Scope of Practice, Competency Framework and Charter of Nursing Practice


 


 


 


            Medical profession is one of the noblest professions that helps countless


 


lives worldwide. Some professionals even volunteer in third world countries


 


without asking for payment. They serve people even in the most isolated places


 


of a poor nation.


 


            Health sector should be prioritized by the government of every nation. In


 


the recent decade, professional nurses became in demand worldwide needed in


 


hospitals and personal care of the elders. The demand for nurses opened great


 


opportunities especially for those expatriates trying to find lucrative careers in


 


other countries. However, it should also raise the standard of competence and


 


clinical expertise.


 


            In South Africa, the nursing industry faces a serious crisis. The health


 


system has an increasing loss in experienced and competent nurses affecting


 


the public and private sectors. Low remuneration and deteriorating facilities force


 


the local nurses to diaspora and find better paying opportunities. It is imperative


 


for the government of South Africa to ensure its nation of sufficient nursing


 


workforce.


 


            In 2005, the Nursing Act No. 33 is passed to create a legislative


 


framework determining the scope of practice of different categorical nurses to


 


ensure that the nurses are aligned to their expertise and the needs of the health


 


sector. New qualifications are set to review the scope of practice of every nurse.


 


The nursing strategy of South Africa is aimed at urgently addressing the


 


problems of nursing particularly maintaining sufficient number of professional


 


nurses who are appropriately educated and deployed to all parts of the country.


 


            The competency framework is basically about following the objective


 


guidelines of the nursing strategy. The objective includes: good quality education


 


and training; accessibility of nursing to all South Africans; better image and social


 


positioning of nurses; promoting and maintaining high standard of nursing


 


education; enhancing the sense of professionalism among nurses; providing


 


strong leadership that will appropriately guide and direct nurses in operations;


 


maintaining sufficient number of professional nurses; ensuring adequate


 


resources and support systems for the health sector; and ensuring an


 


environment conducive to efficient nursing care. Nurses seemingly play a vital


 


role in the health care system.


 


            Consequently, nurses are categorized differently depending on their


 


expertise and scope of practice. A professional nurse is a qualified and


 


competent practitioner that can perform comprehensive nursing tasks assuming


 


responsibility and accountability for such practice.  A registered nurse (RN) is a


 


licensed medical professional who has completed four-year nursing degree and


 


passed the licensure exam. They carry out various medical tasks such as


 


explaining and educating patients about their medical conditions, dispensing


 


treatments and medications, assisting surgeons in medical procedures,


 


monitoring a patient’s vital signs, maintaining health records and keeping families


 


advised on the patient’s health status and progress. A nurse practitioner (NP) is a


 


registered nurse who completed a master’s degree or doctoral degree that


 


undergone specialized training in diagnosis and management of common


 


medical conditions. On the other hand, a staff nurse is the current registered


 


nurse with no additional qualifications set by the National Qualifications


 


Framework (NQF), while an auxiliary nurse should enroll for a level three


 


certificate provided by the NQF.


 


            The change in health system in South Africa is continually faced by


 


challenges, the likes of maintaining high quality nursing industry and providing


 


sufficient number of professional nurses around the country.


 


 Indeed, the Nursing Act should be strengthened and continuously


 


supported by the government and health professionals. It is to address the ever-


 


declining standard of health system in South Africa.


 


            Nurses perform basic medical jobs, yet they play vital role in patients care


 


and the health sector as a whole. They are confronted by different medical


 


conditions suffered by their patients that tend to be close to them.


 


            They provide essential support to the major healthcare providers such as


 


the doctors and the patients as well. Nurses seem to have less work comparing


 


to the physicians, yet they are very essential to the healthcare system. More than


 


their knowledge and expertise to the technical world of medicine, it’s the nurse’s


 


genuine care and kindness that helps a patient to recover. Remember that little


 


things count and make a big difference.


 


 


 


 


 


References:


 


Nursing Strategy for South Africa, 2008


 


Kortenbout, Elma et. al, Developing a Competence Framework and Evaluation Tool for Primary Nursing in South Africa, July 2005


 


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