South African Nursing Council

Regulations Relating to the Course Leading to Enrolment as a Nursing Auxiliary

The Minister for National Health and Welfare has, on the recommendation of the South African Nursing Council, in terms of section 45 (1) of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 50 of 1978), made the regulations set out in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE

Definitions

1.    In these regulations “the Act” means the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 50 of 1978), and any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall bear such meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates-

“academic year” means a period of at least 44 weeks in any calendar year;

“course” means a programme of education and training approved by the council which is offered by an approved nursing school referred to in regulation 3 and which leads to a qualification which convers on the holder thereof the right to enrolment as a nursing auxiliary in terms of section 16 of the Act;

“General Nursing Science and Art I” means a subject prescribed for the first year by Government Notices Nos. R. 879 of 2 May 1975, as amended, R. 881 of 2 May 1975, as amended, or R. 882 of 2 May 1975, as amended or in regulations published in terms of the Nursing Act, 1984 (Act No. 13 of 1984) (Ciskei), under Government Notice No. 36 of 1987, as amended;

“portion” means a part of an examination for which a result is published in the examination results, and which is taken as a whole;

“practical portion” means a portion consisting of a practical examination which may include an oral examination and also the marks obtained in a system of continuous assessment;

“Psychiatric Nursing Science and Art I” means a subject prescribed for the first year in the regulations published under Government Notice No. R. 880 of 1 May 1975, as amended;

“written portion” means a portion consisting of one written paper.

Conditions for enrolment as a nursing auxiliary

2. (1)    A person shall be enrolled as a nursing auxiliary in terms of section 16 of the Act if-

(a)    he has received the education and training referred to in these regulations at an approved nursing school;

(b)    he was enrolled as a pupil nursing auxiliary for the duration of the course referred to in these regulations;

(c)    he has attained the course objectives referred to in regulation 6;

(d)    he has passed the examination referred to in regulation 8 or has been exempted therefrom in terms of regulation 7;

(e)    the nursing school where the course was followed submits a satisfactory record to the council of his theoretical and clinical training.

(2)    A candidate who qualifies for exemption in terms of regulation 7(1) shall be enrolled as a nursing auxiliary only if the record and certificate referred to in regulation 7(1)(d), together with the prescribed fee, have been submitted to the council.

Conditions for the approval of a nursing school

3. (1)    A nursing school shall apply to the council to offer a course referred to in these regulations.

(2)    An application referred to in subregulation (1) shall be approved by the council if-

(a)    all required information has been furnished by the nursing school;

(b)    the organisational structure and the facilities for presenting the course are satisfactory in the opinion of the council;

(c)    the curriculum, including the system of continuous evaluation in respect of theory and clinical practica, submitted by the nursing school, is satisfactory in the opinion of the council;

(d)    the facilities for clinical practica are satisfactory in the opinion of the council;

(e)    the person in charge of the nursing school is a registered nurse against whose name an additional qualification in nursing education has been registered in terms of section 22 of the Act;

(f)    at least one registered nurse is on duty at all times at the institution where the clinical training is presented;

(g)    all members of the nursing staff who take part in the clinical training are registered or enrolled nurses.

(3)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (2), the council may approve a nursing school upon conditions that substantially correspond with the requirements of that subregulation.

Admission to the course

4. (1)    A candidate shall apply to the person in charge of a nursing school for admission to the course referred to in these regulations.

(2)    Such application shall be accompanied by proof that the candidate has passed at least an academic Standard 8 or has an equivalent educational qualification.

Duration of the course

5.    The duration of the course shall be one academic year which shall be completed within a period of 18 months from the date of commencement, unless the council determines otherwise.

The curriculum

6. (1)    Course objectives

The curriculum for the course shall be compiled in such a manner that it leads to the personal and professional development of a pupil nursing auxiliary so that, on completion of the course he-

(a)    recognises and respects the dignity and worth of man;

(b)    appreciates that social and cultural influences and physical circumstances have a bearing on human behaviour and health;

(c)    demonstrates an understanding of the relevant legislation and the aspects of the common law applicable to nursing;

(d)    accepts the ethical and moral codes governing nursing;

(e)    accepts that nursing is involved with man at all stages of life;

(f)    is able to assist with the implementation of nursing acts for individuals or groups as part of the nursing regimen planned by a registered nurse or registered midwide, with particular reference to basic human needs;

(g)    recognises the place of the enrolled nursing auxiliary in the health team providing comprehensive health care;

(h)    is willing to co-operate with other health team members;

(i)    recognises and carries out his reponsibility in respect of the promotion of the physical and mental health of man and the prevention of physical and mental disorders in man.

(2)    Course contents

The course shall consist of a subject made up of the following:

(a)    Nursing history and ethics;

(b)    basic nursing care;

(c)    elementary nutrition;

(d)    first aid;

(e)    elementary anatomy and physiology;

(f)    introduction of comprehensive health care.

(3)    Clinical training

(a)    Subject to the provisions of regulation 7 a pupil nursing auxiliary shall undergo a minimum of 1 000 hours of clinical training, which shall be spread over the full period of the course.

(b)    The clinical training referred to in paragraph (a) shall include practica at night for at least one twelfth but not more than one quarter of the total prescribed period of training.

(c)    Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b), a pupil nursing auxiliary shall not be allocated for clinical practica at night during the first six months of the course.

Exemptions

7. (1)    A candidate who, during the five years prior to the date of application, has terminated training at an approved nursing school in any course leading to registration as a nurse may be enrolled as a nursing auxiliary on application and payment of the prescribed fee, if-

(a)    he has completed at least one year of such a course;

(b)    he has passed the examination in General Nursing Science and Art I or Psychiatric Nursing Science and Art I or the equivalent thereof;

(c)    he has completed at least 1 000 hours of clinical practica; and

(d)    a record of training which is satisfactory to the council is submitted by the nursing school where the training took place, together with a certificate from the person in charge of the nursing school, that the candidate has attained at least the equivalent of the course objectives referred to in regulation 6.

(2)    A candidate referred to in subregulation (1) who has not passed the examination in General Nursing Science and Art I or Psychiatric Nursing Science and Art I or the equivalent thereof, but who complies with the other requirements of that subregulation, may be granted exemption from the full period of the course, from the clinical training referred to in regulation 6 and from enrolment as a pupil nursing auxiliary and may enter for the examination referred to in regulation 9 without undergoing further training.

(3)    A candidate who, during the five years prior to the date of application, has terminated his or her training at an approved nursing school in a course leading to enrolment as a nurse may be enrolled as a nursing auxiliary on application and payment of the prescribed fee if-

(a)    he or she has completed at least the first academic year of such a course;

(b)    he or she has passed a first-year examination conducted by the council for the course leading to enrolment as a nurse;

(c)    he or she has completed at least 1 000 hours of clinical practica; and

(d)    a record of training which is satisfactory to the council is submitted by the nursing school where the training took place, together with a certificate from the person in charge of the nursing school that the candidate has attained at least the equivalent of the course objectives referred to in regulation 6.

(4)    A candidate who, during the five year prior to the date of application, has terminated his training in any course leading to registration or enrolment as a nurse, and has completed at least six months, but less than one year of such a course may be granted exemption from not more than 100 days of the period prescribed for the course referred to in these regulations and from not more than 500 hours of the prescribed clinical training.

(5)    Other exemptions may be granted by the council in its discretion.

Examinations

8. (1) (a)    The subject referred to in regulation 6(2) shall be examined by the council in accordance with the regulations relating to examinations of the council.

(b)    For the purposes of the regulations referred to in paragraph (a) the course referred to in these regulations shall be deemed to be a basic course.

(2)    The examination shall consist of the following two portions:

(a)    A written portion conducted by the council and consisting of one paper of three hours’ duration;

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

Requirements for admission to an examination

9.    A candidate shall be admitted to an examination only if he-

(a)    will have completed the prescribed period of training for the course not later than the end of the months in which the examination is conducted;

(b)    obtains a year-mark of at least 50% in a system of continuous evaluation referred to in regulation 3(2)(c);

(c)    will have achieved the objectives referred to in regulation 6(1) by the date of the examination.

Application of regulations

10.    Subject to regulation 11, these regulations shall apply to all courses in the Republic of South Africa leading to enrolment as a nursing auxiliary.

Transition clause

11. (1) (a)    Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) and subregulations (2)(a) and (3), these regulations shall not derogate from the provisions of the regulations published under Government Notice No. R. 1571 of 21 July 1989, hereinafter referred to as the 1989 regulations, which shall remain in force until 31 December 1996.

(b)    Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) and subject to the provisions of subregulations (2)(b) and (3), these regulations shall not derogate from the provisions of the regulations published in terms of the Nursing Act, 1984 (Act No. 13 of 1984) (Ciskei), under Government Notice No. 67 of 10 August 1990, hereinafter referred to as “the 1990(a) regulations” or the regulations published in terms of the Health and Related Professions Act, 1985 (Act No. 33 of 1985) (Bophuthatswana), under Government Notice No. 46 of 23 March 1990, hereinafter referred to as “the 1990(b) regulations”, which shall remain in force until 31 December 1997.

(2) (a)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1)(a) and subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), no person shall be permitted to enrol for a course referred to in the 1989 regulations later than one year after the publication of these regulations.

(b)    Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) and subregulation (1)(b), no person shall be permitted to enrol for a course referred to in the 1990(a) regulations or the 1990(b) regulations after 28 February 1997.

(3)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), the examinations for the course referred to in the 1989 regulations shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations relating to examinations of the council and the course shall for the purposes of the provisions of those regulations be deemed to be a basic course.