• Enrolment as Nursing Auxiliary R21 76

• Enrolment as Nurse R2175

• Bridging Course leading to registration as a General Nurse R683 (a distance learning course accredited by UNISA)

• Diploma Midwifery

• The Diploma in Medical and Surgical Nursing: Critical Care
• The Diploma in Medical and Surgical Nursing: Operating Theatre Nursing Science
• Toe Diploma in Neonatal Nursing
• The Diploma in Emergency Nursing
• The Diploma in Oncology Nursing
• The Diploma in Anaesthetic and Recovery room Nursing

Medi-Clinic Group

• 46 Hospitals

• 8 Provinces and Namibia

• 6 500 nurses employed in Medi-Clinic

• Training:

• Medi-Clinic began training in 1985 at Sandton Hospital
• 6 registered nursing schools
• 1776 nursing staff members received new qualifications since the expansion of nursing training in 1997
• Currently 1037 nurses in training at our nursing schools

Formal Post-Basic Courses

These courses are offered in collaboration with tertiary Institutions

Certificate Courses: (6-9 months)

• The Certificate in Anaesthetic and Recovery Room Nursing
• The Certificate in General Critical Care
• The Certificate in Operating Theatre Nursing The Certificate in Emergency Nursing
• The Certificate in the Nursing Science of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiac Interventions
• The Certificate in Oncology / Haematology Nursing
• The Certificate in Cardio Thoracic Critical Care

Medi-Clinic Courses

The Medi Clinic Advanced Pain Management Certificate

• The Medi- Clinic Endoscopic Certificate
• The Medi- Clinic Maternity Fundamentals
• The Medi- Clinic Critical Care Fundamentals
• The Medi- Clinic Theatre Technique Fundamentals

Medi-Clinic Courses

• The Medi- Clinic Certificate for Anaesthetic and Recovery room Nursing for Enrolled nurse Categories
• The Medi-Clinic Theatre Technique Fundamentals for Enrolled Nurses
• The Medi-Clinic Critical Care Fundamentals for Enrolled Nurses
• The Medi-Clinic Endoscopic Certificate

To offer this extensive training and development opportunities

• Medi- Clinic employs

• 40 Tutors and Assessors

• 50 Training and Ocvelopment Consultants

• Medi- Clinic maintains

• 6 fully equipped nursing schools with all the supportive services needed to provide an excellent service

• 6 company vehicles for transporting tutors to remote hospitals

Medi-Clinic Students

• Permanent employees who passed a pre-study course

• Students have to rotate in different disciplines and even rotate to other hospitals for specific learning objectives

• These students are older employees as they can only apply for a course if they have the relevant clinical experience

• These students have contracts to work back rime as these courses are funded fully by Medi Clinic

• Central Ster/Uzation and Supply Course

• CFR courses for nursing and administrative personnel

• Mentorship courses

• Management skills and Financial management for Nursing

• Dare to Care

Medi-Clinic Students

• Basic Courses:

• Enrolled nurses and auxiliary nurses

• Preference is given to permanent employees (18.1 learners)
• The majority of18.2 learners are older people and not matriculates starting immediately with nursing as a career

• Bridging course students:

• These candidates have completed at least two nursing qualifications

• The candidates are permanent employees, older than the average college or university student

• The majority of these candidates have families and family responsibilities and find it extremely difficult to relocate or to do their practical at another training institution

• The candidates are contractually hound for at least two yearn

Nursing Bill 2005

• Good practice to be appointed by the Council members rather that? the Minister of Health

s40(1)- Community Service

• Training in Medi-Clinic is based on the manpower needs of the various hospitals

• Successful learners are offered positions in the company and have the opportunity to further their studies

Nursing Bill 2005

• If community service has to be done by private funded learners the private sector will have to revisit the training offered

• Bridging course students newly qualified do not have any or very limited midwifery or community health experience, both needed for the community clinics

Conclusion

Nurses take pride in their profession. To be nominated as a member of the Council has always been the ultimate position for a nurse leader. The appointment of the Chairperson for the Council by the Minister will deprive the nurse leaders of the right to decide on their leaders and to give input in their own profession.

We conclude by requesting the committee to revisit the section on Community Service as well as the Chairperson in the interest of nursing.

I am proud to be a Nurse in South Africa.

Summary

Medi-Clinic is actively involved in the upliftment and development of the staff working in our company. The company gives preference to its own staff for formal and informal training. We have professional nurses in our employ who started at the company as domestic workers.

As a result of the ongoing nursing shortage in the country Medi- Clinic has been spending vast amounts of money on training to provide in our manpower needs. Community service will have a detrimental effect on the staffing levels as well as the enthusiasm of the private hospital sector to continue with in-house training.