Nursing Training Scams

The Western Cape Government Health has been alerted to nursing training scams and is asking all citizens especially learners and parents to be extra vigilant.

The Department is advising citizens to check if the institution (nursing training centre) where a learner would like to enrol, is indeed accredited. They must contact the South African Nursing Council (SANC) office during office hours on 012 420 1000, or they can check the list of SANC-accredited institutions from the SANC website.

Unregistered institutions take advantage of desperate pupils by offering nursing courses which are not accredited by the SANC. The Nursing Act 33 of 2005 Section 42 makes it illegal for any institution to offer nursing/midwifery training, unless both the institution and programme of education and training are accredited by the nursing council.

The National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice was put together after a Nursing Summit in 2011 that dealt with matters affecting nursing in South Africa, including accreditation of nursing institutions, new models for clinical education and a national policy for standardisation and funding. The Department urged the closure of fly-by-night nursing schools or institutions that do not obtain proper accreditation.