As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the mind, heart, and body of our patients, their families, and ourselves. They may forget our names, but they will never forget how we made them feel. Maya Angelo
While doctors are often considered to be the superheroes helping sick patients to become better, it is the nurses who are really the unsung heroes. Nurses need to be given far more credit, as in their line of duty, they are expected to be compassionate, caring, considerate, and optimistic at all times. Nurses are the ones that ought to put up a brave face and remain positive especially when their patients are suffering from terminal illnesses.
Yes, being a nurse is tough.
In fact, there is a new challenge awaiting nurses almost every day. There are times when fatigue and tiredness consume nurses entirely. However tough and brave you have to be in order to wear the nurse's outfit, nursing is surely a rewarding career. At a time when we barely have job stability and degrees barely mean anything, knowing you are pursuing a career field which offers you a sense of job stability is important. You can be sure to have 100% job stability if you become a nurse. There will always be a need for nurses, and you will always reap much professional and personal benefit from being a nurse.
If you are certain that you would like to wear a nurse's uniform one day, here is everything that you need to know about nursing colleges in South Africa and how you can study nursing.
Requirements to Study Nursing in South Africa
If you want to become a nurse, you need to get ready for pursing a degree or diploma in nursing while you are in the FET phase (further education and training phase).
At the FET level, you need to ensure that you pursue subjects such as: mathematics, English, life orientation and life science. While science is not necessary, it is a great idea to pursue chemistry at a high school level if you intend on becoming a nurse. A matric certificate is essential should you wish to take up nursing after completing grade 12. However, should you wish to become a nurse, you are not forced to complete a nursing degree only. Should you choose to take up nursing, you can get into nursing or the health care sector by having completed a:
- Senior certificate in nursing
- Diploma in nursing
- Bachelor of science in nursing
- Bachelor Curationis (BCur) in nursing
The main aim should you wish to pursue a career in nursing is to ensure that you excel throughout high school and work exceptionally hard during your matric year.
The easiest study option should you be considering becoming a nurse is the senior certificate in nursing which is a one-year programme where you are taught all that you need to know about patient care. You will also, thereafter, be expected to work under the watchful eyes of a registered nurse or nurses to gain some hands-on experience in the field.
If you want to be at the forefront of a team of nurses, you could certainly pursue a diploma in nursing. This three-year programme instils in nurses all that they need to know in order to be part of the medical sector.
Nurses that earn slightly more prestige in the field of nursing are those that chose to complete a degree in nursing. Both the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and the Bachelor of Curationis in nursing are four-year degrees. With a degree, you surely will have more scope in the field of nursing being able to deal with the theoretical and practical side of nursing.
Everything You Need to Know About Nursing School
If you are adamant on getting enrolled into nursing school, you must ensure that you have everything that you need to get accepted.
Your first consideration when choosing the right nursing school for you is to ensure that you are registering at a location that is suitable for you.
Your location may also be a deciding factor as to whether you will complete a nursing degree, diploma, or certificate.
The option offered closest to you makes a difference in terms of which option you will select. If you are insistent on doing a degree in nursing or even a diploma and it is not offered near to you, you can consider completing a distance course or even pursuing an online nursing course.
It is important that you do your research thoroughly.
Before you decide to join a particular nursing school, you need to know all about the school. Sometimes phone calls with a college or nursing school may help you to decide as to how to move forward and whether the nursing school is the correct one for you or not.
In South Africa, you need to ensure that you register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) even before you start taking classes at your respective nursing school.
How to Become a Nurse in South Africa
Becoming a nurse in South Africa is not as difficult as you may believe it to be. A National Senior Certificate is absolutely necessary if you are applying to pursue a diploma in nursing or a degree in nursing.
KR Education Solutions is another option you could consider. Here you could consider pursuing either the Higher Certificate in Auxiliary Nursing or the Diploma in General Nursing. KR Education Solutions is linked to Netcare Education and Emmanuel Nursing School.
To be accepted at the University of Johannesburg to study nursing, the requirements are far more gruelling. You need to have achieved a 70% or more in 5 of your 7 subjects that you have completed at a high school level. Only once you have been accepted, can you pursue your nursing degree at the university.
Nursing Courses Online
While it is all well and good thinking of a physical school where you can take up nurse training, this isn't the only option that you have. Sometimes due to your location, you may not be able to attend classes on campus. That is why you need to think of more options.
The North-West University offers a distance learning option and that is great because you can study at the university despite living a distance away from the campus.
You could also consider studying at the University of South Africa (UNISA) as that way you can pursue your nursing course from a distance.
A nurse always needs to always be safer than sorry. It is for this reason alone; we suggest you chose to pursue a 3-year programme which teaches nurses how to work in a variety of settings first before you give preference to a certified nursing course.
Before you take our word for it, you need to consider how much you will pay for the different nursing courses being offered. Aside from a mandatory registration fee that is paid by all nursing students irrespective of what nursing course you choose to pursue, the fees is of utmost importance to note.
At Mediclinic, you would pay about R69 000 should you be pursuing a one-year Higher Certificate course in Nursing. If you would like to get a Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care, you would pay approximately R90 000 for the year.
It is more expensive if you chose to pursue a 3-year diploma in nursing or emergency medical care at Mediclinic. You would pay about R180 000 should you take up a Nursing diploma and R275 000 if you need to pursue a diploma in Emergency Medical Care.
Again, prices are subject to change, and should you be more interested in finding out information about how to apply, course pricing, or about Mediclinic Higher Education, you should visit their website.
Perhaps distance learning is not on the cards for you. That is totally okay!
You don't need to study from home, but don't shut out the idea of taking online nursing tutorials to assist you with your nursing course.
On the Superprof site, you will find other nursing students and qualified nurses who offer to provide nursing tutorials to those who need it. Sometimes taking private nursing classes online or face-to-face is necessary if you feel that you are struggling to grasp the content that you need to study in order to pass your nursing exams.
Before your studies become overwhelming, you need to seek the help that you need.
When you're a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life, or a life will touch yours. Anonymous.
Nursing is a rewarding career. You need to make sure that you make your journey towards becoming a nurse a rewarding journey as well.
Being a good nurse starts by being good at your nursing studies as well. Both theoretical as well as practical knowledge will make a world of difference so be open to any and all learning oppurtunities.
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