Distinguishing devices are the epaulettes and badges worn by nurses and
midwives that indicate the capacity or capacities in which the wearer is
registered or enrolled.
Each of the different devices (or different coloured devices) indicates a
category of practise - the full implication whereof is probably only generally
well understood by others in the health care industry. Among the general
public, the devices have become a well known symbol that the wearer is a
professionally qualified nursing or midwifery practitioner who can be trusted to
provide top quality health care.
The various distinguishing devices are prescribed in three sets of
regulations depending on the capacities in which the individual is registered or
enrolled. Click here to see the
regulations.
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The distinguishing devices consist of different coloured epaulettes,
different coloured bars, different coloured badges, and a brooch. There
are very specific rules for the wearing of the devices - please read the
regulations if you are not sure what these are.
Please
note that colours do not appear the same on all computer screens. The
colours in the pictures below may appear quite different to the colours of the
actual devices.
Maroon epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered General Nurse.
Navy blue epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered Psychiatric Nurse.
Dark saxe blue epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered Mental Nurse.
Light saxe blue epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered Nurse for
Mental Defectives.
(unfortunately
no yellow epaulettes are available for a photograph)
Yellow epaulette and Council badge are worn by a Registered Fever Nurse.
Mauve epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered Sick Children's Nurse.
Green epaulette and Council badge worn by a Registered Midwife/Accoucheur.
A Registered nurse / midwife / accoucheur may be registered in more than
one category. In such cases, he /she must wear the specific colour
epaulettes prescribed in the regulations for such persons. One or more
of the following coloured bars must be attached to the prescribed epaulettes:
Navy blue bar worn if the person is also a Registered Psychiatric Nurse.
Dark saxe blue bar worn if the person is also a Registered Mental Nurse.
Light saxe blue bar worn if the person is also a Registered Nurse for Mental
Defectives.
Green bar worn if the person is also a Registered Midwife / Accoucheur.
White bar worn if the person is a Tutor (holds a qualification in Nursing
Education).
Silver bar worn if the person holds a qualification in Nursing Administration.
Yellow bar worn if the person holds a qualification in Public Health Nursing
(Community Nursing Science).
There are NO BARS prescribed for Fever and Sick
Children's Nurses.
The following is an example of the distinguishing devices that would be
worn by a Registered Nurse (General, Psychiatric and Community) and Registered
Midwife:
Registered General Nurse = Maroon epaulette and Council Badge
Registered Psychiatric Nurse = Navy blue bar
Registered Midwife = Green bar
Qualification in Community Nursing Science = Yellow bar
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White epaulette and maroon badge worn by an Enrolled Nurse.
White epaulette and green badge worn by an Enrolled Midwife.
White epaulette and half maroon / half green badge worn by a person who is
both an Enrolled Nurse and an Enrolled Midwife.
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Brooch worn by an Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary.
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Only qualified nurses, midwives, and accoucheurs who are currently
registered or enrolled with the South African Nursing Council may wear the
applicable distinguishing devices. In fact, it is compulsory that the
devices MUST be worn if the person is on duty. There are however some
exceptions to this rule - for full details see the regulations.
In terms of the Nursing Act, 1978 it is a criminal offence for anyone else
to wear the distinguishing devices. This is interpreted as broadly as
possible and would, for example, include the wearing of the devices by an
actress playing the part of a nurse in a film or stage production.
Actors, models, film makers, stage show producers and people involved in the
advertising industry are warned that it not permitted for a person who is not
entitled to wear the distinguishing devices to do so.
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Only qualified nurses, midwives, and accoucheurs who are currently
registered or enrolled with the South African Nursing Council may purchase
distinguishing devices. A person may only purchase those distinguishing
devices applicable to the capacities in which he/she is registered or
enrolled.
A person may not purchase more than three sets of any particular
distinguishing devices at a time.
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Distinguishing devices are only available for sale from the South African
Nursing Council. Manufacturers of the distinguishing devices are
appointed by the Nursing Council and they may only supply the devices that
they manufacture to the Nursing Council. It is a criminal offence for
any other person or organisation to sell the distinguishing devices.
Please note that in terms of these restrictions, it is also not legal for a
registered or enrolled person to buy distinguishing devices on his/her own
name on behalf of another person.
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You may order distinguishing devices from the Nursing Council by post or by
fax. You may also purchase distinguishing devices in person at the
Nursing Council offices. In all cases, you must fill in and sign the
applicable Order Form for Distinguishing Devices. Because you must sign
the form, no-one else may do this on your behalf.
™
Download a copy of the order form for
distinguishing devices
If you send someone else to the Nursing Council to collect the
distinguishing devices, you must also give them a letter,
signed by you, authorising them to collect the devices on your behalf.
This letter must indicate your own full names, Nursing Council reference
number and identity number and also the full
names and identity number of the person who you authorise to collect the
distinguishing devices.
Anyone purchasing distinguishing devices over the counter must be able to
provide positive proof of identity (identity book or passport, NOT driver's
licence).
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A new system of distinguishing devices has been proposed by the Nursing
Council. The draft regulations for the new distinguishing devices were
published for public comment on 28 July 2003.
(Click here to see draft regulations.)
The South African Nursing Council has considered all the feedback received
and has made final recommendations to the Department of Health for the
publication of the new regulations.
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™
Download a copy of the order form for
distinguishing devices
™
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