WCCN Post-Basic/Post-Registration Nursing Graduation Ceremony

The shortage of nurses continuously threatens the provision of quality care in health facilities. Added to these challenges are the socio-economic and political reforms, changes in disease burden and medical technology, escalating costs of medical insurance, with the result that our communities' demands for quality services, managed care, short hospitalisation and competent skilled professionals becomes more eminent.

The Western Cape Government developed a Provincial Nursing Strategy aimed at addressing provincial nursing challenges such as nursing education and practice. The implementation of the strategy was regarded as an important milestone towards addressing these challenges and improving the quality of health care service delivery within the department.

To be able to offer a comprehensive health service, the Western Cape Government Health requires a work force that has the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes. The Western Cape College of Nursing (WCCN) provides post-basic and post-registration courses that equip the nurses to be adequately trained, educated and deployed to meet the health needs of all Western Cape residents.

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, said: "Western Cape Government Health has developed a provincial nursing strategy which addresses the shortage of nurses through education and practice. In this province, we require a workforce empowered with the relevant knowledge, skills and, especially, a positive attitude."

"In the Western Cape public health sector, we employ 11 762 nurses. In terms of a study conducted recently, we need to train approximately 450 professional nurses for next year and thereafter increasing this number by 50 per year."

"The main reason for the shortage of nurses is that our professional nurses retire, which means that we need to continue training nurses in specialty areas and ensure a readily available pool of nurses for sustainable public health service delivery."

The WCCN held its post-basic graduation on 24 October 2011 at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology's Bellville campus, where 129 specialty nurses graduated in the following categories:

POST-BASIC COURSES
Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Operating Theatre Nursing
Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care - General
Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care - Trauma and Emergency
Clinical Nursing Science: Health Assessment Treatment and Care

POST-REGISTRATION COURSES
Diploma in Midwifery
Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing Science

Issued by the Directorate: Communications for Western Cape Government Health.