R.880 2 May 1975
Regulations for the course for the diploma in psychiatric nursing for registration as a psychiatric nurse
R.254 14 February 1975
Regulations for the course for the diploma in midwifery for registration as a midwife
R.2175 19 November 1993
Regulations relating to the course leading to enrolment as a nurse
R.2176 19 November 1993
Regulations relating to the course leading to enrolment as a nursing auxiliary
R.425 22 February 1985
Regulations relating to the approval of and the minimum requirements for the education and training of a nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and midwife leading to registration
R.683 14 April 1989
Regulations relating to the minimum requirements for a bridging course for enrolled nurses leading to registration as a general nurse or psychiatric nurse
R.276 15 February 1980
Regulations for the course for the diploma in nursing administration
R.48 22 January 1980
Regulations for the diploma in Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care

2.2    Exemption in respect of already acquired professional registration within the course leading to registration as a nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and midwife

Where a learner commences a course of study in terms of Regulations relating to the Approval of and the Minimum Requirements for the Education and Training of a nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and midwife leading to registration, and such learner has one of the above registered against his/her name, the following is requested:

A clear indication of such a professional registration at the time of commencement of the course. (the name of the professional registration e.g. one year diploma in midwifery, should be clear )
Date of registration and certificate number
Intended/proposed duration of training in the intended/new course of study

 

3.    Admission to the second academic year of the course leading to enrolment as a nurse (Government Notice No. R. 2175 of 19 November 1993)

Regulation 10 (1) of the Regulations relating to the course leading to enrolment as a nurse, (Government Notice No. R.2175 of 19 November 1993), gives provisions for admission into the second academic year of this course i.e. passing the first year examination specified in these regulations or exemption in terms of regulation 7 of these regulations

It has been observed with concern that some schools admit learners into this level of the course without ensuring that the above mentioned provision is adhered to. This mostly affects enrolled nursing auxiliaries who underwent the course for the certification for enrolment as a nursing assistant in terms of Government Notice No. R.1834 of 20 October 1972. The duration of this course of study was one hundred (100) days minimum, and is not a direct equivalence of the course regulated by Government Notice No. R.2176 of 19 November 1993.

For this reason, the Council put together an upgrading package that is available for use by schools to prepare such candidates for the admission examination for the course leading to enrolment as a nurse. You are reminded that these are mere guidelines that can be adapted to suite current learning towards fulfillment of the desired outcomes of this course

The duration of such an upgrading course is determined by the school and the learner’s readiness to sit for such an examination.

You are therefore reminded that it is the responsibility of the school to identify and ensure that candidates are assisted throughout the process

 

4.    Compliance with provisions of the Nursing Act and Regulations

It is the responsibility of the school to acquire and keep the above especially those pertaining to the programmes your school offers.

It is hoped that this information will assist your school.

 

5.    Enquiries

Should further clarity be sought on the above matters, enquiries can be directed to the managers of Accreditation, Registration and Examinations

Contact details:012 – 420 1035
 012 – 420 1044

 

Your cooperation is always appreciated.

 

Yours sincerely

 (Signed)
S A Mchunu
Deputy Registrar: Professional Affairs
For Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

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