15 April 2020

15 April 2020   TO: National Department of Health   Provincial Departments of Health   Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs)   All Stakeholders   1. PURPOSE The purpose of this Circular is to inform the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions and relevant stakeholders about the postponement of the May 2020 examinations.  2. BACKGROUND The State President’s proclamation on extension of “lockdown” for non-essential services to the end of April 2020 has necessitated that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) postpones the examination that was supposed to be conducted from 4 May 2020.  3. IMPLICATION The new examination dates will be communicated when the SANC reopens for business from 4 May 2020.   For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, SANC Senior Manager: Education &Training at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected].   Yours sincerely, (Signed) Ms SA Mchunu Registrar and CEO South African Nursing Council

 

25 March 2020

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Departments of Health
	Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs)
	All Stakeholders

Impact of Coronavirus outbreak on Nursing Education and Training

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this circular is to provide:

	1.1 supportive guidance /reminder to Nursing Education Institutions on managing interrupted teaching and learning activities, in respect of students nurses and midwives.
	1.2 information to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, and relevant stakeholders in respect of point 1.1 above.

2. BACKGROUND

	2.1 The Declaration of “a national state of disaster” by the State President on 15 March 2020, followed by pronouncement by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, on 17 March 2020, on measures to deal with COVID-19 threat in the post-school Education and Training Sector, refers. The South African Nursing Council supports, unequivocally, the measures and initiatives put in place by the South African Government in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
	2.2 The following, regarding academic breaks and academic interruptions for Student Nurses and Student Midwives in Nursing, need to be noted: o Students in the Post-School Education and Training Sector, specifically Universities, ordinarily have recesses in line with university calendars. o Student Nurses and Student Midwives in the rest of Nursing Education Institutions do not have recesses but normally take an annual leave which is scheduled by the respective Nursing Education Institutions, in collaboration with health establishments where they are placed for clinical teaching and learning.
	2.3 Despite these different arrangements, Student Nurses and Student Midwives are expected to meet the same specified theoretical and clinical/practical requirements in line with the requirements of the relevant nursing programme.
	2.4 The pronouncement by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, that all Post-School Institutions must close on 18 March 2020 is inclusive of “the CET Colleges, private higher education institutions and colleges, as well as all training colleges which are managed by other ministries, such as Nursing, Agricultural and other Colleges”.

3. IMPLICATIONS

While theoretical provisioning may continue through various distance learning modalities, Student Nurses and Midwives may not be able to meet the clinical/practical requirements of the their respective programmes, depending on the duration of the academic interruption. 

4. WAYFORWARD

The Heads of Nursing Education Institutions are advised to:

	4.1 Comply with the pronouncement by both the President of the country and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation;
	4.2 Explore, while contact teaching is hampered, various alternative methods to enhance theoretical provisioning; and
	4.3 Work on tentative recovery plans for implementation once the academic activities resume, that will ensure that more attention is given to clinical/ practical teaching and learning. The recovery plans should be kept as reference records for possible future discussions with the South African Nursing Council, where necessary.

5. ON SANC EXAMINATIONS

The examination conducted by SANC will go ahead as planned unless circumstances regarding the outbreak warrant that the SANC reschedules and in that event, the SANC will inform the candidates and the relevant stakeholders in due course. 

6. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular becomes implementable and valid on the date of issue.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, SANC Senior Manager: Education &Training at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected] 

Yours sincerely,

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

25 March 2020

 

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Departments of Health
	Private Health Care Providers
	All Stakeholders

SANC office shutdown as per Presidential pronouncement for control of Coronavirus outbreak spread

1. Following the President’s pronouncement of a nation-wide lockdown, on 23 March 2020, in order to curb the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, the South African Nursing Council will be shutting down operations at the SANC building as of midnight of 26 March 2020.

During this crucial period, the SANC services will not come to a standstill. Several measures have been put in place to ensure business continuation with key staff members working from home. 

You are also reminded that you can use the tools already made available by the SANC for service delivery e.g. the eRegister to verify registration, the service emails as posted on the SANC website and social media pages, faxes, etc. 

 

2. In addition, payments can still be made via electronic banking. A reminder about the relevant codes and banking details to be used when you do make a payment is attached to this communication for your convenience.

As distinguishing devices need to be posted or collected physically, we regret that this service will not be available during the shutdown period. All orders received will be processed as soon as the building has opened for operations again.

 

CODES TO BE USED BY INDIVIDUALS:

Description	Code
Admission of guilt fines	ADGUILT
Annual Fees	ANLFEES
Application Fees (foreign applications)	APPFEES
Certificate of Status Fee	CETSFEE
Replacement Certificate Fee	DUPCFEE
Examination Fees (foreign application exams)	EXAMFEE
Extract Fees (extract from the register)	EXTRFEE
Late Entry Fees (foreign exam applicants)	LATEFEE
Registration Fees (additional qualifications)	ADDQUAL
Registration Fees (assessors, moderators, verifiers)	ASSESSR
Registration Fees (practitioners)	REGFPRA
Remarking Fees (exams)	REMAFEE
Restoration Fees	RESTFEE
Transcript of Training Fees	TRANFEE
Verification Fees	VERIFEE
Purchasing of Distinguishing Devices	SALEDDS
Purchasing of Printed Matter (Nursing Act, regulations, etc.)	PRINMAT
Postage	POSTAGE
Other fees or payments (not mentioned above)	OTHRFEE

 

SANC Banking details for INDIVIDUAL payments:

 

CODES TO BE USED BY INSTITUTIONS / ORGANISATIONS/ COMPANIES:

Description	Code
Accreditation Fees – Nursing Education Institution	ACFLEEN
Accreditation Fees – Reaccreditation of a Nursing Education Institution	ACFRENE
Accreditation Fees – Nursing Education Programme	ACFNEPR
Annual Nursing Education Institution Fee	ANNFNEI
Application Fees	APFAPCE
Audit Visit Fees	AUDVFEE
Examination Fees (candidates)	EXAMFEE
Focus Visit Fees (clinical facilities)	FVFCLNC
Focus Visit Fees (nursing education institution)	FVFENEI
Late Entry Fees (exam candidates)	LATEFEE
Registration Fees (additional qualifications)	ADDQUAL
Registration Fees (learners)	REGFLEN
Registration Fees (practitioners)	REGFPRA
Purchasing of Printed Matter (Nursing Act, regulations, etc.)	PRINMAT
Other fees or payments (not mentioned above)	OTHRFEE

 

SANC Banking details for BULK payments:

 

Please Note: To expedite the processing of transactions for payments made by direct deposits, nurse practitioners are requested to fax or email the proof of payment and prescribed SANC forms such as restoration forms, distinguishing devices form, registration form etc. to the contact details as provided on the form

 

Your co-operation is appreciated. We pray for your well-being during these trying times.

 

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

 

28 January 2020

 

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Departments of Health
	Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs)
	All Stakeholders

Examinations conducted by the South African Nursing Council

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Circular is to inform/update the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions and relevant stakeholders about the following:

	Current and future examination practices of the South African Nursing Council (SANC);
	Language to be utilized for all South African Nursing Council examinations.

2. CURRENT EXAMINATION PRACTICES

2.1 The South Africa Nursing Council has been conducting examinations and appointing examiners and moderators in accordance with section 4 (1) (c) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005).

These examinations have been conducted for the following ‘legacy’ nursing programmes:

	First year examination for the Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General or Psychiatric Nurse, in line with Government Notice No. R.683 of 14 April 1989 (as amended);
	Final examination for the Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General or Psychiatric Nurse, in line with Government Notice No. R.683 of 14 April 1989 (as amended);
	Examination for the course leading to registration as a Midwife, in line with Government Notice No. R.254 of 14 February 1975 (as amended);
	Final examination for the course leading to registration as a Psychiatric Nurse, in line with Government Notice No. R.880 of 02 May 1975 (as amended); and
	Examination for the Diploma Course in Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care, in line with Government Notice No. R.48 of 22 January 1982 (as amended).
	Admission examination for foreign applicants for the following: o Enrolment as a Nursing Auxiliary; o Enrolment as a Nurse; and o Registration as a Nurse.

2.2 From 2024 onwards the SANC will no longer be conducting summative examinations for the above nursing programmes.

2.3 The last date for each examination listed above will be communicated by the end of March 2020.

 

3. FUTURE EXAMINATION PRACTICES OF THE SANC

	The Minister of Higher Education and Training has, in line with the provisions of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997) declared that the last date for first time entering learners enrolling in academic programmes that are not aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF) is 31 December 2019.
	Subsequent to this date, NEIs that are offering nursing programmes towards the HEQSF-aligned nursing qualifications are either registered as higher education institutions (HEIs) if private; or if public, either declared as HEIs or designated to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees in Nursing, which are accredited and registered on the HEQSF.
	The implication of this transition calls for a review of the SANC’s role in assessment. In light thereof, the Council resolved at its meeting held on 26-27 March 2014 that policy guidelines as well as an implementation plan would be developed to embark on a new way of assessment as a pre-requisite for professional registration.
	The SANC is in the process of introducing Licensure examination, which will be a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses. Licensure examination would also serve as a prerequisite for professional registration with the SANC.
	The examination will be undertaken by students who have successfully completed education and training for the prescribed nursing programme(s) and have been awarded the relevant qualification(s).
	Benchmarking on the Licensure examination was conducted with other regulatory bodies for nurses. The SANC is currently in the process of arranging a workshop on practice analysis in order to link the licensure examination to practice, the findings of which would contribute towards finalizing the framework, which will be workshopped with all stakeholders for their input prior to final approval.

 

4. LANGUAGE TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL EXAMINATIONS

	The NEIs, in particular public nursing colleges and private nursing schools, are aware that the summative examination conducted by the SANC was conducted in both English and Afrikaans, with the exception of the Admission examination for foreign applicants, which was conducted in English only.
	Subsequent to the introduction of a new democratic dispensation in South Africa, eleven (11) languages were granted official status, as per section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No.108 of 1996).
	After due consideration of the impracticalities of the status quo, the Council has resolved at its special meeting of 05 November 2019 that the summative examinations would henceforth be conducted in English only, with effect from the May 2020 examinations.

4.1 Implications:

4.1.1 The question papers are going to be in the English language only;
4.1.2 Candidates would be expected to use English when writing the examinations;
4.1.3 Should any other language besides English be used when writing an examination, such scripts will not be marked; and 
4.1.4 It is the responsibility of the NEIs to draw the attention of learners to the content of this Circular.

 

5. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular becomes implementable and valid on the date of issue.

 

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo, SANC Senior Manager: Education &Training at (012) 420 1022 or on e-mail at: [email protected] 

 

Kind regards

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

 

17 January 2020

 

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Departments of Health
	Nursing Education Institutions
	All Stakeholders

 

Rescindment of Circular 3 of 2013: Database for post-basic programmes proposal for new fields of specialization in nursing

17 January 2020

By resolution of Council taken at its meeting held on 27-28 November 2019, the South African Nursing Council (SANC) hereby rescinds circular 3 of 2013 in its entirety. As a statutory body established to set and maintain standards of Nursing Education, Training and Practice in South Africa, the SANC supports the need to provide continuing education and training to registered nurses on a variety of clinical specializations in an effort to adequately respond to population health needs. It also recognizes the role played by Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other interest groups in identifying and proposing new fields of specializations in nursing. However, the SANC believes that the determination of a need for clinical specializations resides with and should be done based on the support of the National Department of Health as informed by service needs survey.

This is based on the premise that the National Department of Health is the custodian of the human resources for health planning and provision, and as such, determines health priorities in order to ensure that the care provided responds to the quadruple burden of diseases and the constantly changing health needs.
This is also to ensure efficient use of resources, avoid duplication of specializations whose elements are already covered within the existing overall framework and it will also minimise risks of creating specializations whose employment potential is not guaranteed. 

Rescindment of Circular 3 of 2013 provides the SANC with an opportunity to review this matter and together with the National Department of Health, establish a seamless process that will clearly outline the procedure to be followed in the submission of proposals for new fields of specialisations in nursing. 

Kind regards

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council