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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (June 1) invites applications for admission to a two-year full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) / Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector which provides two classes totalling 220 training places. The two classes will start the course on November 1, 2010, and February 7, 2011.
"The SWD commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to provide the Enrolled Nurse (General) / Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) Training Programme to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the welfare sector with a view to enhancing the quality of care services. The SWD has organised six batches of this training programme since 2006. In view of the encouraging response from applicants and the need for more trained nurses to serve in the welfare sector, the SWD is continuing to organise the enrolled nurse training programme," a spokesman for the SWD said.
The programme aims to prepare graduates to become competent, caring professional nurses through strong clinical and practical emphasis on providing health care for clients in the welfare sector. It covers a wide range of subjects including personal and communal health, psychology, first aid and emergency care, food and nutrition, medical and surgical nursing, pharmacology, geriatric nursing, psychiatry and related nursing. The training programme will be conducted in HA nursing schools, with clinical placement arranged in HA hospitals and welfare settings.
"The applicant must have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences and must have completed secondary school Form 5 education in Hong Kong or equivalent. To encourage existing frontline staff in the welfare sector to upgrade their skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who are currently working full time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals not working in the welfare sector but aspiring to start a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector will also be considered." the spokesman said.
The SWD will fully subsidise each trainee with tuition fees of $50,000 for the whole course. Each selected candidate is required to sign an undertaking to indicate his/her readiness to be employed as an Enrolled Nurse (General) or Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) in the welfare sector providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care or correctional services operated by NGOs or private organisations for a continuous period of no less than two years after satisfactory completion of the training. In breach of this term, the trainee has to repay the SWD the tuition fees in full or in part.
A Guide to Applications and application forms for the training course may be obtained from the Headquarters or the District Social Welfare Offices of the SWD or downloaded from the SWD homepage (www.swd.gov.hk). Applications will close on June 30. For enquiries, please contact the course hotline on 2110 1495.
Ends/Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:01
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