Factual informaton on R425 Registered Nurse, R174 Professional Nurse and Midwife, and R171 General Nurse
Factual informaton on R425 Registered Nurse, R174 Professional Nurse and Midwife, and R171 General Nurse
25 May 2020
The South African Nursing Council has become aware through various media platforms that there is misinformation regarding the status of the current and future status of the four(4)- year degree/diploma nursing programme (Regulations Relating to the Approval of and the Minimum Requirements for the Education and Training of a Nurse (General, Psychiatric and Community) and Midwife leading to Registration-Government Notice No. R. 425 of 22 February 1985 as amended) and possibly other qualifications. This has caused confusion to the profession and the public at large.
- Current status of the Four year (4) Degree and Diploma programme.(R.425)
This is a legacy nursing qualification that is being phased out like all other legacy qualifications in the country, in line with the requirements of the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework and as supported by the Board Notice published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in July 2016. The last intake for this programme was 2019. It must be noted however that the programme leading to this qualification continues and is going to continue being offered for pipeline students for the next four (4) to six (6) academic years including 2 years teach-out period.
This programme will for some years run concurrently with the new four-year Bachelor programme. These two qualifications are mutually exclusive qualifications and none is a replacement of the other.
Any person that completed the R. 425 programme leading to Registration with the SANC as a Nurse (General, Psychiatric and Community) and Midwife shall retain this title and qualification and shall not be “degraded” or “demoted” in any way.
On completion of the R. 425 programme, graduates and diplomats from the four-year programme will be registered by the South African Nursing Council as Nurse (General, Community & Psychiatric) and Midwife. This programme will not under any circumstances be downgraded or changed in any way. It will run its course until it is naturally phased out in about 6 years.
No downgrading of the four-year R425 Course
The profession needs to note that the Registered Nurse qualifying from this programme will not be downgraded in anyway whatsoever. Section 31 (1) (c) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act no. 33 OF 2005), prescribed a category Staff Nurse. Following various changes in legislation, particularly the National Qualifications Framework Act, it became necessary that the nursing qualifications fit within the country’s qualification framework.
As a result, the Category “General Nurse” was created through a board notice published in Government Gazette R.939 of 28 June 2019 by the Minister of Health. This programme will have a duration of three years and is not a replacement of any other qualification.
- Future four- year programme(R.174)
This is a new four-year programme governed by Regulations Relating to the Approval of and the Minimum Requirements for the Education and Training of a Learner leading to Registration in the Categories Professional Nurse and Midwife (Government Notice No. R174 of 8 March 2013).
Several Universities and Public Nursing Colleges were accredited by the Council to offer the programme. The SANC is aware that they have opted to commence with the offering of this programme in 2021.
Further information for students:
Students that are currently undergoing the R 425 programme should therefore not panic due to misinformation and disinformation from informal sources. They are encouraged to enquire and seek clarity from their principals regarding the uncertainties. The Heads of Nursing Education Institutions can if necessary enquire and be duly and formally advised by the SANC.
On behalf of the CEO& Registrar:
Ms S Mchunu
SANC Professional Conduct Hearings
SANC Professional Conduct Hearings
May 2020
Dear Nurses, Clients and Stakeholders
Kindly note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Professional Conduct Hearings that were scheduled to be held at the offices of the South African Nursing Council from the 11th to the 13th of May 2020 is hereby formally postponed until further notice.
If you have received a summons or a subpoena to appear at these hearings, please note, we will be in contact with you in due course to inform you of the new arrangements.
Restoration of nurses to the SANC nursing register for National State of Disaster period: Private Hospitals
Restoration of nurses to the SANC nursing register for National State of Disaster period: Private Hospitals
1 May 2020
1 May 2020
Dear Stakeholder
Please note that the process for private hospitals is the same as for Provincial Departments of Health, with the following exceptions:
1. All Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA)- affiliated health establishments will be handled via HASA directly – the process has been communicated to and agreed upon by HASA. The contact person is Lauren Drysdale at email: lauren.drysdale@hasanet.co.za
2. Private hospitals NOT affiliated to HASA will follow the process as set out below and submit the list per hospital. If you need clarity on this process kindly contact Mr Patrick Modiselle at email: pmodiselle@sanc.co.za
The process, in short:
• | Position/s are advertised by the Employer, who will do the screenings for the positions (nature of engagement agreed upon between practitioner and health establishment). |
• | The form has been sent to HASA (The form is also on the SANC website as a backup). |
• | Once an employment or engagement agreement is reached with the employing health establishment, HASA (or if a private hospital it can be sent to the SANC if not affiliated to HASA) sends a bulk pack of applications to the SANC for processing. |
• | The SANC will issue the certificate letters to the Employer as proof of registration of a Nurse with the SANC. |
• | The Employer then communicates to the Nurses as they issue letters of engagement. |
• | No individual applications can be sent to the SANC for processing. |
NB: Registration lapses immediately upon lifting of the National State of Disaster.
Restoration Form for Private Hospitals
News 4/2018
News 4/2018
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News 3/2018
News 3/2018
19 February 2018 Impairment Committee Report: Management of controlled scheduled medicines/substances in healthcare establishments to minimize errors and abuse caused by improper control1. Introduction
2. Purpose
3. Background
4. Management of controlled medicines, schedules 5,6 and 7, in hospital departments and wards:
Note that the following are warning signs of nurses who may be abusing medicines and substances:
5. Legal obligations of the nursing service manager/ unit manager
Behaviours indicative of Controlled Medicine abuse These may include, but are not limited to the following:
Common group of Controlled Scheduled Medicines abused by health practitioners
Some SUBSTANCES are recreational, such as:
Getting Help
References
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News 2/2018
News 2/2018
29 January 2018
Nurses now receive 10% discount when using the Greyhound bus service
Great news!
Nurses registered with the SANC now receive 10% off on all bus travel via Greyhound!
Contact Greyhound directly via their Facebook page: GreyhoundSA or on Twitter: @GreyhoundRSA
Special News Item 2/2013 Death of an icon
Special News Item 2/2013
South African Nursing Council Mourns the Death of an Icon: Dr. NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA
10 December 2013
The South African Nursing Council mourns the passing on of our leader, Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. His passing on is a loss not only to his family but also to the country and the nursing fraternity as a whole.
We take cognisance of the values Dr. Mandela upheld so dearly – caring, respect, selflessness, and will work towards ensuring that all members of the profession emulate these values. We salute the nurses that took care of Dr. Mandela. They indeed distinguished themselves as true ambassadors of this noble profession as they could have been under pressure to breach privacy and confidentiality but maintained them.
The nursing profession benefited from the struggle Dr. Mandela waged against apartheid. The South African Nursing Council is today a transformed organization following the demise of apartheid. We feel highly privileged to have reaped the fruits of his struggle.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to the Mandela family.
Prof. Busisiwe Bhengu
Chairperson
South African Nursing Council
Special News Item 1/2013 National Strategic Plan
Special News Item 1/2013
The National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 – 2016/17
On this day the Department of Health published the National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 – 2016/17 on its website.
The development of the strategic plan has its roots firmly in the Nursing Summit which took place in 2011 and the Nursing Compact that was drawn up as a direct consequence of the Summit.
This link is published on the Nursing Council website in an effort to distribute this important information as widely as possible and particularly amongst the nursing profession and others involved in the health care sector. Please download a copy of the strategy document and share it with your friends and colleagues. To do so, click on the picture on the left or on the following link:
The National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 – 2016/17
Special News Item 3/2012 Nomination Process
Special News Item 3/2012
Nomination of members to serve on the 15th Council
This information was originally published on the Home Page of the SANC website.
Nomination and appointment of members to serve on the Council
A notice calling for nomination of persons to serve as members of the Nursing Council for the period June 2013 to 2018 has been published by the Minister of Health.
Click here to see a copy of the notice published in the Sunday Times of 7 October 2012.
In terms of the arrangements in the notice, the following documents can be downloaded and printed from the Nursing Council website:-
Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005)
Regulations relating to the Nomination and Appointment of Members of the Council (Government Notice No. R.20 of 16 January 2008)
Prescribed Nomination Form
Charter of Good Practice for Councillors
Covenant for Councillors
Application for Certificate of Good Standing
NB: This process is now complete.