In response to the article ‘Are we addressing the nation’s health needs? The nursing perspective’ by Mr. Paul Pace published in the Malta Independent of the 10th November, 2007, we would like to clarify the following:

There were a total of 86 applicants to the Diploma in Nursing Course and 89 applicants to the B.Sc. in nursing course.

Entry to the B.Sc. in nursing course is unlimited and a total of 47 students were admitted this academic year, the largest intake of B.Sc. nursing students since the commencement of the B.Sc. Nursing course in 1988.

Of the applicants who did not enter the B.Sc. nursing programme, 19 were not accepted for admission; two of these were unqualified as they did not have the general and special entry requirements, and 17 were unqualified as they failed their MATSEC examinations on re-sit. The remaining applicants did not enter the course for various reasons, including 19 who were accepted and chose to pursue another course, 3 applicants who withdrew their application and one applicant who was accepted for admission but did not register.

The numerus clausus for the Diploma in Nursing Course was this year increased to 50 from the previous years’ limit of 30 students. This was done in response to requests for increased intake of nursing students by the Health Division in view of the current acute shortage of nurses in the health

sector.

Entry to nursing courses cannot be unlimited as students are supervised and assessed by mentors on a one to one basis in the clinical area. It is not educational for the students to be in large numbers on the wards/units. Staff cannot have excessive numbers of students on the ward as they must supervise and teach these students whilst being responsible for the patients under their care.

Of the 86 applicants to the Diploma course, 49 are currently registered on the programme.

Of those who are not registered on the course, 4 withdrew their application before the selection process was initiated, 13 were selected to join the course but subsequently refused admission, 11 had applied for and chose to follow another course of studies, 1 student transferred to another course within the university, 6 mature students were refused admission to the diploma and joined the B.Sc. in nursing programme.

The remaining two applicants were foreigners who were unable to obtain a visa to travel to Malta in time to start the course.

This consequently means that all eligible applicants who were willing to pursue a nursing programme have been admitted this year and there is no remaining pool of potential nursing students as alleged in the article by Mr. Paul Pace.

Patricia Camilleri

Director

Communications & Alumni Relations