School of Nursing at Maldives National University (MNU) has stated a large number of local nurses will be trained and working in the healthcare sector of the Maldives within five years.
Speaking to PSM News on the occasion of the International Nurses' Day, Dean of the School of Nursing Asiya Ibrahim said the nursing courses offered by the school are in high demand, noting the slots get filled up very quickly every year during the application period. Asiya said the school cannot accept large numbers of students at once as there aren't enough hospitals to conduct the required practical classes. She said while 14 weeks are allocated for a semester, 7-8 weeks are allocated for practical classes which cannot be conducted efficiently with a large number of students as there are limited hospital facilities.
The dean noted in addition to the nursing school in Male', MNU offers nursing courses in campuses established in Kulhudhuffushi, Gan and Thinadhoo as well as the outreach centre in Ungoofaaru. She said nursing students at these facilities are provided practical classes at the respective regional hospitals.
The dean further noted although 100 to 150 students finish nursing courses every year, most of the graduates do not begin working immediately and instead opt to pursue a higher level of study. She expressed hope a large number of local nurses will be trained and working in the field within five years.
Expatriates make up a large percentage of nurses working in the Maldives, with 43%. However, with the establishment of the nursing school as a separate faculty at MNU in 2018, number of locals training in the nursing field has increased.
The school currently offers 4 courses, with 1,162 students currently enrolled in the programmes. This includes 72 students in Master of Nursing, 316 students in Bachelor of Nursing, 575 students in Diploma in Nursing and 199 students in the Advanced Certificate in Nursing programme.
In addition, 8 nurses are undertaking their PhD under an agreement signed between MNU and an overseas university.