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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (May 7) invited applications for admission to a two-year full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) / Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) Training Programme for the welfare sector. Two classes providing a total of 320 training places will start on October 15, 2012 and February 4, 2013 respectively.
"We have commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to provide the training programme to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the welfare sector with a view to enhancing the quality of care services. Ten batches of this training programme have been organised since 2006. In view of the encouraging response from applicants and the need for more trained nurses to serve in the welfare sector, we are to organise additional classes," a spokesman for 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. Study visits or placements will be arranged in welfare settings.
"Applicants 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 added.
The SWD will fully subsidise trainees with tuition fees 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. If the trainee breaches these terms, they will have to repay SWD the tuition fees in full or in part.
The Guide to Applications and Application Form for the training course can be obtained from the SWD Headquarters or District Social Welfare Offices, or downloaded from the SWD homepage (www.swd.gov.hk). Applications will close on May 21, 2012. For enquiries, please call the course hotline on 2110 1495.
Ends/Monday, May 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:20
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