The South African Nursing Council

Welcome to South African Nursing Council Web site.  This site concentrates on the setting and maintaining of nursing education and practice standards.  The information is intended to appeal to a wide audience - from the serious researcher to those who are considering a career in nursing.

Practising nurses will find the site most useful. You will be able to find the latest and most up-to-date information about your profession here.

International visitors are welcome - particularly those who are doing international nursing research and also those who are considering coming to work as nurses in South Africa.

NURSES DAY

(12 May 2009)

“Delivering quality, serving communities; Nurses leading care innovations.”

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

I am truly proud and honoured to be associated with the 212 806 nurses that we have registered/enrolled in South Africa. These nurses play an important role in ensuring that the health care system of our country functions 365 days a year.

The SANC also recognises the significant contributions made by nurses towards a national agenda of nation building through the transformation of the South African health care delivery system since 1994. Despite the added strain placed by the impact of globalisation on nurses and the nursing profession , nurses have responded positively by  remaining in the frontline of  the South African health care services.

In the true spirit of Florence Nightingale whose birthday gave impetus to Nurses’ Day, nurses in South Africa assumed new and additional responsibilities in an effort to deliver quality care, while serving communities without losing the caring ethics.

Nurses embraced the change process in the spirit of “UBUNTU”.

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL SALUTES ALL NURSES IN SOUTH AFRICAN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO CARE.

Latest News from S A Nursing Council:

Practitioners who did not pay their annual fees removed from register

The Nursing Council has removed the names of 10 013 practitioners from the register - for failing to pay the annual fee in time.  Practitioners had to pay their annual fees by 31 March 2009 and those who did not pay or who paid after that date have been removed from the register with effect from 1 April 2009.

In the case of 863 practitioners who paid the annual fee late, they have already been sent a letter outlining the process required to be restored to the register.  The remaining 9150 practitioners were removed once all postal items (that had been posted in time but that arrived at the Council late) had been processed and other queries (where possible) had been resolved.  These practitioners will soon receive an official notice to this effect by registered mail.

Please note that to practise without being registered is illegal.  Removed practitioners who are still practising are therefore strongly advised to apply for the restoration of their names to the register as a matter of extreme urgency.  Full details of the required process and the fees that must be paid are provided in the letter that is being sent to the affected practitioners.

The information on the eRegister  was updated in accordance with the removals on the evening of 25 May 2009.  The details of practitioners who were removed will no longer be displayed by the system.  Up till now, while late processing was taking place, these records had all been displayed with the Registration Status Expiry Date of 2009-03-31.

If you paid late or if you did not pay at all, please note that the Council will NOT consider any extenuating circumstances.  Practitioners are given several months in which to make the payment of annual fees and NO EXTENSIONS are given to those who do not comply.  Users of Internet or other electronic banking particularly should take note or the rules of your own bank applicable to when the funds will be transferred to the Council's bank account.  If the payment is made into the Council bank account by your bank on 1 April 2009 or later, the payment is LATE (no matter when the transaction was requested).  Everyone who signs an electronic banking agreement agrees to abide by these rules.

If you have been removed from the register but did in fact pay the correct fee in the correct manner, yours may be one of several unallocatable payments Council has received.  Contact the Licensing Section at Nursing Council who will be pleased to assist you to resolve the problem.  Full details of how and when the payment was made will be most helpful in tracing your payment.  If Council did receive your payment in time, your name will immediately be restored to the register as if it had never been off, and your Annual Practising Certificate will be printed accordingly.  Obviously, in such a case, you will not be required to pay any restoration fee nor will you be required to fill in an application for restoration to the register.

Nursing Council releases information about the implementation plans for the new nursing qualifications

Nursing Council has released information about the implementation of the new nursing qualifications that have been registered on the National Qualifications Framework.  Educators and planners of nursing education and training are sure to find the information contained in the circular issued by Council of interest.

Click here to see an electronic copy of the circular sent out by Council.

What you will find on the Council website

The following is a brief outline of what you will find on this website.

About SANC tells you all about the S A Nursing Council - the Vision, Mission and Objectives of the Council, the members that make up the Council, the various committees of Council and the members that serve on each, etc.

Complaints deals with the process of investigating matters which have been reported to the S A Nursing Council and which may constitute "unprofessional conduct". You can find out how to lodge a complaint (if you have one) and the process which will follow the receipt of your complaint.  If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having a complaint against you, this information will help you to understand the whole process - including your own rights.

Examinations deals with those examinations which are conducted by the S A Nursing Council .  If you are a  candidate who is planning to write or who has written a Council examination, you will obviously be interested in this information.

eRegister is a link to the Nursing Council electronic register where you can confirm the qualifications of registered practitioners.

News is where you will find all the latest decisions of the S A Nursing Council , new policies, proposed policies and discussion documents on which the Council would like your comments. You should visit these pages if you want to keep informed and to be involved in shaping the future of nursing in South Africa.

Nursing Schools contains a full list of all the nursing schools approved by the Nursing Council and their addresses (arranged by province) so that you can find one near by OR in a place where you would like to study.

Policies contains some of the Nursing Council policies and guidelines that are published for general information.

Publications contains the full texts of official publications which are available from the S A Nursing Council.  These include the Nursing Act, regulations, teaching guides and teaching policies of the Council. Although you are welcome to print and use copies of these documents, it is recommended that you refer to them on-line as you will then be sure to obtain the very latest information.

Services gives details of the services provided by the S A Nursing Council and how much each costs.  You can also download various official forms from these pages - this will ensure that you always use the current version of the form.  This is also the correct place for you to find out about the various options available for paying annual fees.

Statistics is for the inquisitive and the researcher.  Ever wanted to know how many nurses qualify each year?  This is where you will find all the information you need.

Promotion of Access to Information Act - Manual

Click on the information icon to access an electronic copy (PDF) of the South African Nursing Council Promotion of Access to Information Act Manual.  This manual will help you to access information that you believe is held by the Nursing Council and that is needed by you to protect your rights.

This Web site is continually being developed.  The "under construction" icon shown here is displayed on some pages to alert users that information is still being prepared for a particular link.  Our sincere apologies - we will try to add relevant information as soon as possible. If you do find any problems such as hyperlinks which don't work.  Please assist us by sending us details of the problem.  We appreciate your feedback.

You are visitor number   since 10 January 2005.

                ™