Nurses battle to get the practice certificates they need to keep their jobs
Delays, SA Nursing Council telephones that go unanswered and travelling far are obstacles nurses face in getting certificates they need to remain employed
Nurses face endless delays in being sent their practice certificates after paying yearly fees and must often travel far to get the certificate so they can keep their jobs. Though they are often said to be the health system’s frontline‚ nurses say the way the SA Nursing Council treats them shows the government does not respect them. The annual professional payment system is not yet online and the 220‚000 nurses and 73‚000 nursing assistants must pay via FNB and fax proof of payment to the office. Then certificates are posted to them, but many say they never arrive. Nurses‚ who do not get their licences‚ must travel to the only nursing council office in the country to get it. Nomsa Hawker‚ who works in Saudi Arabia‚ travelled to Pretoria to pay in person last week. "It is expensive, but to save your job‚ you need to do it," she said. "It is a pathetic situation. The South African government does not appreciate nurses [even though] we are the pillars of the health system." Using the nu...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.