Denosa’s provincial secretary, Veronica Fransman-Hendricks, says the number of unemployed nursing graduates in the province is on the rise, coupled with the non-placement of nursing students for their experiential training.

Fransman-Hendricks says some nurses working at public healthcare facilities are still faced with enormous challenges, with many of them required to work extended hours while not being paid their overtime salaries on time. She says they also have to make do with limited resources.

Fransman-Hendricks says they would like the department to urgently address these issues and come to the table. She says there have been endless promises by the department that the issues of nursing students’ placement would be prioritised, but until today the problem still persists. She says the department needs to play a more active role.

Fransman-Hendrick says in celebration of International Nurses Day today, they would like all the nurses and nursing students to come together and celebrate the day. She urges all nurses to highlight the work they do in serving the public as well as to highlight the issues they are still faced with.

Fransman-Hendricks pleaded with the department to work toward creating a more positive working environment for nurses to enable them to do their work effectively. 

The Provincial Department of Health is yet to respond to OFM News' enquiries.

Katleho Morapela/OFM News