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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