TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL – EASTER HOLIDAYS CLOSURE

Please be informed that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) offices will be closed from 12h00 on Thursday 28 March 2024 and will reopen at 8h00 on Tuesday 02 April 2024.

We would appreciate it if you could inform all persons in your institutions accordingly.

Please note that the doors will close by 11h00 on Thursday 28 March 2024 to ensure we assist clients who are already in the building by closing time.

We wish you safe travels over the Easter Weekend.

Yours sincerely

________________

PROF NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

DATE: ___________________________________

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TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: OFFERING OF A PROGRAMME IN BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN THE FIELD OF NURSING SYSTEMS SCIENCE

1. PURPOSE

• The purpose of this Circular is to alert the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all Stakeholders about offering of a programme in Bachelor of Health Sciences in the field of Nursing Systems Science by one of the universities in the Gauteng province. This programme is meant for practicing nurses whereas the programme is not accredited by the SANC nor yield professional registration by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

2. BACKGROUND

• The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005). It has a responsibility to establish, improve, monitor and control the conditions, standards and quality of Nursing Education and Training within the ambit of the Nursing Act and any other applicable laws. It is the mandate of Council as stipulated in the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 0f 2005) Section 4(2)(f) to: Accredit Nursing Education Institutions and nursing education programmes and monitor all assessments by education and training providers in accordance with the Act or any other law. The scope of this mandate covers university-based nursing departments, public and private colleges.

• The SANC has noted that there is a published programme namely “Bachelor of Health Sciences in the field of Nursing Systems Sciences” which is offered by one of the Universities in Gauteng Province since 2023. It is indicated that the programme is a fully online qualification pegged at NQF level 7 specifically designed for practicing nurses who want to grow their academic qualification and obtain a degree that is the pathway to further academic achievement and specialisation. The programme is, however, not accredited by the SANC but by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

• Although the programme is meant for practising nurses, it doesn’t have the clinical/practical component.

• The practicing nurses are alerted about the following:

• It is an individual choice for nurses to pursue this programme but based on full understanding of what the programme entails.

• Completion of the programme does not yield professional registration with the SANC (i.e. Nurses will not be registered with the SANC and receive a certificate).

• Although the programme is pegged at NQF level 7, successful completion of the programme will not automatically enable the nurses to access the Postgraduate Diploma programmes. In terms of how nursing qualifications are pegged on the Higher Education qualifications sub-framework, an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery qualification is a pre-requisite to access Postgraduate Diploma programmes and unfortunately the above-mentioned programme does not cover the requirements of a midwifery qualification.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION 

• The Council in its ordinary meeting held on 25-26 January 2024 resolved that a circular must be issued to alert the nurses about the programme and its implications (i.e. nurses must not anticipate that they will be registered with the SANC after completing this “Bachelor of Health Sciences in the field of Nursing systems Sciences).

For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo; Deputy Registrar at (012) 420 1059, or email address jnxumalo@sanc.co.za.

_________________________                 

PROF NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: ______________________

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Circular 3/2024 – Performance of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) by Nurses

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION (MMC) BY NURSES

___________________________________________________________________________

1. PURPOSE

• The purpose of this Circular is to provide a directive to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all relevant stakeholders on the performance of MMC by Nurse Practitioners.

2. BACKGROUND

• The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is a statutory body functioning in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) to set and maintain the standards of nursing practice including upholding professional and ethical standards within nursing in South Africa.
• The mandate of SANC is to serve and protect the public in matters involving health services generally and nursing services in particular.
• Furthermore, the SANC has an obligation to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the profession.
• In line with its obligations above, Council has been inundated with inquiries, from stakeholders, seeking clarity pertaining to performance of medical male circumcision, a great initiative adopted by the National Department of Health to further strengthen its strides in reducing the plight of HIV and AIDS infection in South Africa, which Council fully supports.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION

• The Council at its ordinary meeting of 25-26 January 2024, deliberated on the matter and resolved that a circular that outlines Council directives on MMC be issued as follows:
  • Only Professional Nurses are allowed to conduct MMC.
  • They must have been trained, mentored, assessed and deemed competent (evidence of their competence should be produced) before they are allowed to conduct the male circumcision.
  • They should have had the opportunity to observe 10 cases being performed.
  • The products of the MMC must be handled in line with other related legislation and internal protocols, including the Human tissue Act (Act No. 65 of 1983).
  • NDoH shall have a system of continuous monitoring MMC implementation.
  • The SANC reserves the right to audit the departmental records on the MMC programme that involves nurse practitioners.
  • Nurse Practitioners who fail to comply with this directive will be liable for acting beyond their scope of practice.

4. IMPLEMENTATION

• This circular shall become effective on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Dr NJ Muswede, Senior Manager: Professional Practice on Tel: (012) 420 1008, or E-mail: jmuswede@sanc.co.za

________________________           
PROF. NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: _________________________

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Circular 2/2024 – Placing the Professional Entrance Examination in abeyance

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: PLACING THE PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION IN ABEYANCE

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Circular is to notify the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all Stakeholders regarding the temporary suspension of the Professional Entrance Examination until further notice.

2. BACKGROUND
   • The South African Nursing Council (SANC) a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), has a responsibility to liaise and communicate with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the profession.
   • Furthermore, the statutory objectives of the Council are to establish, improve, control conditions, standards and quality of nursing education and training.
   • In accordance with Section 4 (1) (c) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), the Council must:

 ‘Conduct examinations and appoint examiners and moderators and grant diplomas and certificates in respect of such examinations”.

• The Council, at a sitting on 29-30 July 2020, approved the requirement for registration of successfully completing the Professional Entrance Examination by the R.169 (Higher Certificate in Nursing) learners. The first cohort of candidates sat for the examination in May 2021.

• Guidelines for the Professional Entrance Examinations (R.171 and R.174) were developed in consultation with the Stakeholders and approved by Council at its sitting of 22-23 September 2022.
• A series of Circulars were developed and shared with Stakeholders on the progress of the implementation of the Professional Entrance Examination.
• The first cohort for Diploma in General Nursing (R.171), and Bachelor of Nursing (R. 174), sat for the Professional Entrance Examination in May 2023.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION
   • The Council at a sitting of 25-26 January 2024 deliberated on the progress, implementation and challenges experienced with the Professional Entrance Examination, and resolved that:
     • Considering all facts, processes and inputs from stakeholders, the Professional Entrance Examinations should be reviewed, improved, and streamlined.
     • The Professional Entrance Examination will thus be put in abeyance until further notice.
     • For the period that the Professional Entrance Examinations are held in abeyance, no candidates for Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169), Diploma in General Nursing (R.171), and Bachelor of Nursing (R.174) will sit for the examination, including supplementary examination candidates.
     • All qualifications that were obtained from accredited NEIs post implementation of the Professional Entrance Examination and prior to the abeyance of this examination will be registered with the South African Nursing Council.
     • Only foreign candidates will write examinations according to the National Department of Health (NDoH): Foreign Workforce Management Programme (FWMP), Skills development Act and SANC requirements.

4. IMPLICATIONS
   • This Circular should be brought to the attention of all learners at all the Nursing Education Institutions.
   • The funds already paid by candidates for the March 2024 Professional Entrance Examination shall be credited to a specific learner’s name on the register of the SANC.
   • There will be no action taken for those who have previously written the PEE and are already registered.

5. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular becomes implemented and valid on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms A. Mnguni, SANC Senior Manager: Learner affairs at (012) 420 1065, or email address amnguni@sanc.co.za

_________________________                 
PROF. NG MTSHALI

REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: ______________________

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Circular 1/2024 – Issuance of Duplicate/Replacement Registration Certificates

TO:         NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

                PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

                NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

                ALL STAKEHOLDERS

SUBJECT: ISSUANCE OF DUPLICATE/REPLACEMENT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Circular is to notify the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and all Stakeholders with reference to the issuance of duplicate/replacement registration certificates by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

2. BACKGROUND

• The SANC as a statutory body which functions in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), has a responsibility to liaise and communicate with all stakeholders on matters that pertains to the profession.

• In accordance with Section 45(1)(a)(b)(c) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) “the Registrar may, on application by a Practitioner, issue a duplicate/replacement certificate of registration if the applicant:

• Provides proof of his/her identity to the satisfaction of the Registrar;
• Provides an affidavit in which he or she confirms that the certificate of registration has been lost or destroyed; and
• Pays the prescribed fee determined by the Council.”

• The duplicate/replacement registration certificate is only issued upon the Practitioner meeting the above criteria.

• The SANC has been inundated with applications for the issuance of the duplicate/replacement registration certificates and in some cases, Practitioners repeatedly re-apply even when the duplicate/replacement registration certificates have been issued.

• This practice creates a risk for the Practitioner and for the SANC as the regulator of the nursing profession.

3. COUNCIL RESOLUTION

• The Council at its special meeting held on the 30^th of November 2023, resolved that:

Duplicate/replacement registration certificate will only be issued on a once-off basis upon receipt of an application from the concerned Practitioner who meets the criteria as stipulated in point 2.2.

• It must be noted that should the Practitioner reapply for the duplicate/replacement registration certificate after it was issued once, only a confirmation letter will be issued.

• The duplicate/replacement registration certificate should be collected by the applicant (Practitioner) at SANC offices or alternatively the applicant may facilitate collection of the certificate by courier services company (at own cost). SANC Offices are in Pretoria at:

602 Pretorius Street (Cecilia Makiwane Building).

Arcadia

0083

4. IMPLICATIONS

         This circular should be brought to the attention of Practitioners at all Health Establishments.

5. IMPLEMENTATION

This circular becomes implemented and valid on the date of issue. For any clarity-seeking questions in respect of this circular, you are advised to contact Ms A. Mnguni, Senior Manager: Learner Affairs at (012) 420 1065, or email address amnguni@sanc.co.za

_________________________                  

MS SJ NXUMALO

ACTING REGISTRAR & CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

DATE: ______________________

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