NWU Faculty of Health Sciences

NWU School of Nursing contributes to national nursing education leadership

The NWU School of Nursing recently hosted the FUNDISA Business Meeting at the Potchefstroom Campus, bringing together Heads of Nursing Schools from 22 universities across South Africa.

Held under the banner of the Forum of University Nursing Deans of South Africa, the meeting created an important platform for dialogue on nursing education, practice, research and student engagement. Discussions focused on key developments within the profession, including specialised nursing programmes, leadership in challenging healthcare environments and the continued strengthening of nursing education in South Africa.

The School of Nursing is also proud to recognise two Potchefstroom Campus nursing students, Oratile Letuka and Ina-Mari Kloppers, who will serve as representatives on the South African Nursing Students Association committee for 2026.

As SANSA representatives, they will help connect nursing students with national structures, share important professional information, represent student concerns and encourage active student participation in initiatives that support learning, collaboration and professional growth.

Through platforms such as FUNDISA and SANSA, the NWU School of Nursing continues to play an active role in advancing the nursing profession, while empowering the next generation of nurses to lead with purpose, professionalism and care.

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Big dreams, exciting futures and plenty of great conversations!

The NWU Open Day at the Mafikeng Campus gave the Faculty of Health Sciences the opportunity to connect with prospective students eager to make a difference in the world of health and wellness.

Thank you to everyone who visited our stall, asked questions and showed interest in our programmes. The energy and enthusiasm on the day were truly special.

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of health professionals to the NWU family!

The NWU School of Nursing recently joined Potchefstroom Hospital in celebrating International Nurses’ Day, taking a moment to recognise the vital role of nurses in strengthening healthcare systems and caring for communities 👏

This year’s global theme, announced by the International Council of Nurses, was:

“𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑵𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑵𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔.”

The event brought together nursing professionals, hospital leadership, students, and representatives from the NWU School of Nursing to honour the dedication and impact of nurses within the healthcare sector.

Speakers emphasised the importance of empowering nurses through support, resources, leadership and professional development.

One of the highlights of the day was the recognition of outstanding nurses across categories such as Enrolled Nurse Auxiliary, Enrolled Nurse, Professional Nurse, and Operational Manager. Recipients were selected by undergraduate and Postgraduate Diploma students from the School of Nursing.

The celebration also reflected the strong and ongoing partnership between the NWU and Potchefstroom Hospital, particularly in student training, work-integrated learning, research, and community engagement.

Future health professionals in the making!

It was wonderful to welcome so many prospective students and parents to the Faculty of Health Sciences stall during the NWU Open Day at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

From exploring our programmes to chatting with staff and students, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the exciting journey that awaits within the health sciences.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect with us and discover how the Faculty of Health Sciences continues to teach excellence, apply innovation and dare to care.

We hope to see many of you back at NWU soon! Your journey starts here!

Today we celebrate the heart of healthcare — OUR NURSES!

Nurses are special because they bring compassion, courage and hope to people during some of life’s most difficult moments. They are the comforting voice in uncertainty, the steady hands in emergencies, and the caring presence that reminds patients they are never alone.

Every day, nurses go beyond medicine because they lead, advocate, educate and inspire. Their dedication changes lives and strengthens communities.

As we honour International Nurses Day, we also celebrate exciting initiatives that are shaping the future of nursing leadership in South Africa, such as the groundbreaking NurseLead programme by the North-West University and the National Department of Health.

Read more here: https://news.nwu.ac.za/nurselead-groundbreaking-initiative-transform-nursing-leadership-south-africa

To every nurse: thank you for your compassion, resilience and unwavering commitment to caring for others. You truly make a difference every single day.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗪𝗨 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 👏

One of these highlights was a valuable practical training session where our students gained hands-on experience with the newly implemented LEAP prescription system, introduced in partnership with Clicks Group. 💊

Working with real-world pharmacy systems helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving students a clearer understanding of what awaits them in professional healthcare environments. 👩‍⚕️✅

Partnerships like these play an important role in keeping training relevant, practical, and aligned with the realities of the healthcare sector.

📸 Here are a few moments from the session.

A powerful new chapter in South African nursing leadership began on 5–6 May 2026, when the National Department of Health and the North-West University officially initiated the groundbreaking NurseLead programme - a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to empower current and emerging nurse leaders across the country.

Led by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Albertina Sisulu Research Chair in Nursing Science (SARChI), Professor Siedine Coetzee of North-West University, together with South Africa’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Dr Mirriam Matandela of the National Department of Health, the NurseLead programme aims to empower and transform nursing leadership across South Africa through an innovative national education programme for current and emerging nurse leaders.

Read the full article here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nurselead-groundbreaking-initiative-transform-xgzee