Earlier on this week, MUMN chief Paul Pace claimed that an average of 3 nurses are quitting
their jobs at Mater Dei Hospital every week. Burnout, stress, and lack of new recruits seem to be
contributing towards the problem. Meanwhile, nursing students following a degree on part time
basis have been discriminated for the past 4 years. I write this with a heavy heart in the name of
all part time students whose desperate pleas have been ignored for the past 3 years by parliament
ministers, committees and organisations.
Four years ago the possibility of following a Nursing Degree on Part Time Day basis was
introduced. This opportunity was a blessing, especially for mature students who couldn’t follow
their lifelong dream of becoming registered nurses due to personal commitments. The Full Time
Nursing Degree course takes 3 years to be completed. The Part Time Day Degree Course
includes the exact same amount of study in theory and the exact same amount of placement
hours, in which we are required to practice nursing skills alongside clinical mentors or registered
nurses. The difference between the Full Time Course and Part Time Course is solely an
extension of 2 years – we graduate in 5 years and not 3. Other than that, we learn and practice in
the exact same way.
How are Part Time Nursing Students being discriminated?
Both Full Time and Part Time students are required to complete 300 hours of nursing practice in
two consecutive summers (apart from other placements during the year – us part timers complete
more than two summers in practice placements...but let’s leave that aside). Two summers ago,
Full Time students were granted approximately Eur1024 for their hours on placement. Last
summer, Full Time students were granted approximately Eur1857 for their 300 hours on
placement. Remunerations are issued by the Ministry of Education.
In total, Full Time students were granted Eur2881 for two summer placements.
What did us Part Time students get for the exact same amount of hours on
practice placements? Nothing. Why? Just because the course is on Part Time
basis.
And let us not forget the issue of stipends and grants...
The University of Malta website states the following, which is applicable to the Full Time
Nursing Degree Course:
Students registered on ‘Prescribed’ courses receive a stipend of €160.55 every 4 weeks.
Students following “Prescribed” courses receive the sum of €798.81 per academic year.
Students following ‘Prescribed’ courses receive the sum of €698.81 at the beginning of the first
academic year.
Some of the amounts mentioned are set to increase as per the latest announced Budget measures.
Among the criteria for these allowances are the following:
A student must be attending a full-time day course; in case of full-time postgraduate courses,
only those courses which lead to a professional warrant are eligible.
Not be in a full-time employment
If in part-time employment, one must not exceed the 20 hours of work per week during the
academic year
What does all this mean? It means that as Part Time Nursing Students, not only are we
completing our practice placements for zero monetary support – we are automatically
disqualified for an average of Eur4,816 in stipends, an average of Eur2,396 in maintenance
grants, as well as the initial one-time grant of Eur698.
In total...
Full Time Nursing Students throughout their 3 year course of studies receive at
least Eur10,791c
Part Time Nursing Students throughout their 5 year course of studies receive
NOTHING!
Have we attempted to bring attention to this? Of course! Throughout the course of the last 3
years we have been in contact with the offices of (at the time) Minister Evarist Bartolo, (at the
time) Minister Owen Bonnici, Minister Chris Fearne, and lately the office of Minister Clyde
Caruana who we are still awaiting a call from at the time of this article’s publication, as well as
the office of Minister Justyne Caruana, who we haven’t even received any communication from
as of yet.
Are we really recognising the seriousness of the nursing staffing crisis in Malta? If yes, then
shouldn’t an investment be made in favour of the Part Time Degree Nursing Course? After all,
such an investment would encourage individuals with side commitments, who otherwise
wouldn’t be able to follow a Full Time course, to enroll for a Nursing Degree, increasing not
only their personal prospects, but also the amount of future registered nurses in our country. This
would counteract the current lack of new recruits.
As nursing students we practice nursing skills and assist patients with their requests and needs,
providing direct contribution to the clinical tasks performed by qualified nurses. Similarly, just a
few months ago when our country needed us, we set aside concerns about our own safety and
vulnerability, and came together to contribute to the COVID-19 vaccination programme. We are
actually being recalled to be of service right now to help with the booster vaccination
programme. Through our contributions within the clinical setting, we can help alleviate some of
the stress experienced by qualified nurses, whilst reducing burnout and the amount of qualified
nurses’ resignations.
Unfortunately, to date, me and my part time nursing colleagues are struggling to keep up with
our studies, our families and children needs, our loans, along with student expenses... we end up
taking unpaid leave to make sure we miss no lectures, and to make time for our scheduled
clinical placements. And after a day of lectures or a day on placement, most of us have to go
straight to work for a 12 hour night shift in the healthcare setting. We are exhausted. We have
strained our existing commitments to give our utmost attention to a profession we want to serve
in. We want to be there for our patients. But we also want to feel appreciated, to be treated as
equal to our other fellow nursing students. We are not asking for more other than what we feel
we deserve.
Help us whilst we commit ourselves to be of service to our country in the very near future. If it
was ever uncertain, this pandemic has taught us how valuable healthcare workers are to our
society. Our country needs us and we are willing and want to serve. Do not keep on ignoring us.
We call upon the authorities to show us, not with words, but action, that we are indeed valued as
Malta’s future registered nurses.
by: Clare Galea