Circular 3/2024 – Performance of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) by Nurses

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION (MMC) BY NURSES

___________________________________________________________________________

1. PURPOSE

• The purpose of this Circular is to provide a directive to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all relevant stakeholders on the performance of MMC by Nurse Practitioners.

2. BACKGROUND

• The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is a statutory body functioning in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) to set and maintain the standards of nursing practice including upholding professional and ethical standards within nursing in South Africa.
• The mandate of SANC is to serve and protect the public in matters involving health services generally and nursing services in particular.
• Furthermore, the SANC has an obligation to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the profession.
• In line with its obligations above, Council has been inundated with inquiries, from stakeholders, seeking clarity pertaining to performance of medical male circumcision, a great initiative adopted by the National Department of Health to further strengthen its strides in reducing the plight of HIV and AIDS infection in South Africa, which Council fully supports.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION

• The Council at its ordinary meeting of 25-26 January 2024, deliberated on the matter and resolved that a circular that outlines Council directives on MMC be issued as follows:
  • Only Professional Nurses are allowed to conduct MMC.
  • They must have been trained, mentored, assessed and deemed competent (evidence of their competence should be produced) before they are allowed to conduct the male circumcision.
  • They should have had the opportunity to observe 10 cases being performed.
  • The products of the MMC must be handled in line with other related legislation and internal protocols, including the Human tissue Act (Act No. 65 of 1983).
  • NDoH shall have a system of continuous monitoring MMC implementation.
  • The SANC reserves the right to audit the departmental records on the MMC programme that involves nurse practitioners.
  • Nurse Practitioners who fail to comply with this directive will be liable for acting beyond their scope of practice.

4. IMPLEMENTATION

• This circular shall become effective on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Dr NJ Muswede, Senior Manager: Professional Practice on Tel: (012) 420 1008, or E-mail: [email protected]

________________________           
PROF. NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: _________________________

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Circular 2/2024 – Placing the Professional Entrance Examination in abeyance

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: PLACING THE PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION IN ABEYANCE

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Circular is to notify the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all Stakeholders regarding the temporary suspension of the Professional Entrance Examination until further notice.

2. BACKGROUND
   • The South African Nursing Council (SANC) a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), has a responsibility to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the profession.
   • Furthermore, the statutory objectives of the Council are to establish, improve, control conditions, standards and quality of nursing education and training.
   • In accordance with Section 4 (1) (c) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), the Council must:

 ‘Conduct examinations and appoint examiners and moderators and grant diplomas and certificates in respect of such examinations”.

• The Council, at a sitting on 29-30 July 2020, approved the requirement for registration of successfully completing the Professional Entrance Examination by the R.169 (Higher Certificate in Nursing) learners. The first cohort of candidates sat for the examination in May 2021.

• Guidelines for the Professional Entrance Examinations (R.171 and R.174) were developed in consultation with the Stakeholders and approved by Council at its sitting of 22-23 September 2022.
• A series of Circulars were developed and shared with Stakeholders on the progress of the implementation of the Professional Entrance Examination.
• The first cohort for Diploma in General Nursing (R.171), and Bachelor of Nursing (R. 174), sat for the Professional Entrance Examination in May 2023.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION
   • The Council at a sitting of 25-26 January 2024 deliberated on the progress, implementation and challenges experienced with the Professional Entrance Examination, and resolved that:
     • Considering all facts, processes and inputs from stakeholders, the Professional Entrance Examinations should be reviewed, improved, and streamlined.
     • The Professional Entrance Examination will thus be put in abeyance until further notice.
     • For the period that the Professional Entrance Examinations are held in abeyance, no candidates for Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169), Diploma in General Nursing (R.171), and Bachelor of Nursing (R.174) will sit for the examination, including supplementary examination candidates.
     • All qualifications that were obtained from accredited NEIs post implementation of the Professional Entrance Examination and prior to the abeyance of this examination will be registered with the South African Nursing Council.
     • Only foreign candidates will write examinations according to the National Department of Health (NDoH): Foreign Workforce Management Programme (FWMP), Skills development Act and SANC requirements.

4. IMPLICATIONS
   • This Circular should be brought to the attention of all learners at all the Nursing Education Institutions.
   • The funds already paid by candidates for the March 2024 Professional Entrance Examination shall be credited to a specific learner’s name on the register of the SANC.
   • There will be no action taken for those who have previously written the PEE and are already registered.

5. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular becomes implemented and valid on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms A. Mnguni, SANC Senior Manager: Learner affairs at (012) 420 1065, or email address [email protected]

_________________________                 
PROF. NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: ______________________

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