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South African Nursing Council
Coat of Arms
Contents
Description
Origins
The following is the Bureau of Heraldry
official description of the South African Nursing Council
coat of arms:
Arms:
Per chevron Gules and Azure, a chevron Or, in base a double handled
antique lamp also Or, ensigned of a plate charged with a flame Gules.
Crest:
A demi-lion Gules holding an ansated cross fitchy at the foot Or, charged
with a tau cross Azure, with two balance pans suspended from the
horizontal limbs, Or.
Wreath and mantling:
Or and Gules.
Motto:
AD EXCELLENTIAE STUDENDUM.
19 October 1990
2248
There is always a lot of symbolism in a coat of
arms. The South African Nursing Council
coat of arms is no exception. Here are some features to note:
 | The colours Blue and Silver are taken
from the Nursing Council
badge. Red is included for it's association
with healing, i.e. the Red Cross.
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| The shield bears an antique oil lamp,
symbol of Florence Nightingale, and of nursing throughout the world.
In South Africa, the lamp is often lit at graduation ceremonies where newly
qualified nurses take a vow of service and commitment to their profession.
A lamp similar to this is lit 24-hours a day in the foyer of the Nursing Council
building in Pretoria as a symbol of South African
nurses' commitment to caring for their patients.
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| Above the oil lamp is a gold chevron,
symbolic of a house or hospital's roof and which is a universal symbol of
protection and comfort against outside dangers.
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| The red half-lion at the top indicates that the South African Nursing Council
is a statutory body. The coats of arms of government bodies contain
full lions and those of statutory bodies contain half-lions. The term
"statutory body" means that there is a law (or statute) of the
Republic of South Africa which governs the bodies existence and functioning.
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| The half-lion holds aloft two different styles of crosses, a gold cross with
a handle at the top and a blue T-shaped cross inside it. The gold
cross (known as an Ankh cross) is a symbol of the Nile River, which was seen
as a symbol of healing, health and happiness. The blue cross (known as
a Tau cross) is shaped like a crutch since the Nursing Council
supports South
African nursing which in turn supports it's patients.
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| The gold cross is pointed at the lower end like the blade of a sword and
has suspended from the cross piece two balance pans. The sword and
balance pans are similar to those
commonly associated with justice and authority. Together they symbolise
the authority which the Nursing Council
has to set standards of nursing education and
practice and absolute fairness -
no patient will be treated differently to any other patient. These
symbols also have specific reference to the professional conduct cases which
are brought before the Nursing Council
- the balance pans for ensuring that justice is
done and the sword for judgement delivered in these cases.
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| The motto
"AD EXCELLENTIAE STUDENDUM" means "In Pursuit of Excellence". The
Nursing Council
sets minimum
standards for education of nurses in South Africa. The motto reminds
learners following accredited nursing courses that they will only achieve
excellence in their chosen career if they apply themselves diligently to their
studies. |
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