South African Nursing Council

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

The Minister of 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 50 of 1978), made the regulations as set out in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE

Definitions

1.    In these regulations “the Act” shall mean the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act 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-

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

(ii) “course of study” means a programme of education and training approved in terms of section 15(3), leading to the obtaining of a qualification which confers on the holder thereof the right to registration as a nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and a midwife;

(iii) “nursing college” means a post-secondary educational institution which offers professional nursing education at basic and post-basic level where such nursing education has been approved in terms of section 15(2);

(iv) “section” means a section of the Act.

Conditions for registration

2.    A nurse (general, psychiatric and community) and midwife shall be registered in terms of section 16 if-

(a) he received education and training at an approved nursing school;

(b) he was registered as a student in terms of the regulations relating to registers for students published under Government Notice R.3735 of 14 November 1969, as amended by Government Notices R.171 of 12 February 1971, R.1204 of 7 July 1972, R.1647 of 20 September 1974 and R.2207 of 31 October 1980;

(c) he has successfully completed the course of study, has complied with the programme objectives referred to in regulation 6(2), and the other requirements for the award of the qualification concerned.

Conditions for the approval of a nursing school

3.    A nursing school shall be approved for the offering of a course of study if-

(a) it is a university with a department or sub-department of nursing or a nursing college which has entered into a co-operation agreement with a university which has a department or sub-department of nursing;

(b) the course of study has been approved in terms of section 15(3);

(c) the head of the department or sub-department of nursing of the university or the head of the nursing college where the education and training is offered, is a registered nurse who holds at least a baccalaureus degree and against whose name an additional qualification in nursing education and an additional qualification in nursing administration are registered.

Admission to the course of study

4.    In order to be admitted to a course of study, a person must be the holder of at least a senior certificate or an equivalent certificate which gives admission to formal post secondary education.

Duration of the course of study

5.    The duration of the study course is four academic years.

Curriculum

Submission of curriculum to council

6.    (1) The curriculum shall be submitted by the university or nursing college concerned to the council for approval in terms of section 15(2).

Programme objectives

(2) Such curriculum shall provide for personal and professional development of the student so that, on completion of the course of study, he-

(a) shows respect for the dignity and uniqueness of man in his social-cultural and religious context and approaches and understands him as a psychological, physical and social being within this context;

(b) is skilled in the diagnosing of individual, family, group and community health problems and in the planning and implementing of therapeutic action and nursing care for the health service consumers at any point along the health/illness continuum in all stages of the life cycle (including care of the dying), and evaluation thereof;

(c) is able to direct and control the interaction with health service consumers in such a way that sympathetic and empathic interaction takes place;

(d) is able to maintain the ethical and moral codes of the profession and practise within the prescriptions of the relevant laws;

(e) endorses the principle that a comprehensive health service is essential to raise the standard of health of the total population and in practice contributes to the promotion of such a service, bearing in mind factors from within and outside the borders of the country which are a threat to health;

(f) is able to collaborate harmoniously within the nursing and multidisciplinary team in terms of the principle of interdependence and co-operation in attaining a common goal;

(g) is able to delineate personal practice according to personal knowledge and skill, practise it independently and accept responsibility therefor;

(h) is able to evaluate personal practice continuously and accept responsibility for continuing professional and personal development;

(i) evinces an enquiring and scientific approach to the problems of practice and is prepared to initiate and/or to accept change;

(j) is able to manage a health service unit effectively;

(k) is able to provide effective clinical training within the health service unit;

(l) is acquainted with the extent and importance of the environmental health services and knows the professional role and responsibilities in respect of the services and in respect of personal professional actions where the services are not available;

(m) is able to promote community involvement at any point along the health/illness continuum in all stages of the life cycle;

(n) has the cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills to serve as a basis for effective practice and for continuing education.

Subjects

(3) The curriculum shall consist of at least the following subjects and the approach shall be the integration of the various fields of study, particularly in their clinical application:

(a) Fundamental Nursing Science, ethos and professional practice – at least one (1) academic year.

(b) General Nursing Science – at least three (3) academic years.

(c) Psychiatric Nursing Science – at least two (2) academic years.

(d) Midwifery – at least two (2) academic years.

(e) Community Nursing Science – at least to (2) academic years.

(f) Biological and natural sciences – at least two and a half (2½) academic years.

(g) Pharmacology – at least half (½) an academic year.

(h) Social Sciences – at least two (2) academic years.

(4) [Deleted by Government Notice No. R.1312 dated 19 June 1987.]

(5) [Deleted by Government Notice No. R.1312 dated 19 June 1987.]

Examinations

(6) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), examinations shall be conducted in all subjects prescribed in subregulation (3) and an examination mark of at least 50% shall be obtained in each subject.

(b) In the case of nursing science subjects with practical components, the theory and the practica shall be examined and passed separately in terms of the requirements of the nursing school concerned.

Application of these regulations

7.    (1) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), examinations in terms of the provisions of the regulations published under Government Notices R.879 of 2 May 1975, R.880 of 2 May 1975, R.881 of 2 May 1975 and R.882 of 2 May 1975, as amended from time to time, shall be conducted by the council only until 31 December 1990: Provided that the following provisions of the aforementioned regulations shall remain in force and effect until a date to be determined by the Minister in the Government Gazette:

(a) Government Notice R.879 of 2 May 1975, as amended – regulation 7.

(b) Government Notice R.880 of 2 May 1975, as amended – regulation 7.

(c) Government Notice R.881 of 2 May 1975, as amended – Annexure A.

(d) Government Notice R.882 of 2 May 1975, as amended – Annexure A.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the regulations referred to in subregulation (1) and the regulations relating to registers, published under Government Notice R.3589 of 24 October 1969, as amended, no person may, after 1 January 1986, be registered as a student for the first time for a course of study leading to registration as a nurse or midwife, unless he registers for the course of study referred to in these regulations, or the course provided for in the regulations published under Government Notice R.254 of 14 February 1975, as amended by Government Notices R.479 of 10 March 1978 and R.2212 of 31 October 1980.

8.    The regulations published under Government Notice R.2118 of 30 September 1983 are hereby repealed.