A total of 303 people have applied for the post of nurses, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry has confirmed, after a call for applications that opened in February closed recently.

The figure includes around 200 students who are in their third of fourth years of studies at the University of Malta, along with other prospective nurses who could already have been engaged with the Health Department in the past.

The figure of nursing students soon to finish their studies is this year higher than in past years because the four year course has been revised and shortened to three years. Consequently, there will be four cohorts of students; two from the four-year degree and diploma courses respectively, and another two from the three-year degree and diploma courses, who are also in their final year.

At this point no one can say how many nurses will actually be engaged in summer, because most still need to sit for both written and practical final exams, but the new nurses should address the shortage at public hospitals significantly.

The spokesperson said once they finish their studies, all nursing students are “fit for practice” and as such do not need additional training because each student would have successfully completed 2,300 hours of clinical practice.

This requirement is imposed by the EU Directive for Nurse Training.

The shortage of nurses has been a challenge the government and the nurses union have been facing for long. As a result, a number of promotional campaigns were carried out.

Leaflets are distributed to prospective students applying for University courses and billboards intended to entice students to consider healthcare professions, including nursing, are put up every year.

This year is not different and although fewer students will be expected to graduate next year, since there will be two cohorts of graduates, the promotional material is expected to continue giving positive results.