Nurses told to rewrite leaked exam papers

ABOUT 5 000 nurses across the country have been told they will need to rewrite their exams amid a leak in their exam papers.

In a notice sent to the principals of nursing education institutions earlier this month, the SA Nursing Council called on all enrolled nurses who wrote exams last month to rewrite next week, saying it was investigating a breach in security in the exams.

“The decision to request a rewrite was not taken lightly. We first received an anonymous tip-off abouta leak during the exams and waited to receive all the papers for marking before we initiated our investigations. We then found evidence of a leak and had to proceed according to the policy, which states that those exams become null and void. Fresh exams need to be written to ensure the authenticity of our nurses who work in the profession,” said the council’s registrar Sizo Mchunu.

While she would not disclose the prevalence of the leak at this stage, she has confirmed that it was found in at least three provinces at this stage.

“Our investigations are still continuing and we cannot go into more details at this stage, except to say it affects first- and second-year enrolled nurses.

“We are also meeting unions and other stakeholders to explain the situation to them to ensure they are on board with the processes which we need to follow,” said Mchunu.

The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) has warned it will go to court if the South African Nursing Council failed to retract the directive.

“This circular from the Nursing Council was sent earlier this month. Many of these students may not get the message on time as some may still be on holiday or have already returned to work.

“We object to the cancellation of the exams as there’s been no further information on the so-called leak in papers and has plunged nurses who wrote into chaos and uncertainty.

“They are now being forced to re-write the exams and will be suffer undue stress financially and from a work load perspective. We are calling on the council to accept the results of the examinations already written and then discipline those who cheated, rather than paint every single learner with the same brush,” said spokesperson Noel Desfontaines.

But, Mchunu has called the threats of court action ‘unfortunate’.

“Hospersa should have approached us to ask for a discussion around the issue first rather than rush to take us to court. We can then make them understand the process and also the policies which we are being directed by.

“We are also happy to send the circular of the new exams to all their members if we have a list of names. We have not had any issues in the past as all nursing education authorities have been able to successfully contact students where needed,” added Mchunu.