Nurses' Council processes 467 applications since January

The Council for Nurses and Midwives said today that in spite of working with limited resources and voluntarily, it had processed 467 applications from Maltese, European and non-European nurses since January.

It said in a statement that it was committed to ensure that all locally registered nurses were of the highest possible level to complement the other services offered in hospitals, health centres and other institutions.

To be able to work locally, nurses needed to be registered by the council.

The council said that although a substantial number of the applications it processed this year were registered, some opted to work in other EU countries while others were still waiting for their visa.

The council said that apart from the academic qualifications and training levels, applicants had to be able to communicate without problems with patients.

So, where necessary, it granted nurses a temporary registration permit that enabled them to work in the public service for a definite period until they adapted to the Maltese medical and nursing culture.

This, the council said, was being done in the interest of patients.