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Nurse
Nursing involves assisting ill, injured and weak people towards health and helping to relieve patients of pain and discomfort. It also involves curative, preventative, promotive and rehabilitative health care for families, communities and individuals.
There are two main categories of nursing, namely the registered or professional nurse and the enrolled nursing auxiliary.
Registered nurses or nursing sisters take patients' blood pressures and temperatures. They take samples for laboratory tests. They administer medication and give patients injections. They put in and remove stitches; apply and change dressings on wounds. Nurses prepare patients for medical checkups and for operations. They may assist surgeons and anaesthetists during operations and obstetricians in maternity wards and act as midwives. Nursing sisters also participate in activities such as supplying health guidance and counselling, and also the diagnosis, planning and execution of nursing strategies for patients.
There are three main categories of nursing, namely the registered or professional nurses, the enrolled nurse and the enrolled nursing auxiliary. All nurses, perform certain duties, particularly during training, but others’ responsibilities and work varies. All three categories register with the SA Nursing Council once they have completed their training.
Registered nurses: both degree and diploma students qualify as registered nurses. Once they have completed their training, they are referred to as nursing sisters. They are responsible for the supervision of enrolled nurses and nursing auxiliaries. Their duties include running a department or ward, keeping records of treatment and progress, advising doctors about a patient’s condition and receiving instructions regarding treatment as well as controlling supplies and equipment, materials and medicine. They may also be involved in the training of nursing students.
Enrolled nurses: perform nursing care within the limits of their qualifications under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Enrolled nursing auxiliaries: carry out basic nursing procedures and take care of patients on a less specialized level under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Areas of specialist nursing practice include: mental health nursing, midwifery, child health, aged care, cancer nursing, intensive care, operating theatre, community health, remote area nursing, research, management, education, and workplace health and safety. Career paths exist for nurses who have further education or have demonstrated advanced competency in an area of specialization such as:
Clinical nurse consultants: are responsible for the coordination and delivery of complex care in a specific ward or department, or in community settings. They work, in collaboration with clinical nurses, to give direct nursing care to patients with complex care needs, facilitate staff development and undertake research.
Clinical nurse specialists: are registered nurses who have demonstrated competency in advanced practice or have developed competency in an area of specialization.
Community health nurses: work in the wider community, providing nursing care, health counselling, health forums and group programmes to individuals, families and groups. They may develop and facilitate community development programmes with a health promotion focus.
Mental Health Nurses: provide nursing care to patients with mental and emotional problems who are undergoing treatment and support in hospitals, clinics, community settings or private homes.
Midwives: provide care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and post-natal care for women and babies. Midwives must be authorized to practise by their relevant State registering authority.
Nurse educators: assist in the design, implementation and assessment of educational programmes and the delivery of education and staff development programmes, and also manage educational resources.
Nurse managers: are responsible for the effective management of staffing and financial resources enabling the provision of safe, cost-effective nursing care within a specified field or across an entire hospital or health service.
Nurse researchers conduct research into nursing issues.
Nursing Auxiliaries perform basic nursing tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse. They carry out nursing procedures on a less specialized level than registered nurses.
They take care of the ill, injured and weak and are involved in health guidance and counselling. They form part of a team of professional workers such as nurses, doctors and other medical personnel. Nursing Auxiliaries usually work in hospitals, clinics and health care centres such as old-age homes.
Satisfying Aspects
- helping others
- working with people
- being part of the medical profession
- the challenge and variety of work
- many areas of specialization to choose from
Demanding aspects
- long hours and working shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays
- being on your feet all day long
- routine duties
- rude and over-demanding patients
- working under pressure
Requirements
A nurse should:
- have a strong desire to help others
- enjoy working with people
- be responsible and dependable
- able to follow orders carefully
- able to assume responsibility and a leadership role
- able to work as part of a team
- able to take the initiative in emergencies
- be sympathetic and flexible
- good communication skills
- tolerance, patience and tact in dealing with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures
- work well under pressure
- emotionally stable and physically fit to work long hours
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Grade 10 Certificate, although a National Senior Certificate is preferred, for Nursing Auxiliary
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences (for the degree course)
Recommended Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences
Training
Degree: The BCur degree is offered at most universities and lasts 4 years. Clinical training at an approved training hospital and other training institutions is provided in addition to the theoretical training, eg. UKZN, Wits, NWU, UWC, US, UL, UFS, UCT, UNISA, UZ, UJ, UV.
Diploma: TUT, CPUT, VUT.
Nursing College: prospective nursing students are subject to selection. Training is practical and theoretical. Training at the nursing college is done in collaboration with a university. Clinical or practical training is done at accredited training hospitals. The duration of the course is 4 years.
Advanced Training: qualified nurses may study further in specialization fields such as Paediatric Nursing Science, Orthopaedic Nursing Science, Intensive Care Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Geriatric Nursing Science, etc. Postgraduate study is also possible at honours, masters and doctorate level.
Training hospitals : Enrolled nursing auxiliaries can follow a 1-year certificate course at approved training hospitals, old-age homes and clinics.
Qualified nurses register with the South African Nursing Council as general nurses, midwifes, psychiatric nurses or community health nurses.
Employer
- Hospitals and clinics
- Government departments
- South African Defence Force
- Health and welfare organisations
- Municipalities
- Medical doctors
- Industrial organisations
- Nursing agencies
- Self-employed as a private nurse.
Contact
The South African Nursing Council (SANC)
P O Box 1123
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 420-1000
Fax: (012) 343-5400
E-mail: registrar@sanc.co.za
www.sanc.co.za
Democratic Nursing Organization of SA
P O Box 1280
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 343-2315/6/7
Fax: (012) 344-0750
www.denosa.org.za