South African Nursing Council

Regulations for the Diploma in Community Nursing Science

The Minister of Health, in terms of section 45 (1) (i) of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act 50 of 1978), and on the recommendation of the South African Nursing Council, makes the following regulations in substitution for the regulations published under Government Notice R. 43 of 9 January 1970, as amended by Notices R. 259 of 14 February 1975, R. 1581 of 12 August 1977 and R. 1515 of 21 July 1978:

Conditions for the approval of schools

1. (1)    A school may be approved if-

(a)    the organisational structure and the facilities for the conduct of the teaching programme are satisfactory in the opinion of the council;

(b)    the educational programme is satisfactory in the opinion of the council;

(c)    a registered nurse against whose name an additional qualification in nursing education and an additional qualification in nursing administration are registered, is designated to the council as the person in charge of the school;

(d)    members of the nursing staff who take part in the instruction of students are registered nurses against whose names the additional qualification is registered, and where possible the additional qualification in nursing education.

(2)    Notwithstanding the conditions prescribed in this regulation, the council may approve a school even if all the conditions cannot be complied with. Approval may be granted upon such conditions as the council may determine.

Admission to the course

2.    A candidate shall submit to the person in charge of the school:

(a)    proof of current registration as a general nurse (female) and, unless the council determines otherwise, as a midwife, or as a general nurse (male), or as a psychiatric nurse (male or female). This registration shall be maintained throughout the prescribed period for the course and until the results of the examination are published, failing which the period of the course undergone from the date of removal from the register to the date of restoration, shall be forfeited;

(b)    a senior certificate or an equivalent qualification, unless the council determines otherwise.

Registration, restoration, termination and completion of the course

3.    In terms of the regulations regarding the registers for students-

(a)    a student shall apply for registration or for restoration to the register;

(b)    the person in charge of a school shall notify the council if a student terminates the course for any reason before completion, including a transfer to another school;

(c)    the person in charge of a school shall notify the council when a student completes the course.

Duration of the course

4. (1)    The course shall extend over at least one academic year of at least two hundred (200) days (excluding days off);

(2)    if a student transfers from one school to another, or terminates the course before completion, the course shall be commenced de novo, unless the council determines otherwise.

The curriculum

(The curriculum must be read in conjunction
with the directive obtainable from the council)

5.    Note:

(i)    All the subjects of the curriculum shall be taught at an applied level throughout the course;

(ii)    the ethical foundations of nursing and midwifery shall be emphasised throughout the course;

(iii)    the law governing the practice of nursing and midwifery, including the regulations regarding the conduct of registered nurses which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct, the regulations regarding the conduct of registered midwives which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct and the conditions under which they may carry on their profession, the regulations regarding the conduct of enrolled nurses which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct, the regulations regarding the conduct of enrolled midwives which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct and the conditions under which they may carry on their profession, the regulations regarding the conduct of enrolled nursing assistants which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct, and the legislation applicable to the various aspects of the syllabus, shall be taught at an applied level throughout the course;

(iv)    medico-legal risks shall be emphasised throughout the course;

(v)    the social, psychological, cultural and physical relationships in health and disease shall be emphasised throughout the course;

(vi)    the preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative aspects shall be emphasised throughout the course;

(vii)    the science principles underlying nursing and midwifery shall be emphasised throughout the course.

(1)    Scientific foundations of the community nursing process

(2)    The administrative aspects of community nursing

(3)    Psychosocial and cultural aspects and dynamics of community nursing

(4)    Community nursing and the community nursing process

Instruction and practica

6.    The student shall throughout the course receive instruction and undergo practica in the subjects prescribed in the curriculum in regulation 5.

Examinations

7. (1)    The examination shall consist of two portions, namely-

(a)    a written portions of two papers of three hours each; and

(b)    a practical portion conducted by the nursing school.

(2)    to be admitted to the examination, the candidate shall-

(a)    complete the prescribed period for the course by the end of the month in which the examination is held;

(b)    according to the assessment of the nursing school where the course was followed, be competent and suitable for admission in respect of attitude, approach, insight, knowledge and skills; and

(c)    on the date of the examination comply with the provisions of regulation 6.

(3)    The examination shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations relating to examinations of the council.

(4)    The course referred to in these regulations shall, for the purposes of applying the regulations referred to in subregulation (3), be called a post-basic course.

Registration of additional qualification

8.    A candidate who has passed in the examination shall be issued with a certificate of registration of the additional qualification without the payment of a fee: Provided the notice prescribed in regulation 3(c) has been lodged.

Application of these regulations

9.    These regulations shall be applicable to all courses which commence after 31 December 1979.

Application of regulations

10.    Subject to regulation 11, these regulations shall apply to all courses in the Republic of South Africa leading to registration of a qualification in community nursing.

Transitional clause

11. (1)    Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 10 and subject to subregulation (2), these regulations shall not derogate from the provisions of-

(a)    the regulations published in terms of the Nursing Act, 1984 (Act No. 13 of 1984) (Ciskei), under Government Notice No. 33 of 1987 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 1987 regulations’), which shall remain in force until 30 June 1997;

(b)    the regulations published in terms of the Health and Related Professions Act, 1985 (Act No. 33 of 1985) (Bophuthatswana), under Government Notice No. 61 of 23 March 1990 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 1990 regulations’), which shall remain in force until 30 June 1997.

(2)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), no person shall be admitted to a course referred to in the 1987 regulations or 1990 regulations after 28 February 1997.