Circular 11/2022 Examination Schedule for 2023

Circular 11/2022: Examination Schedule for 2023


18 October 2022

To:          Nursing Education Institutions

                 Nursing stakeholders

 

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL (SANC) EXAMINATION SCHEDULE – 2023

Attached is the Examination Schedule for 2023

Kindly take note of the following requirements applicable to the SANC examinations:

  1. The closing date for the examinations should be strictly adhered to and no exceptions or allowances will be made to extend these dates.
  1. Only registered learners will be eligible for an examination: The Head of the Nursing Education Institution (NEI) must ensure that all learners are registered with the SANC within the prescribed period. Foreign applicants apply as individuals but will have to adhere to the prescribed period.
  1. Candidates will not be registered for an examination with only an identity number. SANC reference numbers are needed in all cases. Please follow up with the SANC Registration Section first, if learners are registered for the course before registering them for an examination.
  1. The SANC will only process applications for entry into the South African Nursing Council examination that meet the following requirements:
  • The Examination Application Form is completed in full, accurately and signed by the relevant person/s. The surname and given names must be those appearing in the identity document/ passport number.
  • All the required documentation to be included.
  • There is proof of payment of prescribed examination fees into the SANC bank account, such payment must be done by the NEI (group payment) and not by learners, except for foreign candidates.

Banking details are as follows:

Name of Bank:            First National Bank

Account number:        51425166282 (Current Account)

Branch:                        Corporate Core Banking – Pretoria

Branch code:               210-554

Reference:                  NEI S-number followed by the type of fee code ‘EXAMFEE’

 

The correct reference must appear on all deposits to expedite the processing of your payment. The code ‘EXAMFEE’ must only be used for payment in respect of examination fee. This code must not be used for any other types of payment. Here is an example of what a correct reference will look like for an NEI with S-number S12345:  S12345EXAMFEE

 

NB:      The Head of the NEI must ensure that payment of fees by their Provincial Department of Health or Head Office is made separately for each NEI and for each specific examination.

Provincial bulk payments without specifications create administrative challenges and cause a delay in processing of the applications.

  1. Only those candidates that have been issued an examination timetable/number will be eligible to write the SANC examination.
  1. All practical MARK SHEETS must be submitted to the SANC by registered mail/courier by the end of the month in which the examination is written. If the PRACTICAL MARK SHEETS in a SANC format are not submitted on time, the examination results will be published without the practical marks, hence qualification certificate will not be issued to the affected candidates.
  1. The SANC requests invigilators not to enclose the practical mark sheet or any other documents with the examination package.
  1. The SANC reserves the right to cancel an examination reflected on the schedule if there are insufficient candidates for such an examination.
  1. The SANC requests the NEIs to inform all their candidates of the outcome of the examination results once published. No examination results will be given out telephonically by the office of the SANC. However, candidates will receive results via text messages (SMS).

NB: Examination fees are non-refundable according to Regulations regarding fees and fines payable to the South African Nursing Council (Government Notice No.R.170 of 8 March 2013)

 

 ___________________________

Ms S.J Nxumalo

Acting Registrar and CEO

The South African Nursing Council

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE FOR 2023

The following examination will be held during the year 2023 if there are candidates.

For further information, please contact the Assessment Section, South African Nursing Council.

Contact Professional Advisors:

Ms N Ndlovu Telephone 012 420 1078/ [email protected]

Ms M Tshabalala Telephone 012 426 9534/ [email protected]

 

Manager: Assessment Section

Ms E Magagula Telephone 012 426 9596/ [email protected]

Fax: 012 343-5400

Address Private Bag X132, Pretoria, 0001

Email: [email protected]

 

 

 

Final Examination for the Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses leading to Registration as General Nurse or Psychiatric Nurse

Regulation: R.683 of 14 April 1989 (as amended)

 

Date

Paper

Time

Closing Date

08 May 2023

10 May 2023

Paper 1

Paper 2

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 February 2023

06 November 2023

08 November 2023

Paper 1

Paper 2

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 August 2023

Paper 1 = Integrated General Nursing Science II

OR

Integrated Psychiatric Nursing Science II

Paper 2 = Ethos and Professional Practice (including Ward Administration

And Clinical Teaching) and Social Science II

 

Professional Entrance Examination for Registration as a Professional Nurse and Midwife

Regulations: R.174 of 08 March 2013

 

Date

Paper

Time

Closing Date

08 May 2023

10 May 2023

Paper 1

Paper 2

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 February 2023

06 November 2023

08 November 2023

Paper 1

Paper 2

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 August 2023

 

Paper 1 = Comprehensive Nursing care

Paper 2 = Midwifery component

Professional Entrance Examination for Registration as a General Nurse

(Also written by Foreign Nurses as admission examination)

Regulations: R.171 of 08 March 2013

 

Date

Time

Closing Date

12 May 2023

10 November 2023

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 February 2023

07 August 2023

Professional Entrance Examination for Registration as an Auxiliary Nurse (Also written by Foreign Nurses as admission examination)

Regulations: R.169 of 08 March 2013

 

Date

Time

Closing Date

10 May 2023

08 November 2023

09:00-12:00

09:00-12:00

07 February 2023

07 August 2023

 

Admission Examination for Foreign Applicants for Enrolment as a Nurse

Date

Time

Closing Date

10 May 2023

09:00 – 12:00

07 February 2023

08 November 2023

09: 00 –12:00

07 August 2023

 

  • International Nurses should contact the Foreign Registrations Desk, South African Nursing Council for additional information.

Contact: Mr S Shezi- Professional Advisor

Telephone: National:012 420 1040

International: +2712 420 1040

Fax: National: 012 426 9516

International: +2712 426 9516

Address Private Bag X132, Pretoria, 0001

Republic of South Africa

E-mail:[email protected]

 

Click the link below to download the Circular as a PDF

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Circular 10/2022 Appointment as Acting Registrar and CEO of the SANC

Circular 10/2022: Appointment of Acting Registrar and CEO of the SANC


1 October 2022

To:          National Department of Health

                 Provincial Departments of Health

                 Private Health Providers

                 All stakeholders

 

This Circular serves to inform Stakeholders that Ms SJ Nxumalo has been appointed as the Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nursing Council (SANC) by the Minister of Health with effect from 01 October 2022.

The appointment is in terms of Section 18 of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) and in terms of conditions as provided in the Policy on the Secondment of Employees in the Public Sector.

Kind regards

(Signed)

Dr M MOLEPO                                                                                         

CHAIRPERSON: SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

 

Click the link below to download the Circular as a PDF

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Circular 9/2022 Unidentified deposits for 2022 Annual Fees

Circular 9/2022: Unidentified deposits for 2022 Annual Fee payments


11 August 2022

To:          National Department of Health

                 Provincial Departments of Health

                 Private Health Providers

                 All stakeholders

 

SUBJECT: UNIDENTIFIED DEPOSITS: 2022 ANNUAL FEES PAYMENTS

 

  1. PURPOSE

1.1. The purpose of this circular is to address a growing concern that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is currently experiencing regarding the payments which are made by the Nurse Practitioners without including their SANC reference number together with the service they are paying for.

1.2. This circular also seeks to outline the process which should be followed for tracing and reallocation of incorrectly referenced payments or payments that are made without any reference whatsoever.

  1. BACKGROUND

2.1 During the 2022 Annual Practising Certificate season, the SANC received a high number of payments for annual fees which were not properly referenced, therefore, many of these payments could not be allocated to the Nurse Practitioners’ SANC membership accounts. As a result, the Nurse Practitioners could not be issued with their Annual Practising Certificates and were removed from the Register for non-payment of annual fees.

2.2 We urge the Nurse Practitioners who know that they have made payments for their 2022 annual fees but are removed from the register for non-payment of 2022 annual fees to urgently contact the SANC so that we can assist them in tracing their payments, and where successful, allocate the payments to their SANC membership account.

2.3 The South African Nursing Council uses the Reference Deposit Account for payment of Fees and Fines payable by our stakeholders. The reference consists of two parts:

2.3.1 Your SANC reference number (8 digits) – which is used to identify who the payment is for.

2.3.2 A payment type code (7 CAPITAL LETTERS) written immediately after the SANC reference number – which is used for identifying what the payment is for.

The following line is an example of what a correct reference will look like when making annual fee payment:

12345678ANLFEES

In the above example, ‘12345678‘ is the Nurse practitioner’s SANC reference  number and ‘ANLFEES‘ is the payment type code.  You will notice that the payment reference number is always 15 characters long.

PLEASE NOTE that the above reference is only an example, and you should not use the    above details for making any payment.  You must use your own SANC reference number as the reference followed by an appropriate payment type code.

2.4 Listed in the tables below are all the PAYMENT TYPE CODES that are in use at the South African Nursing Council:

TO BE USED BY INDIVIDUALS 

Section
of the
Regulations

Payment
Type Code

To be used for paying for:

7(1)(a)

ADGUILT

Admission of guilt fines

2(1)(c)

ANLFEES

Annual Fees

2(1)(g)

APPFEES

Application Fees (foreign applications)

2(1)(k)

CETSFEE

Certificate of Status Fee

2(1)(l)

DUPCFEE

Replacement Certificate Fee

2(1)(m)

EXAMFEE

Examination Fees (foreign application exams)

2(1)(n)

EXTRFEE

Extract Fees (extract from the register)

2(1)(q)

LATEFEE

Late Entry Fees (foreign exam applicants)

2(1)(s)

ADDQUAL

Registration Fees (additional qualifications)

2(1)(t)

ASSESSR

Registration Fees (assessors, moderators, verifiers)

2(1)(v)

REGFPRA

Registration Fees (practitioners)

2(1)(x)

REMAFEE

Remarking Fees (exams)

2(1)(y)
2(1)(z)

RESTFEE

Restoration Fees

2(1)(aa)

TRANFEE

Transcript of Training Fees

2(1)(b)

VERIFEE

Verification Fees

 

SALEDDS

Purchasing of Distinguishing Devices

 

POSTAGE

Postage

 

OTHRFEE

Other fees or payments (not mentioned above)

 

TO BE USED BY INSTITUTIONS/ORGANISATIONS/COMPANIES 

Section
of the
Regulations

Payment
Type Code

To be used for paying for:

2(1)(a)

ACFLEEN

Accreditation Fees – Nursing Education Institution

ACFRENE

Accreditation Fees – Reaccreditation of a Nursing Education Institution

2(1)(b)

ACFNEPR

Accreditation Fees – Nursing Education Programme

2(1)(c)

ANLFEES

Annual Fees on behalf of your employees

2(1)(d)

ANNFNEI

Annual Nursing Education Institution Fee

2(1)(e)
2(1)(h)
2(1)(i)

APFAPCE

Application Fees

2(1)(j)

AUDVFEE

Audit Visit Fees

2(1)(m)

EXAMFEE

Examination Fees (candidates)

2(1)(o)

FVFCLNC

Focus Visit Fees (clinical facilities)

2(1)(p)

FVFENEI

Focus Visit Fees (nursing education institution)

2(1)(q)

LATEFEE

Late Entry Fees (exam candidates)

2(1)(s)

ADDQUAL

Registration Fees (additional qualifications)

2(1)(u)

REGFLEN

Registration Fees (learners)

2(1)(v)

REGFPRA

Registration Fees (practitioners)

 

OTHRFEE

Other fees or payments (not mentioned above)

 

  1. UNIDENTIFIED DEPOSITS

3.1 Affected Nurse Practitioners are required to send their proof of payment (not bank statement) and SANC reference number to [email protected] or [email protected].

To enable successful tracing the proof of payment should at least have the following information:

3.1.1 Beneficiary/Recipient Account Number

3.1.2 Beneficiary/Recipient Reference

3.1.3     Date of payment

                     3.1.4     Amount Paid

3.2 The contents of this communique should be brought to the attention of all Nurse Practitioners in all health establishments.

3.3 The Nurse Practitioners are also reminded that according to Section 44 (2)(b) of the Nursing Act, a person whose name has been removed from the register must cease to practise as a Nurse Practitioner and is precluded from performing any act which he or she, in his or her capacity as a registered person, was entitled to perform.

3.4 For further information in respect of this communique, kindly contact Mr B Manganyi, Acting Manager: Revenue Collections and Sales at [email protected] or Tel: 012 420 1081.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                               

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

 

Click the link below to download the Circular as a PDF

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Circular 8/2022 Fees and Fines for 2023

Circular 8/2022: Fees and Fines for 2023


3 June 2022

To:          National Department of Health

                 Provincial Departments of Health

                 Nursing Education Institutions

                 All stakeholders

 

This Circular serves as confirmation of the South African Nursing Council’s fees and fines as stipulated in the Government Gazette published on 27 May 2022.  

  1. ANNUAL FEES FOR 2023

1.1 NORMAL ANNUAL FEES

 

The annual fees for the calendar year 2023 for different categories of practitioners are provided in the table below:

CATEGORY

  ANNUAL FEE FOR 2023

Registered Nurses and Midwives

R730.00

Enrolled Nurses and Midwives

R440.00

Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries

R310.00

1.2 REDUCTIONS IN ANNUAL FEES FOR AGE 60 AND OVER

 

The Council has resolved to introduce reduced fees for nurses 60 years of age and over as per the table below:

1.2.1 60 TO 64 YEARS OF AGE ON 1 JANUARY 2023 (25% REDUCTION)

 

CATEGORY

  ANNUAL FEE FOR 2023

Registered Nurses and Midwives

    R550.00

Enrolled Nurses and Midwives

    R330.00

Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries

    R230.00

1.2.2 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER ON 01 JANUARY 2023 (50% REDUCTION)

 

CATEGORY

  ANNUAL FEE FOR 2023

Registered Nurses and Midwives

    R370.00

Enrolled Nurses and Midwives

    R220.00

Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries

    R150.00

NB: To qualify for the discount amounts, practitioners may be required to submit a certified copy of their identity document in order to confirm their age.

Notes:

  • The annual fees for 2023 must be received by the SANC on or before 31 December 2022.
  • The amounts in the tables above all include 15% VAT.
  1. RESTORATION FEES FOR 2023

 

The restoration fees for different categories applicable from 1 January 2023 are shown in the following table.

CATEGORY

NORMAL
RESTORATION FEE

REDUCED
RESTORATION FEE

Registered Nurses and Midwives

R2 200.00

R150.00

Enrolled Nurses and Midwives

R1 320.00

R150.00

Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries

R920.00

R150.00

Retired Nurses

R150.00

R150.00

 

Notes:

The reduced restoration fee only applies to a practitioner:

  • Who must have been removed from the register at his/her own request; or
  • Who must be 60 years of age or older on 1 January 2023. However, this must be confirmed with the Council before paying the reduced amount.

 

  1. VOLUNTARY REMOVAL

 

A Nurse Practitioner who no longer wishes to practise in South Africa or who is unemployed, may request, in writing, for a voluntary removal of his/her name from the register, by completing the form available from the SANC. If a voluntary removal is granted by the SANC, the nurse practitioner’s name will be removed accordingly on the 31st of December of the year in which the application is received. Once removed, the nurse practitioner will no longer be required to pay annual fees while he/she is removed from the register.

If the nurse practitioner requires reinstatement onto the register, he/she will, in addition to paying the reduced restoration fee, be required to complete a Restoration Form which can be accessed from the SANC website, www.sanc.co.za. It must be noted that practising while not being registered is illegal.

  1. CLOSING DATE FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES

 

Please note that for the calendar year 2023, the closing date for the payment of annual fees is 31 December 2022. Payments must reach the SANC bank account on or before the closing date. You are, therefore, urged not to leave payment for the last minute to avoid problems associated with making payments at year end.

Remember: Bank transfers from non-FNB banks may take up to 3 working days and you are therefore advised to pay well in advance to meet the 31 December 2022 deadline.

  1. OTHER FEES

 

Please note that other fees and fees payable by institutions will be applicable with effect from 01 January 2023.

  1. PERSAL DEDUCTIONS

The signing of Resolution 3 of 2019 in September 2019 by the National Department of Health together with major trade unions in Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC), brought into effect the implementation of PERSAL deductions from the 2020 APC season for all employees falling under the scope of the PHSDSBC.

As a result of this agreement, affected Nurse Practitioners are urged not to pay the annual fees on their own as the employers are required to pay on their behalf in terms of Resolution 3 of 2019.  

  1. eREGISTER

 

The SANC has made an eRegister facility available on the SANC website which can be utilised by employers to verify the registration status of all Nurse Practitioners in their employment. Employers are urged to utilise this facility in the absence of a physical Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Visit: https://www.sanc.co.za/eRegister.aspx for more details.

 

  1. COMMUNITY SERVICE PRACTITIONERS

 

Community Service Practitioners are not eligible to be issued with an APC, and therefore, should NOT pay annual fees. They MUST pay a conversion fee on completion of their Community Service in order to be registered as Nurse Practitioners using the REGFPRA registration fee code instead of ANLFEES (e.g. 12345678REGFPRA).

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                               

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

 

Click the link below to download the Circular as a PDF

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Circular 7/2022 Community Service by nurses who have completed the Bachelor of Nursing programme

Circular 7/2022: Community Service for nurses who have completed the Bachelor of Nursing programme


24 May 2022

To:          National Department of Health

                 Provincial Departments of Health

                 Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) 

                 All stakeholders

 

SUBJECT: COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR NURSES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE BACHELOR OF NURSING PROGRAMME

 

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, Acting Deputy Registrar: Professional Affairs at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected]

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                               

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

Circular 6/2022 Interim measures on distinguishing devices to be worn by Auxiliary Nurses

Circular 6/2022: Interim measure regarding distinghuishing devices for Auxiliary Nurses


24 May 2022

To:          National Department of Health

                 Provincial Departments of Health

                 Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) 

                 All stakeholders

 

SUBJECT: INTERIM MEASURES ON DISTINGUISHING DEVICES TO BE WORN BY AUXILIARY NURSES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE HIGHER CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME IN NURSING

  1. PURPOSE
    • The purpose of this circular is to update the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders about the interim measures on distinguishing devices to be worn by Auxiliary Nurses who have completed the Higher Certificate programme in Nursing.

 

  1. BACKGROUND
    • In terms of the Regulations Regarding the Distinguishing Devices and Uniforms for Enrolled Nursing Assistants and Enrolled Pupil Nursing Assistants (Government Notice Regulations No. 1747 of 29 September 1972 as amended), Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries wear a Metal Brooch with the wording “South African Nursing Council” in blue coloured lettering around the edge.
    • The nursing profession was engaged on the matter of distinguishing devices through a survey. Recommendations were provided on the range of distinguishing devices, which included the dark turquoise epaulettes being recommended for Auxiliary Nurses who will complete the Higher Certificate programme in Nursing.
    • The findings of the survey informed the review of distinguishing devices for Nurses and Midwives.
    • The reviewed Regulations on distinguishing devices for Nurses and Midwives were developed, approved by Council and submitted to the National Department of Health for consideration and publication for public comments.

 

  1. INTERIM MEASURE
    • In the meantime, the first cohort of Student Nurses have completed the Higher Certificate programme in Nursing, passed the Professional Entrance Examination in May 2021 and were subsequently registered with the South African Nursing Council in the category “Registered Auxiliary Nurses”.
    • It is a statutory requirement that practitioners should be correctly identified through the prescribed distinguishing devices.
    • The Council at the virtual special meeting held on 30-31 March approved that, whilst still awaiting the promulgation of the new Regulations on Distinguishing Devices for Nurses and Midwives, the Registered Auxiliary Nurses who underwent the Higher Certificate programme in Nursing be permitted to wear the brooch, same as the distinguishing devices worn by Nursing Auxiliaries who completed the course leading to enrolment as a Nursing Auxiliary (Government Notice Regulations No.2176 of 19 November 1993 as amended)

 

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, Acting Deputy Registrar: Professional Affairs at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected]

 

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                               

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

Circular 5/2022 SANC Easter Closure

Circular 5/2022: SANC Easter Closure


7 April 2022

To:          National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions    

All stakeholders

 

 

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL – EASTER HOLIDAYS CLOSURE

Please be informed that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) offices will be closed from Thursday, 14 April 2022 at 12:00 and will re-open on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 at 8:00.

We would appreciate it if you could kindly inform all persons in your institutions.

Wishing you safe travels over the Easter holidays.

 

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                               

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

Circular 4/2022 Impairment Committee findings

Circular 4/2022: Impairment Committee findings


28 March 2022

To:          National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Private Health Care Providers     

All stakeholders

 

SUBJECT:      IMPAIRMENT COMMITTEE FINDINGS: POOR MANAGEMENT OF SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES/     MEDICINES IN HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS

 

  1. PURPOSE
  • Share the findings/trends of the Impairment Committee (IC) regarding mismanagement of scheduled substances/medicines with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Private Health Care Providers and other relevant stakeholders.
  • To remind Registered Nurses and/or Midwives of their role in managing scheduled substances/ medicines in health establishments in line with relevant policies and protocols.

 

  1. BACKGROUND
  • The IC is one of the standing committees established by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) in terms of section 51 of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No.33 of 2005). The Committee is appointed to manage practitioners who are registered in terms of section 31 (1) of the Act, who are deemed unfit to practice nursing due to disability or impairment. Most of the cases received by IC relate to abuse of scheduled substances/medicines. In dealing with these cases, the Committee has noted with concern the deteriorating vigilance in the management of scheduled substances/medicines in healthcare establishments, both public and private, which leads to abuse of these substances/ medicines by Health Care Professionals.
  • On analysis of the reported cases, the IC established that practitioners had access to these substances/ medicines in any of the following ways:
  • When Registered Nurses and/or Midwives issue and administer prescribed scheduled substances/ medicines alone.
  • Scheduled substances/ medicines cupboard keys not kept in line with applicable policies.
  • Scheduled substances/ medicines not co-checked during hand over and in every shift change, leaving discrepancies to go unnoticed.
  • Counting and recording of the quantities of scheduled substances/ medicines administered not done in line with applicable institutional policies or common best practices

 

  • Prolonged use of prescribed scheduled substances/ medicines, which leads to dependency. For example, Registered Nurses and/or Midwives who were involved in car accidents or have had major operations which lead to addiction and abuse.

 

  1. TELL-TALE SIGNS OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS WHO MAY BE ABUSING SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES/ MEDICINES

The following are some of the warning signs that the nurse may be using or addicted to scheduled Substances or medicines:

  • Scheduled substances/ medicines to be discarded kept in a syringe for no apparent reason;
  • Registered Nurse and/or Midwife frequently borrowing scheduled substances/ medicines from other wards or visiting the wards/ healthcare establishments at awkward times;
  • Registered Nurse and/or Midwife requesting colleagues to countersign in the register for scheduled substances/ medicines which they did not witness being dispensed;
  • Inaccurate recording and questionable entries;
  • Erasing or ‘overwriting’ of drug book entries, instead of following standard operating procedures;
  • Registered Nurse and/or Midwife often volunteering to administer scheduled medications; and
  • Registered Nurse and/or Midwife frequently offering to count scheduled substances/ medicines, to make sure the count is correct.

 

  1. ROLE OF PRACTITIONERS IN MANAGEMENT OF SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES/ MEDICATIONS
  • It remains the obligation of the Registered Nurse and/or Midwife to ensure that all scheduled substances/medicines are ordered, controlled, administered and disposed of in terms of the given protocols, policies and procedures of the institution.
  • Registered Nurses and/or Midwives must ensure that Enrolled Nurses/Nursing Auxiliaries ARE NOT allowed to keep the keys to the controlled medicines and substance cupboard and to check and administer scheduled medicines alone.
  • Scheduled medicines must be prescribed by a doctor except in emergency situations as per institutional protocol.
  • Registered Nurses and/or Midwives are personally liable for all unprofessional conduct while performing their duties.
  • The person in charge of the ward or nursing unit will remain accountable for all nursing care provided.

 

  1. ROLE OF NURSE MANAGERS IN MANAGEMENT OF SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES/ MEDICATIONS
  • Nurse Managers must develop and implement policies and procedures with regards to the ordering, safe keeping and administration of scheduled substances/ medicines.
  • There should be strict monitoring of compliance to policies and procedures to assist Nurse Managers to prevent possible addiction and/or abuse.
  • Nurse Managers must report incidences of alleged addiction or abuse to the SANC, so that the alleged practitioner is managed under the Impairment Programme, failure of which, the Nurse Manager will be charged for unprofessional conduct.

 

  1. The contents of this circular must be brought to the attention of all practitioners and all managers in all health establishments.

 

  1. For further information in respect of this circular, kindly contact Dr NJ Muswede, Senior Manager: Professional Practice at [email protected] or Tel: 012 420 1008.

 

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                                    DATE

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

Circular 3/2022 Articulation from legacy to HEQSF aligned qualifications

Circular 3/2022: Articulation from the legacy to the HEQSF-aligned qualifications


23 March 2022

To:          National Department of Health

Provincial Departments of Health

Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs)    

All stakeholders

 

SUBJECT: ARTICULATION FROM THE LEGACY TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS SUBFRAMEWORK (HEQSF) – ALIGNED NURSING QUALIFICATIONS

1          PURPOSE

1.1       The purpose of this circular is to provide information to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders on the engagement between the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) regarding articulation possibilities from the legacy to the HEQSF- aligned nursing qualifications.

2          BACKGROUND

2.1       Transformation in education, specifically higher education in South Africa which is spearheaded by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, has necessitated transformation in all earning fields, including Nursing Education. The introduction of the HEQSF, as part of South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework, created a need to align the Nursing qualifications with the HEQSF. There was a conscious decision by the nursing profession that all nursing qualifications should be under higher education for ease of progression and articulation.

2.2       The SANC has throughout the years since 2010 shared progress about the transformation with National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders, including unions, in various platforms e.g. circulars, SANC electronic news, SANC stakeholder forums meetings, Nursing Indaba and workshops etc.

2.3       In 2016, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, in line with the provision of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act 101 of 1997, declared through a notice published in a gazette, that the last enrolment date for the first-time entering students into academic programmes that are not aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF) was 31 December 2019. It therefore meant that the legacy programmes, including legacy nursing education programmes will no longer be offered after this date except to complete the pipeline students.

2.4       The minimum requirements for admission to higher education are prescribed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training and not the SANC. In terms of the Higher Education Act of 1997 as amended, the decision to admit a student to higher education is the right and responsibility of the higher education institution, herein referred to as Nursing Education Institutions.

2.5       The Department of Higher Education and Training, through the Council on Higher Education (CHE), has further made determinations regarding progression (career-pathing) to be followed by persons who undergo the HEQSF-aligned qualifications. However, a clear articulation pathway from legacy qualifications to the new HEQSF-aligned qualifications is not yet determined. This is negatively affecting nurses who underwent the legacy qualifications but may not meet the minimum requirements to access the new HEQSF-aligned qualifications. This has highlighted the importance of initiating a discussion about articulation with the CHE.

3          PROGRESSION AND ARTICULATION

3.1       To mitigate the anticipated challenge, the SANC conducted a three-day workshop from 3-5 March 2021, whose purpose was to identify similarities and differences between the legacy and HEQSF-aligned nursing qualifications in order to determine if there were gaps in learning content between the old and the new qualifications, and if there were, what would it take to bridge them. Nursing Education and Training stakeholders were represented. The findings were to assist SANC in mapping out articulation pathways for the nurses who underwent the legacy qualifications.

3.2       The report of the findings of the workshop, including recommendations, was presented and approved by Council of the SANC. The Council further resolved that the recommendations should be discussed with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) since CHE is the Quality Council for Higher Education.

3.3       Much as there have been several engagements held between SANC and CHE about the proposed recommendations on articulation pathways, no concrete agreements have been reached regarding the matter, especially regarding the access to the post-graduate diploma programmes by nurses who underwent the four-year diploma programme from Public Colleges of Nursing; and access by nurses who underwent Bridging programme for Enrolled Nurses with a Midwifery qualification. The agreement was that once the decision had been reached, the Nursing Education Institutions would be informed formally. The SANC was hoping that by this time a conclusion would have been reached, however this is not the case.

3.4     Progress will be provided as and when there are agreements that are reached.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, Acting Deputy Registrar: Professional Affairs at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected]

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                                    DATE

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL