The South African Nursing Council

Regulations for the Course for the Diploma in Nursing Administration

The Minister of Health and Welfare has, on the recommendation of the South African Nursing Council, in terms of section 45(1) and (4) of the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act 50 of 1978), made the regulations as set out in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE

Conditions for the approval of schools

1. (1)    A school shall be approved if-

(a)    a person who is registered both as a general nurse and as a midwife and against whose name an additional qualification in nursing education and an additional qualification in nursing administration is registered, is designated to the council as the person in charge of the school;

(b)    facilities satisfactory to the council are available for the course.

(2)    Lecturers shall hold qualifications approved by the council.

2.    Notwithstanding the requirements prescribed in this regulation, the council may approve a school even if one or more of the conditions cannot be complied with.

Admission to the course

3.    A candidate shall submit to the person in charge of the school-

(a)    proof of current registration as a nurse and this registration shall be maintained throughout the prescribed course and until the results of the examination are published, failing which the period of the course undergone from the date of removal from the register to the date of restoration, shall be forfeited;

(b)    a senior certificate or an equivalent qualification, unless the council determines otherwise.

Registration, re-registration, termination and completion of the course

4.    Subject to the regulations regarding the registers for students promulgated in terms of Government Notice R. 3735, dated 14 November 1969-

(a)    a student shall apply for registration or for restoration to the register;

(b)    the person in charge of a school shall notify the council if a student terminates the course for any reason before completion, including a transfer to another school;

(c)    the person in charge of a school shall notify the council when a student completes the course.

Duration of the course

5. (1)    The course shall extend over at least 200 days (excluding days off) which shall be completed within a period of two years, unless the council determines otherwise;

(2)    in the case of a transfer to another school, the course shall be commenced de novo, unless the council determines otherwise.

The curriculum

6. (1)    The curriculum for the course consists of the following four subjects:

(a)    The scientific foundations of the nursing administration process;

(b)    the health care system in South Africa;

(c)    fundamentals of nursing administration I;

(d)    fundamentals of nursing administration II.

(2)    All the subjects of the curriculum shall be taught at an applied level throughout the course.

(3)    The following acts and regulations shall also be taught at an applied level throughout the course:

(a)    The law governing the practice of nursing and midwifery;

(b)    the regulations regarding the conduct of registered nurses which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct;

(c)    the conditions under which such nurses may carry on their calling;

(d)    the regulations regarding the conduct of enrolled nurses which shall constitute improper or disgraceful conduct;

(e)    the legislation applicable to the various aspects of the curriculum.

(4)    The social, cultural and psychological relationships in health care as well as the preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative aspects shall be emphasised in the teaching of students.

Lectures, demonstrations and practica

7.    A student shall-

(a)    attend the lectures prescribed in the syllabus;

(b) (i)    throughout the prescribed period for the course, receive instruction and undergo practica in relation to institutional and extra-institutional services, extending over at least 90 periods of at least one hour each;

(ii)    such instruction and practica need not be continuous.

The examination and examination marks

8. (1)    The examination shall consist of one three hour written paper in each of the subjects referred to in regulation 6.

(2)    Successful candidates shall be shown as having "passed" or "passed with honours".

(3)    To pass, a candidate shall obtain at least 50 per cent of the aggregate marks for each subject.

(4)    To pass with honours, a candidate shall obtain at least 75 per cent in the aggregate of the four subjects.

(5)    Candidates shall not be placed in order of merit and places shall not be disclosed, except in connection with a prize or award approved by the council.

(6)    Notwithstanding the conditions prescribed in this regulation, the council may, in its discretion, permit deviations therefrom.

Admission to the examination

9. (1)    A candidate shall lodge with the council-

(a)    an application in terms of regulation 11;

(b)    a certificate from the person in charge of the school-

(i)    that the period prescribed for the course in regulation 5(1) will be completed by the end of the month in which the examination is held;
(ii)    that by the date of the examination the candidate will comply with the provisions of regulation 7.

(2)    A candidate who does not take the examination within one year of the date of completion of the course, shall undergo such further training as the council may decide upon, before admission to the examination.

Readmission to the examination

10. (1)    A candidate who fails shall re-enter within one year of the date of the examination in which the candidate was unsuccessful, failing which the candidate shall undergo such further instruction as the council may decide upon, before readmission.

(2)    A candidate retains credit for any subject passed; provided that if the diploma is not obtained within three years of the commencement of the course, all credits lapse and the candidate shall enroll anew for the course.

(3)    A candidate who fails in the examination at the second or at a subsequent attempt shall enroll for the course anew, unless the council decides otherwise.

Dates of examinations, applications for admission and readmission and examination fees

11. (1)    The person in charge of a school shall notify the council forthwith giving reasons, if a candidate becomes ineligible for admission or readmission subsequent to the lodging of an application in terms of this regulation.

(2)    The examination shall be held twice a year during May and November and applications for admission and readmission shall be lodged with the council on or before 7 March and 7 September of the relative year, respectively.

(3)    Examination fees of twenty-five rand (R25) per three hour paper shall be paid to the council on application for admission or re-admission to the examination.

(4)    An application lodged not more than seven days after such date, shall be accepted only on payment of an additional fee of fifteen rand (R15).

(5)    An application lodged more than seven days after such date, shall not be accepted.

(6)    An application for admission or readmission shall not be deemed to have been lodged in terms of this regulation unless an application form, duly completed, together with the prescribed certificates, the examination fee and, where applicable, the additional fee prescribed in subregulation (4) shall have reached the council.

(7)    Examination fees referred to in subregulations (3) and (4) shall be forfeited if an entry is cancelled or if a candidate is absent, unless the council determines otherwise.

Examination centres

12.    Centres shall be established at such places as the council may determine.

Registration of additional qualification

13.    A candidate who has passed in the examination shall be issued with a certificate of registration of the additional qualification without the payment of a fee; provided the notice prescribed in regulation 4(c) has been lodged.

Application of these regulations

14.    These regulations shall apply to candidates who commence or resume their courses on or after the date of publication; provided that the council may permit students who commenced the course before the date of publication to continue in terms of these regulations.

Repeal of previous regulations

15.    The regulations published under Government Notice R. 3902 of 12 December 1969, as amended by Government Notices R. 260 of 14 February 1975, R. 1661 of 3 August 1979, R. 2198 of 31 October 1980 and R. 55 of 22 January 1982 are hereby repealed.

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