Identification of Nurse Interns

• Nurse interns need to be professional registered nurses who have been working in the paediatric sub-specialty that they would like training in, for a minimum of 12 months.
• They should preferably be already working with an APFP (African Paediatric Fellowship Programme) Doctor who has either completed or is in the process of completing sub-specialist training at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Such doctors will have recognised the need and benefit of upskilling the nursing workforce in the nursing care of patients within the specialty, in addition to having a trained specialist doctor. This is to support strong multi-disciplinary team working and service delivery.
• Nomination of any nurses identified by APFP Drs has to be strongly supported by their hospital nursing manager. No nurses will be considered without nursing management support. Please note sending institution is also responsible for sourcing of funding.
• Hospital management of the sending hospital should commit to the nurses working solely in sub-specialist area for a minimum of 1 year on return.
• The proposed interns will need to send CVs, copies of nursing registration and license certificates, and x2 letters of motivation to CNDU Administrative Officer: Mrs Faiza Pearce (faiza.pearce@uct.ac.za) The x2 letters of motivation, one from nurse and other from nursing manager need to motivate as to clinical need for internship and expected impact on service on return.
• All applications will be reviewed by CNDU / Red Cross selection committee.
• Nurses are strongly encouraged to complete the internship in pairs since our experience is that shared learning strengthens the potential impact of the placement. They are able to discuss their learning experiences and compare to practice at home together, and provide support to each other in the unfamiliar clinical space. Once home, the shared supportive learning experience continues to be beneficial as they try to apply their new knowledge and skills to practice.

Essentials of Nursing Sick Children/Newborns Short Course / Clinical Facilitation by a Clinical Educator from CNDU

All nurses completing an internship through the full package are required to first complete the online 16-week Essentials of Nursing Sick Children / Newborns Short Course. Completion of the course provides a strong foundation of children’s nursing onto which the focus of the sub-specialty can be built and is of value both to those nurses both new to working with children and those who have more experience.

Whilst in Cape Town, the Intern will then receive 2 hours per week of clinical teaching from a Clinical Educator from CNDU focusing on the assessment of a child and the application of the Regul8* Framework in practice. (Click here to find out about Regul8).

Budget & MoU

For all full package internships, the sending institution will be responsible for sourcing and securing of funding prior to a Memorandum of Agreement being drawn up to allow the CNDU to host and organise the internship.

Full, Basic or Extended Internship Package

The CNDU offers three packages of coordination, known as Full, Basic and Extended.

The FULL package offers complete coordination of an Internship for six weeks. Longer, or more basic packages can be negotiated and are more commonly used if the intern is:

• Coming as a technologist through the medical (not nursing) African Paediatric Fellowship Programme, OR
• A nurse wanting an Internship of longer than 6 weeks OR
• When an external party is able to make certain arrangements.

The minimum services offered are:

1. Organising of temporary registration with the South African Nursing Council
2. Organising of professional indemnity
3. Setting of learning objectives

See list below for details as to what is included with each package. The appropriate package will be identified in initial meetings.

Summary of Internship packages available from the Harry Crossley Children's Nursing Development Unit

N.B. Areas marked with a cross are for Intern / Sending Institution / Private Funder to organise.

*SANC offers Elective Practica registration for a maximum of 3 months. It is possible to reapply once for a second period of 3 months. The extended registration package therefore includes 4-6 weeks in middle of internship for return home whilst SANC registration is renewed.

**Accommodation costs vary enormously – dependent on availability and Interns preference/requirements (eg whether happy to share a bathroom and living area). Basic, cost-effective accommodation is, at times, available in RCWMCH Staff Residence, otherwise guest houses are used close by.

***Regul8 is a framework which represents an approach to providing fundamental children’s nursing care. Click here for more information.