South African Nursing Council

Regulations Relating to the Minimum Requirements for a Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses Leading to Registration as a General Nurse or a Psychiatric Nurse

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

SCHEDULE

Definitions

1.    In these regulations “the Act” shall mean 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” shall mean a period of at least 44 weeks in any calendar year.

Conditions for registration

2.    An enrolled nurse shall in terms of section 16 of the Act be registered as a general or psychiatric nurse, as the case may be, if-

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

(b)    he or she was registered as a student in terms of the regulations regarding registers for students;

(c)    he or she has successfully completed the course prescribed by regulation 7(2), and has complied with the programme objectives set out in regulation 7(1).

Conditions for the approval of schools

3. (1)    A nursing school shall be approved if-

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

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

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

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

(2)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), the council may approve a nursing school upon such conditions as the council may determine.

Admission to the course

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

(b)    Such application shall be accompanied by-

(i)    proof of current enrolment as a nurse;

(ii)    a Standard 10 or equivalent certificate, unless the council determines otherwise.

(2)    An enrolment as a nurse shall be maintained for the duration of the course up to and including the date of publication of the results of the final examination, failing which the duration of the course shall be extended by a period equal to the period during which such enrolment was not maintained.

Registration, restoration and termination and completion of the course

5.    In terms of the regulations regarding registers for students referred to in regulation 2(b)-

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

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

(c)    the person in charge of a nursing school shall notify the council when a student completes the course and shall lodge with the council a record of the theoretical and clinical instruction undergone by the student.

Duration of the course

6. (1) (a)    The duration of the course shall be two academic years.

(b)    Leave of absence which is granted in terms of subregulation (2) and sick leave which is granted in terms of subregulation (3)(a) shall be included in this period of two academic years, but additional sick leave which is granted in terms of subregulation (3)(b) shall not be so included.

(2)    A student may be granted not more than 60 days leave of absence at such times during the prescribed course as the person in charge of the nursing school may decide.

(3) (a)    A student may be granted sick leave calculated at the rate of 12 days for each academic year of the course, and sick leave of a proportionate number of days for a shorter period.

(b)    Sick leave may be granted in addition to the sick leave referred to in paragraph (a) on condition that such additional sick leave shall be made up.

(4) (a)    The course shall be commenced de novo if a break occurs before completion of six months of the course, unless the council determines otherwise.

(b)    No recognition of previous instruction for any academic year of the course shall be granted if more than one break occurs in that year, unless the council determines otherwise.

(c)    The period of any break shall be made up so that the prescribed period of the course is completed.

(d)    For the purpose of this regulation the expression “break” means-

(i)    any absence which is not prescribed in this regulation; or

(ii)    a transfer from one nursing school to another.

The curriculum

7. (1)    Programme objectives. – The curriculum shall provide for personal and professional development of the student so that, on completion of the course, 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 man’s health problems, the planning and implementing of therapeutic action and nursing care for the individual at any point along the health/illness continuum in all stages of the life cycle as well as care of the dying, and in the evaluation thereof;

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

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

(e)    is able to collaborate harmoniously within the nursing and multidisciplinary team in terms of the principles of interdependence and co-operation in attaining a common goal, and to refer patients appropriately;

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

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

(h)    displays an enquiring and scientific approach to the problems of practice and is prepared to initiate and to accept change;

(i)    is able to apply the principles of management in a nursing unit;

(j)    is able to provide clinical teaching within the nursing unit;

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

(2)    The course shall consist of the following subjects:

(a)    Applied Social Sciences (including Communication Skills and Mental Health), the duration of which shall be spread over two academic years;

(b)    Ethos and Professional Practice (including Ward Management and Clinical Teaching), the duration of which shall be spread over two academic years;

(c)    integrated General or Psychiatric Nursing Science, depending on which registration is desired by the student, the duration of which shall be at least two academic years.

Promotions

8.    In order to be promoted to the second academic year, the student shall-

(a)    complete the first academic year; and

(b)    pass the examination for the first academic year.

Examinations

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

(2)    The course referred to in these regulations shall for the purposes of the regulations referred to in subregulation (1) be called a basic course.

(3)    In order to be admitted to the examination for the first academic year, the candidate shall-

(a)    complete at least 40 weeks of the first academic year by the end of the month in which the examination is conducted;

(b)    obtain at least 45% in a system of continuous assessment by the nursing school of the clinical and theoretical aspects of general nursing science or psychiatric nursing science; and

(c)    obtain at least 40% in an examination of the nursing school on the subjects Ethos and Professional Practice.

(4)    In order to be admitted to the final examination, the candidate shall-

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

(b)    obtain at least 45% in a system of continuous assessment by the nursing school of the clinical and theoretical aspects of general nursing science or psychiatric nursing science; and

(c)    comply with the provisions of regulation 7 by the date of the examination.

(5)    A candidate who does not comply with the requirements for admission to an examination because of additional sick leave referred to in regulation 6(3)(b) that has to be made up may be admitted by the council to the examination if-

(a)    a written application for admission of a candidate is submitted to the council not later than the prescribed closing date by the person in charge of the nursing school; and

(b)    it is possible to have made up the additional sick leave by not later than the end of the month following the month in which the examination is conducted.

(6)    The examination for the first academic year shall consist of two portions, namely-

(a)    a written portion of two papers of three hours each on the subjects Integrated General Nursing Science I and Social Sciences I or Integrated Psychiatric Nursing Science I and Social Sciences I; and

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

(7)    The final examination shall consist of three portions, namely-

(a)    a written portion of one paper of three hours on the subjects Integrated General Nursing Science II or Integrated Psychiatric Nursing Science II;

(b)    a practical portion conducted by the nursing school; and

(c)    a written portion of one paper of three hours on the subjects Ethos and Professional Practice (including Ward Administration and Clinical Teaching) and Social Sciences II.

Registration

10.    A candidate who has successfully completed the course shall be registered, without the payment of a fee, as a general nurse or psychiatric nurse in terms of the regulations regarding registers after the notification and record referred to in subregulation 5(c) have been lodged.

Application of regulations

11. (1)    Subject to the provisions of regulation 12, these regulations shall apply to the bridging course for enrolled nurses in the Republic leading to registration as a general nurse or psychiatric nurse.

Transition clause

12. (1)    Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), these regulations shall not derogate from the provisions of-

(a)    the regulations referred to in section 46(2) of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 6 of 1978) (Transkei), and published under Government Notice No. R. 683 of 14 April 1989, hereinafter referred to as “the 1989 regulation”, which shall remain in force until 31 December 1998;

(b)    the regulations published in terms of the Health and Related Professions Act, 1985 (Act No. 33 of 1985) (Bophuthatswana), under Government Notice No. 51 of 23 March 1990, hereinafter referred to as “the 1990 regulations”, which shall remain in force until 31 December 1998.

(2)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), no person shall be permitted to register for a course referred to in the 1989 or 1990 regulations, after 31 December 1996.