commsStudio – Page 32

Circular 2/2005: Increases in Council fees

4 August 2005

TO ALL:	Nursing Education Institutions
	Non-training Institutions
	Stakeholders

Increases in Nursing Council Fees

You are hereby notified that increases in South African Nursing Council fees have been published in the Government Gazette.

Fees that will increase on 15 August 2005

The following fees will increase as indicated on 15 August 2005. This means that the increased fee will be payable for all amounts received on or after Monday 15 August 2005

Annual Fees	Registered Nurses	R193-00
	Enrolled Nurses	R145-00
	Nursing Auxiliaries	R127-00

Restoration Fees	Registered Nurses	R315-00
	Enrolled Nurses	R225-00
	Nursing Auxiliaries	R207-00

Restoration Fees	Registered Nurses	R60-00
(after voluntary removal)	Enrolled Nurses	R60-00
	Nursing Auxiliaries	R60-00

Student Fees	Registration (basic qualifications)	R85-50
	Restoration (basic qualifications)	R85-50
	Registration (additional qualifications)	R85-50
	Restoration (additional qualifications)	R85-50

Pupil Fees	Enrolment as Pupil Nurse	R85-50
	Restoration as Pupil Nurse	R85-50
	Enrolment as Pupil Nursing Auxiliary	R85-50
	Restoration as Pupil Nursing Auxiliary	R85-50

In respect to payments made prior to 15 August 2005 :

A person who has paid the fees (in full) prior to the above date will not have to pay the difference between the old and the new fees.
If fees have been paid via postal services and the posting date on the article is before 15 August 2005, the person will not be expected to pay the difference.
If fees have been paid electronically and the payment appears on the Nursing Council bank statement before 15 August 2005, the person will not be expected to pay the difference. In this regard, please check the rules of your own banking institution regarding the effective date for payments made electronically. Council will not make any exceptions in this regard since these rules form part of the electronic banking agreement between the client and the banking institution.

Fees that will increase on 23 October 2005

The examination fees will increase as indicated on 23 October 2005.

Examination Fees	Exam paper (basic)	R114-00
	Exam paper (post-basic)	R114-00
	Late entry fee	R57-00
	Remark script	R228-00

The increases for examination fees will be implemented as follows:

.The increased fees for exam papers and late entries will be payable with respect to all examinations to be conducted in 2006 or later. The closing dates for applications for examinations to be conducted in 2005 all fall before 23 October 2005. To avoid ambiguity, the old fees will also apply to any late entries for 2005 examinations that are accepted after that date.
The fees to be charged for remarks will depend on the date on which the full payment for the remark is received. Where payment is received after 22 October 2005, the remark fees will be charged at the increased rate.
If remark fees have been paid electronically and the payment appears on the Nursing Council bank statement before 23 October 2005, the person will not be expected to pay the difference. In this regard, please check the rules of your own banking institution regarding the effective date for payments made electronically. Council will not make any exceptions in this regard since these rules form part of the electronic banking agreement between the client and the banking institution.

VAT

Please note that the above fees all include VAT at the current rate of 14%.

UPDATED REGULATIONS

These amendments to the regulations also fix outdated references to “nursing assistants” (which should be “nursing auxiliaries”) wherever these occur in the regulations.

The regulations on the Council website have been updated with these amendments. To access the updated regulations, click on the links below.

	Regulations for Registered Nurses (These OLD regulations have subsequently been repealed.)
	Regulations for Enrolled Nurses (These OLD regulations have subsequently been repealed.)
	Regulations for Nursing Auxiliaries (These OLD regulations have subsequently been repealed.)
	Regulations for Student Nurses (English / Afrikaans)
	Regulations for Pupil Nurses (English / Afrikaans)
	Regulations for Pupil Nursing Auxiliaries (English / Afrikaans)
	Regulations for Examinations (English / Afrikaans)

Copies of the amendment regulations published in Government Gazette No. 27788 of 22 July 2005 are available on the Council website for your information. Copies of the Government Gazette can also be purchased from the Government Printers. To access the copies on the Nursing Council website, type the following address into your browser:

www.sanc.co.za/regulations-by-government-notice-number

You can also click one of the following links to select specific amendment regulations.

	Amendments for Registered Nurses (The principal regulations to which these amendments apply have subsequently been repealed.)
	Amendments for Enrolled Nurses (The principal regulations to which these amendments apply have subsequently been repealed.)
	Amendments for Nursing Auxiliaries (The principal regulations to which these amendments apply have subsequently been repealed.)
	Amendments for Student Nurses (English / Afrikaans)
	Amendments for Pupil Nurses (English / Afrikaans)
	Amendments for Pupil Nursing Auxiliaries (English / Afrikaans)
	Amendments for Examinations (English / Afrikaans)

(Signed)
Hasina Subedar
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer

Press Release 3/2005 International Nurses Day – 12 May 2005

Press Release 3/2005 Information about International Nurses Day – 12 May 2005

10 May 2005

To be released on 12 May 2005:

International Nurses Day – 12 May 2005

Today 12 May 2005 is a day set aside internationally to commemorate nurses. The members of the profession of nursing are committed to serve people whose health status is compromised and to maintain the health status of those that are healthy.

The profession of nursing began humbly with the commitment of Florence Nightingale who sought to tend to and restore the dignity of the sick and injured in the Crimean War. Today nursing has grown into a fully-fledged profession that plays a significant role in health care delivery.

For this day of commemoration the international community has identified the theme “Nurses for patient safety: Targeting Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines”.

Counterfeit and Substandard Medicine is not only costly to consumers, it is a particular serious area of crime because it puts the lives and well-being of patients at risk, leads to loss of confidence in the medical profession, and in the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine they prescribe.

“Today on this 12th day of May 2005 on behalf of the South African Nursing Council, I pay tribute to the contribution the 177 000 nurses in South Africa make to our health care system”, said Hasina Subedar, the Registrar of the South African Nursing Council.

We salute those nurses who:

	Work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year to ensure that the health care needs of South Africans are met.
	Provide health care to all, rich and poor, young and old, sick and well, newborn infants and those that are dying.
	Are the backbone of the South African Health care system and carry the burden of providing health care in very adverse conditions.
	Work in rural and remote communities and who are often the only health care provider available to meet the health care needs of these communities.
	Restore the dignity of the sick, the elderly, the young and the terminally ill.
	Have remained in South Africa through their commitment to serve the people of our country.

Issued by the South African Nursing Council in Pretoria.

For further enquiries please contact the Communications Officer at 012 420 1000.

ENDS

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

Circular 1/2005: Notice of the Council’s position regarding nurses non-compliance with prescribed dress code

4 May 2005

TO:	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH	Heads of Health
		Health Facility Managers
		Nursing Service Managers

Non-compliance of Nurses with the Prescribed Requirements for Uniforms and Distinguishing Devices

South African Nursing Council is aware of the protest action embarked on by some nurses against the uniform allowances by reporting for work in inappropriate attire, in the Gauteng and North West Provinces.

The Council in response to this protest action provides the following guidance to employers:

Employers must ensure that nurses who do not wear the accepted uniform and distinguishing devices do not place patients in their health facilities at risk.
The Regulations of the South African Nursing Council require nurses to wear distinguishing devices with suitable attire that befits the image of the profession of nursing. Nurses that are inappropriately attired taint the image of both the nursing profession and the health care system.
Nurses who violate the South African Nursing Council Regulations pertaining to the distinguishing devices and uniforms for nurses, are liable to be charged with unprofessional conduct and should be reported to the South African Nursing Council.

You are also advised to contact the Council if you require any further assistance or guidance in this matter.

(signed)
Hasina Subedar
REGISTRAR

Press Release 2/2005 Caution issued to all prospective nursing students to beware of training which is NOT APPROVED by the South African Nursing Council

24 February 2005

For immediate release:

Caution against “nursing” training not recognized by the South African Nursing Council

It has come to the attention of the South African Nursing Council that there are numerous schools that are offering 3-6 months courses known as “home based care”, “health care worker” or “pre-nursing” courses. The impression created to the public is that on completion of such a course, the person will be entitled to practice as a nurse or these courses are entry requirements for a course in nursing. These courses are not nursing courses and the SANC does not recognize such training for a person to practice as a nurse.

The entry requirement for a course for enrolled nurses and nursing auxiliaries is prescribed in Regulations of the SANC as being an academic standard 8 (grade 10) or an equivalent educational qualification. Many learners are made to believe that to enter nursing, they must complete a so-called “pre nursing” course. This is not a requirement of the South African Nursing Council. Some of the private nursing schools either own or have direct links with the schools providing these unapproved courses and use these schools to channel learners into the approved nursing schools. The SANC does not condone this practice and considers this practice to be unlawful.

Any education institution that provides nursing education and training without the approval of the SANC is operating illegally in terms of the Nursing Act No. 50 of 1978. “Illegal nursing education institutions are spreading at an alarming rate. The SANC will not recognise qualifications or certificates of students who were trained at these illegal institutions. We also appeal to the community to notify the council of any school offering nursing training illegally”. said Ms. Hasina Subedar, Registrar and CEO of the SANC.

Students who consider training as nurses should first verify with the council the status of the nursing education institution in which they wish to enroll before paying tuition fees. A person is only permitted to practice as a nurse if he/she is registered or enrolled as a nurse with the SANC. The SANC only recognizes training provided by nursing education institution that are approved by council.

The SANC commits itself in ensuring that the standards of nursing education and the practice of nurses and midwives is such that the public receives knowledgeable, competent, safe and ethical nursing care.

To check the status of a nursing education institution, please call 012 420 1000 and to report illegal nursing institutions call 012 420 1074 or 012 420 1075.

Any enquiries should be directed to the Communications Officer, tel. no: 012 420 1000

Issued by the South African Nursing Council in Pretoria.

ENDS

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

Press Release 1/2005 Reminder to pay

Press Release 1/2005 Reminder to nurses to pay their annual fees by 31 March 2005

23 February 2004

For immediate release:

DUE DATE FOR ANNUAL LICENCE FEES FOR NURSES

According to the Nursing Act, 1978 nurses are compelled to register with the council and pay an annual license fee before they are permitted to practice nursing.

The closing date for payment of the annual licensing fees for nurses is Thursday, 31 March 2005. It is vital for nurses practising to pay their annual licensing fees before the due date. A nurse that fails to pay the license fee before this date, will be removed from the register. The removal of a nurses names from the register/roll will impact negatively on their employment status as such person can is not permitted to practice nor be employed as a nurse.

Nurses who have not paid their annual licensing fees are advised to do so before the closing date, as practising while off the register constitutes a professional misconduct and could lead to disciplinary action against him/her.

The South African Nursing Council registers/enrolls all categories of nurses practising nursing in South Africa and below are the fees payable by each category:

	Registered nurse R176.00
	Enrolled nurse R132.00
	Enrolled nursing auxiliary R116.00

Annual fees can be paid over the counter at the Council’s Pretoria office, by post or deposited into the Council’s bank account.

Any enquiries should be directed to the Communications Officer, tel no: 012 420 1000

Issued by the South African Nursing Council in Pretoria.

ENDS

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

Circular 4/2004: SANC Year-end closure

7 December 2004

TO ALL: NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
NURSING STAKEHOLDERS

South African Nursing Council – Year End Closure

23 December 2004 – 03 January 2005

South African Nursing Council will close its offices for the Christmas holidays at 16:00 on 22 December 2004 and will re-open at 08:00 on 04 January 2005.

Please contact the Communications Officer at telephone (012) 420 1000 for any enquiries.

(Signed)
Hasina Subedar
Registrar
The S A Nursing Council

Circular 3/2004: SANC Examination Schedule for 2005

15 September 2004

TO ALL:    NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
                   NURSING STAKEHOLDERS
                   INVIGILATORS

South African Nursing Council Examination Schedule for 2005

Examination dates for examinations to be held during 2005 can be found on this website.

Please note that examinations will only be held where there are candidates registered for that particular examination.

Should the normal closing date for an examination fall on a weekend or a public holiday, the next working day is regarded as the closing date for that particular examination.

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Marga Cronje on telephone (012) 420 1079.
Alternatively, you can e-mail [email protected]

(Signed: H Subedar)
Registrar
The S A Nursing Council

Press Release 3/2004 South African Nursing Council response to the amendment of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996

Press Release 3/2004 South African Nursing Council response to the amendment of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996

20 August 2004

Press Release

The South African Nursing Council Response to the Amendment of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996

The South African Nursing Council in response to the outcry regarding the impact the amendment to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 will have on the profession of nursing releases the following statement.

The replacement of the term “registered midwife” with the term “registered nurse” does not substantially change the situation with regard to the number of nurses that may or may not perform abortions.

The majority of the nurses on the South African Nursing Council register are registered as both general nurse and midwife i.e. 82 213 out of a total of 96 715 registered nurses.

The amendment to the Act effectively allows an additional 14 288 registered nurses who are not midwives out of a total number of 96 715 registered nurses on the South African Nursing Council register to carry out a termination of pregnancy.

A person who is registered as a midwife only is a person who has met the requirements to be registered as a midwife only and is not registered as nurse. There are currently no training institutions in South Africa that are training persons as midwives only. The South African Nursing Council register had only 802 registered midwives in 2003 as compared to 1900 in 1997. The amendment to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 will therefore preclude these 802 registered midwives from carrying out a termination of pregnancy.

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 clearly states that only a person “who has undergone prescribed training in terms of this Act;” may perform a termination of pregnancy. In this regard only registered nurses who have completed the necessary training to carry out a termination of pregnancy may perform such a termination and may only terminate pregnancies of up to and including 12 weeks of gestation. The amendment to the Act does not change these conditions under which a registered nurse may carry out a termination.

Neither the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 nor the Nursing Act, 1978 and the South African Nursing Council compels a nurse to conduct a termination of pregnancy. The intention of the Act is to provide a choice for women regarding the termination of a pregnancy and to enable a medical practitioner and a registered nurse to carry out such a termination.

A Registered Nurse has a choice to undergo the prescribed training and furthermore he/she also has a choice regarding whether to work in a facility that is approved to carry out a termination of pregnancy.

(Signed)
Hasina Subedar
Registrar
South African Nursing Council

Contact the Communications Officer: Tel 012-420 1000 Fax 012-343 5400

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

Circular 2/2004: National mass Measles and Polio Immunisation Campaign

Circular 2/2004: National mass Measles and Polio Immunisation Campaign 2004

27 July 2004

TO ALL:    COUNCIL MEMBERS
                   NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
                   STAKEHOLDERS

NATIONAL MASS MEASLES AND POLIO IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN 2004

As part of the global fight for polio eradication and measles elimination, a countrywide Immunization Campaign will be conducted in South Africa during the weeks of 26 to 30 July 2004 (the first round of measles and polio immunisation), and 30 August to 3 September 2004 (the second round of Polio Immunisation). The primary objective of the mass immunisation campaigns is to eradicate polio and eliminate measles.

Historically measles and polio are known as two of the most dangerous diseases of childhood. Therefore the Department of Health has requested the assistance of all nurses and midwives in ensuring that parents and caregivers take all children aged between 0 and 5 years old to their nearest clinics for vaccination, even if their children are fully immunised.

The campaign does serve as additional doses, which will protect a large number of children over a short period of time, thus making it practically impossible for the viruses to find unimmunised children in which to replicate and cause disease.

The slogan for the 2004 polio and measles campaign is:

“Stop Polio! Stop Measles! Immunise!”

Go to the Department of Health web site for full information on the campaign.

(Signed: H Subedar)
Registrar and CEO
The S A Nursing Council

Press Release 2/2004: Information about National Nurses Day – 12 May 2004

Press Release 2/2004 Information about International Nurses Day – 12 May 2004

11 May 2004

To be released on 12 May 2004:

International Nurses Day – 12 May 2004

Message from the Registrar of the South African Nursing Council

Today 12 May 2004 is a day set aside internationally to commemorate nurses. Nurses have entered into the profession of nursing that is committed to serve people whose health status is compromised and to maintain the health status of those that are healthy.

For this day of commemoration the international community has identified the theme “Nurses working with the Poor to combat poverty”.

This theme could not be more apt for us in South Africa where we as a nation are currently celebrating 10 years of Democracy.

Today we acknowledge and pay tribute to the contribution the 177 000 nurses in South Africa make to our health care system. These nurses often work in and overcome extremely adverse conditions. Despite this, they seldom receive any recognition for their service.

	Nurses work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to ensure that the health care needs of South Africans are met.
	They provide health care to all, rich and poor, young and old, sick and well and newborn infants and those that are dying.
	Nurses are the backbone of the South African Health care system and carry the burden of providing health care in very adverse conditions.
	They provide continuity of care and treatment in communities, residential health care facilities, clinics and hospitals.
	In many areas especially in rural communities the nurse is often the only health care provider available to meet the health care needs.
	Nurses play a critical role in restoring the dignity of the sick, the elderly, the young and the terminally ill.
	Whilst there are many nurses that have left South Africa to work in other countries there are thousands of nurses that have remained and are committed to serving South Africa.

While we acknowledge the contribution of nurses we need to look back and review how the profession of nursing has contributed to the 10 years of democracy in South Africa. Nurses are most suitably placed to take the lead in ensuring that the Constitutional rights of South Africans are promoted and maintained.

In this regard nurses can play a fundamental role in “Restoring the dignity of our people” over the next decade. Nurses can contribute to our democracy by taking the lead in implementing the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Nurses should look at:

	Improving access to health care and health care services;
	Improving the quality of life of South Africans through better health.
	Assisting and guiding the illiterate, the poor and vulnerable groups to gain access to the appropriate resources and assistance to improve their personal circumstances.

A small contribution by each of the 177 000 nurses can attain significant results over the next 10 years of our democracy.

“Let us make the slogan ‘nurses unite to work with the poor to combat poverty’ become our reality for the next 10 years of our democracy”.

Hasina Subedar

ENDS

Any enquiries should be directed to the Communications Officer.

Tel no: 012 420 1000

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer