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Nursing Vacancies in South Africa Opportunity or Something Else

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<strong>Nurs<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Vacancies</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>:<br />

<strong>Opp<strong>or</strong>tunity</strong> <strong>or</strong> Someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Else</strong>?<br />

In recent years, there have been grow<strong>in</strong>g health vacancies <strong>in</strong> the field of nurs<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>. But is this a sign of opp<strong>or</strong>tunity f<strong>or</strong> aspir<strong>in</strong>g nurses, <strong>or</strong> someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

far m<strong>or</strong>e concern<strong>in</strong>g?<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> is a nation that lies on the southernmost tip of the <strong>Africa</strong>n cont<strong>in</strong>ent.<br />

In recent years, the country has come under the <strong>in</strong>ternational spotlight f<strong>or</strong> the<br />

crises <strong>in</strong> its healthcare sect<strong>or</strong>.<br />

One of the most concern<strong>in</strong>g elements of the country’s healthcare sect<strong>or</strong> is the<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g number of nurs<strong>in</strong>g vacancies. At first glance, this might seem like a<br />

good development f<strong>or</strong> aspir<strong>in</strong>g nurses <strong>in</strong> the country look<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>or</strong> stable job<br />

opp<strong>or</strong>tunities. But the truth is much m<strong>or</strong>e complicated.<br />

Most of the nurs<strong>in</strong>g vacancies <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> have come as a result of a few<br />

fundamental problems <strong>in</strong> the country’s healthcare sect<strong>or</strong>, and here are a few of<br />

them <strong>in</strong> detail.<br />

Overw<strong>or</strong>ked Nurses and Lack of Facilities<br />

Generally, a nurse <strong>in</strong> the public sect<strong>or</strong> often has to deal with around 500 patients<br />

<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle day, with many of them <strong>in</strong> critical conditions. Registered nurse jobs<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> are complicated even further due to problems with healthcare<br />

facilities, which are average at best. The public sect<strong>or</strong> especially suffers from<br />

backdated equipment and the onus is on quantity and not quality, which results<br />

<strong>in</strong> the patients be<strong>in</strong>g the ultimate sufferers.<br />

Nurses Seek<strong>in</strong>g Higher Payment<br />

The public sect<strong>or</strong> does not bode well f<strong>or</strong> nurses aspir<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>or</strong> fatter paychecks. Many<br />

nurses are turn<strong>in</strong>g to the private sect<strong>or</strong>, which is only slightly better than the<br />

country’s public sect<strong>or</strong> <strong>in</strong> terms of payment. A large number of public sect<strong>or</strong> nurses<br />

are also w<strong>or</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g night-shifts on a part time basis at various private hospitals.<br />

While this ensures higher payment, it <strong>in</strong>creases the w<strong>or</strong>kload and fatigue of nurses<br />

<strong>in</strong> general, which mostly results <strong>in</strong> nurses unable to perf<strong>or</strong>m ably <strong>in</strong> tax<strong>in</strong>g<br />

situations.


Qualification Conundrums<br />

An already fragile nurs<strong>in</strong>g system is struggl<strong>in</strong>g even m<strong>or</strong>e due to educational<br />

problems. Recent years have witnessed the establishment of a lot of nurs<strong>in</strong>g<br />

schools and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g centers that offer diplomas <strong>in</strong>stead of traditional degrees f<strong>or</strong><br />

aspir<strong>in</strong>g nurses. Many of these <strong>in</strong>stitutes offer diplomas at low prices, which are<br />

pursued by aspir<strong>in</strong>g nurses with po<strong>or</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial conditions. Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g given at these<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutes is not at all at par with the best <strong>in</strong> the bus<strong>in</strong>ess, and the healthcare<br />

sect<strong>or</strong> suffers the most as a result.<br />

S<strong>in</strong>ce 2005, Mednurse has been one of the best medical recruitment agencies<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>. Based <strong>in</strong> Cape Town, the agency places able nurses and other<br />

medical professionals <strong>in</strong> suitable positions across <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>.<br />

While there are numerous health vacancies and nurs<strong>in</strong>g vacancies <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong><br />

<strong>Africa</strong>, Mednurse is do<strong>in</strong>g an able job by fill<strong>in</strong>g the great voids of the healthcare<br />

sect<strong>or</strong> of the country.<br />

Phone:<br />

Need to speak with someone?<br />

+27 (0)21 421 0832<br />

Fax:<br />

To fax your CV and <strong>or</strong> other documents directly to our offices:<br />

+27 (0)86 247 3449<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Email:<br />

To email your CV and <strong>or</strong> other documents directly to our offices:<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>@mednurse.co.za

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