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DENOSA Professional Institute (DPI) update nurses on professional developments in nursing
DENOSA Professional Institute (DPI) updates nurses on professional developments in nursing at Mankweng Hospital
DENOSA Professional Institute (DPI) coordinator, Thokozile Kgonwana, delivered a three-hour presentation to nurses and interactive session about the latest developments in nursing as well as expectations for nurses at Mankweng Hospital outside Polokwane on Friday 18 March.
Accompanied by DENOSA National Treasurer, Cookie Nkambule, Provincial Secretary, Sipho Khoza, Provincil Organiser, Jacob Molepo, full time shop steward, Lesiba Monyaki, and staff members from Head Office Khorotho Setlago, Justice Mahlobogwane and Sibongiseni Delihlazo.
Among other things, the presentation focused on Continuous Professional Development (CPD), national qualification framework, the new curriculum and general questions from nurses.
She mentioned that the pilot of CPD in nursing ended in February whereby nurses have to accumulate 15 points a year across ethical and legal, area of practice, leadership and management and research. The two pilot provinces were Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
She said nurses experienced many challenges in the facilities, many of which talk to areas that CPD could address.
"Because we are the majority, we are seen as perpetrators. We have that challenge. The issue of language has become a big factor. The dynamics has meant that it's not business as usual. Technology has made interaction easy for our customers as well," she explained.
Nurses complained about the severe shortage of staff in the facilities to such that they are expected to perform the duty of the support, which forces them to work outside their scope of practice.
On the new qualification framework, she explained that with the new qualification there are changes in the nursing for enrolled nurses, including the entry requirements.
"From level 5 qualifications onwards these are offered at colleges and universities. In nursing we can no longer have these level 3 and level 4 qualifications.
For a professional nurse qualification, the requirements are grade 12 with Maths/Arithmetic L, compumter literacy L3, Life Sciences and English.
For a Midwife, requirements are Diploma in Gen Nursing/new and old RPL.
For staff requirements are grade 12 with Maths/Arithmetic L, Computer Literacy (L3), Life Sciences and English.
For auxiliary, garde 12 with Maths/Arithmetic L, Computer Literacy ?L3), Life Sciences and English.
"Previously, there was no real emphasis on mathematics. But now it is a serious requirement. Computer literacy and Life Sciences (Biology) are also compulsory requirements. NHI is saying we must strive to become paperless. So, EN and ENA will be phased out in few years (between 2018 and 2019). So there must be efforts to ensure that nurses in these categories acquire these requirements within this window period so that they are able to meet the entry requirements for these qualifications. Otherwise SANC says it is ready for these new qualifications," said Kgongwana.
