TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED NURSES REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 458.20

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED NURSES

REGULATIONS

16th September, 1986

LEGAL NOTICE 55 of 1986, as amended by Legal Notices 5 of 1987, 19

and 83 of 1988, 92 of 1989, 95 of 1991 and 148 of 1993.

The title of these Regulations is the Training School for

Registered Nurses Regulations.

(Regulation 4)

List of Subjects

English Literature

History

Geography

General Science

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Botany

Domestic Science or Handicraft

A modern language

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED

NURSES

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise

requires -

"hospital" means a hospital or any part thereof, approved by the

Council for Nurses and Midwives as forming part of a training

school;

"school" means a complete teaching and training school,

inclusive of one or more hospitals or any part thereof, approved by

the Council for Nurses and Midwives, for nurses to be admitted to

the general part of the register of nurses kept by the said council.

(Regulations 7 and 8)

SCHEME OF TRAINING

(STUDENT NURSES)

Weeks

(both

INTRODUCTORY PART

inclusive)

1-6

Lectures in: ANATOMY

PHYSIOLOGY

PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY

HEALTH

NURSING

PSYCHOLOGY

FIRST AID

7-8

Study Block in Introductory Part

Theoretical Instruction

INTRODUCTORY ASSESSMENT

Weeks

(both

PRELIMINARY PART

inclusive)

9-18

Practical Nursing Experience 1.

MEDICINE/SURGERY

19-20

Study Block 1 (Theoretical Instruction)

21-30

Practical Nursing Experience 2.

SURGERY/MEDICINE

31-32

Holidays

33-34

Study Block 2 (Theoretical Instruction)

35-44

Practical Nursing Experience 3.

PAEDIATRICS/GERIATRICS

(including Community Geriatrics)

45-46

Study Block 3 (Theoretical Instruction)

47-56

Practical Nursing Experience 4.

PAEDIATRICS/GERIATRICS

(including Community Geriatrics)

57-58

Study Block 4 (Theoretical Instruction)

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Weeks

(both

FINAL PART

inclusive)

59-60

Holidays

61-62

Study Block 5 (Theoretical Instruction)

63-72

Practical Nursing Experience 5.

GYNAECOLOGY/UROLOGY/MATERNITY CARE/

CARE OF THE NEWBORN

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED

NURSES

73-74

Study Block 6 (Theoretical Instruction)

75-84

Practical Nursing Experience 6.

ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/

ORTHOPAEDICS/OPERATING THEATRE

85-86

Holidays

87-88

Study Block 7 (Theoretical Instruction)

89-98

Practical Nursing Experience 7.

MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY which

includes experience in -

Oncology and Fever Unit at Boffa Hospital

Intensive Nursing Care

i.e. Intensive Therapy Unit

Coronary Care Unit and

Special Care Baby Unit; and

Outpatient Department

99-100

Study Block 8 (Theoretical Instruction)

101-110

Practical Nursing Experience 8.

MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY

(as in weeks 89-98)

111-112

Holidays

113-114

Study Block 9 (Theoretical Instruction)

115-124

Practical Nursing Experience 9.

COMMUNITY CARE (including Home Nursing)/

PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HANDICAP

125-126

Study Block 10 (Theoretical Instruction)

127-136

Practical Nursing Experience 10.

PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HANDICAP/

COMMUNITY CARE (including Home Nursing)

137-138

Holidays

139-140

Study Block 11 (Theoretical Instruction)

141-149

Practical Nursing Experience 11.

MEDICINE/SURGERY

150-151

Study Block 12 (Theoretical Instruction)

152-160

Practical Nursing Experience 12.

SURGERY/MEDICINE

161-163

Holidays

164-165

Study Block 13 (Theoretical Instruction)

FINAL EXAMINATION

Allocated Periods

Introductory Part

6 weeks (lectures plus two weeks Study Block)

Study Blocks

28 weeks (includes

two

weeks

of

the

Introductory Part)

Practical Nursing

Experience

118 weeks

Holidays

13 weeks

The school shall be open to candidates who on the closing

date for applications for admission -

(a) are not under sixteen years or over thirty-five years of

age; and either

(b) have successfully completed the approved course of

studies at the Prevocational School (Health Care); or

(c) hold a general certificate of education at ordinary level

or a Malta matriculation certificate, in Maltese,

English language, mathematics and any two of the

subjects listed in the First Schedule.

PART I

Training School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations

Application for admission to the Preliminary/Final * Examination

for Student Nurses

(ADDRESS)

(DATE)

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives,

I beg to apply for permission to sit for the Preliminary/Final *

Examination for Student Nurses which will be held during

In support of my application, I am forwarding herewith a

certificate signed by the Principal Nursing Tutor of the Training

School certifying that I have completed the approved course of

studies and the period of training in respect of the Preliminary/

Final * Part at the ........................................... Training School for

Nurses, and my conduct and regular attendance during the relative

period of training.

I am also forwarding herewith the relative fee for the

examination.

Signature

Name in Block Letters ........................

(Student Nurse)

* Delete whichever is inapplicable

PART IIA

Training School For Registered (General) Nurses Regulations

Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purposes of the

Preliminary Examination for Student Nurses *

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives

(Date) ......................................

I certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr

................................................... a Student Nurse, Daughter/Son of

...................................... born at ...................................................

aged ............ and residing at ...........................................................

a.

has completed the approved course of studies and the

period of training in respect of the Preliminary Part,

and

b.

has regularly attended the relative period of training,

in accordance with the provisions of the Training

School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations.

The conduct of Miss/Mr ............................................................

has been satisfactory/not satisfactory throughout the relative period

of training.

This is her/his first/second/third attempt .........................................

In case of the first attempt: Her/His marks in the Introductory

Assessment were as follows

Anatomy, Physiology, Personal Community Health

}

.............. marks

Maximum

Nursing and First Aid

each paper-

.............. marks

20 Marks

In case of second or third attempt: Satisfactory training has

further been undergone in accordance with sub-regulation (1) of

regulation 11 of the Regulations referred to above. Yes/No.

Signature: ..............................................

(Principal Nursing Tutor)

Name (BLOCK LETTERS)

Name of Training School

*

This Certificate is to accompany the relative application for admission to

the Preliminary Examination for Student Nurses.

PART IIB

Training School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations

Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purpose of the Final

Examination for Student Nurses *

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives

(Date) ..................................

I certify, as Principal Nursing Tutor, that Miss/Mr

............................. a Student Nurse, Daughter/Son of .....................

................... born at .................... aged ........... and residing at

a.

has completed the approved course of studies and the

period of training in respect of the Final Part, and

b.

has regularly attended the relative period of training,

in accordance with the provisions of the Training

School for Registered (General) Nurses Regulations.

The conduct of Miss/Mr ............................................................

has been satisfactory/not satisfactory throughout the relative period

of training.

This is her/his first/second/third attempt .........................................

Miss/Mr .............................................. has passed the Preliminary

Examination held in .......................................................................

In case of second or third attempt: Satisfactory training has

further been undergone in accordance with sub-regulation (2) of

regulation 14 of the regulations referred to above. Yes/No.

Signature: ..............................................

(Principal Nursing Tutor)

Name (BLOCK LETTERS)

Name of Training School

* This Certificate is to accompany the relative application for admission to

the Final Examination for Student Nurses.

(1)

Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 3, the

Chief Government Medical Officer may cause an entrance

examination to be held for candidates who are not in possession of

the qualifications referred to in regulation 3( b ) or ( c ) and

candidates who pass this examination and satisfy the provisions of

regulation 3(a) shall be eligible for admission to a school.

(2) No candidate shall be admitted to the entrance examination

referred to in subregulation (1) unless he has completed such

studies as are equivalent to those of Form V of the Government

Secondary School to be certified, in each case, by the Director of

Education.

(3) The entrance examination shall consist in a written test in

Maltese, English (two papers), mathematics and general

knowledge.

No candidate shall be admitted to the school unless he

passes a selective interview and is certified medically fit to the

satisfaction of the Chief Government Medical Officer.

Candidates admitted to the school shall be known as

student nurses and shall be under the direction of a principal

nursing tutor. Such tutor shall be in charge of the teaching and

training in theoretical and practical nursing.

(1)

The studies shall be made up of three parts

(a) the introductory part, which shall last for eight weeks,

during which basic instruction shall be imparted at the

school;

(b)

(i)

the preliminary part, which shall last for a period

of fifty weeks, and

(ii) the final part, which shall last for one hundred

and five weeks,

during which preliminary and final parts theoretical

and practical instruction shall be imparted at the

school in accordance with the scheme of training laid

down in the Second Schedule

Provided that the Minister responsible for Health may, on

the advice of the Council for Nurses and Midwives, make such

alterations to the said schedule as may be considered necessary.

(2) When advising the said Minister on such changes the

Council for Nurses and Midwives shall be guided by the relative

rules of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing,

Midwifery and Health Visiting.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulations (1) and

(2), it shall be lawful for the principal nursing tutor to exercise

discretion and permit minor deviations from such schedule if such

deviations do not affect adversely the training of the student nurses.

(1) During the preliminary and final parts, student nurses

shall be required to work in hospital wards and in the community

care services of the Department of Health and to gain practical

nursing experience in accordance with the scheme of training laid

down in the Second Schedule.

(2) Student nurses shall also have to perform night duties at

regular intervals.

(1) There shall be an assessment at the end of the

introductory part, known as introductory assessment, an

examination at the end of the preliminary part, known as

preliminary examination and another after the end of the final part,

known as final examination.

(2) The introductory assessment shall be conducted by the

principal nursing tutor of the school and shall consist of two

written papers, one paper on anatomy, physiology and personal and

community health and the other paper on nursing, psychology and

first aid. The marks obtained by a student nurse for each written

paper shall be out of a maximum of twenty marks and the principal

nursing tutor shall submit a report on the assessment to the Council

for Nurses and Midwives.

(3)

The preliminary and the final examinations shall each

consist of a written and of a practical and oral test.

(1) The written test of the preliminary examination shall

consist of

(a) a paper mainly dealing with medicine and medical

specialities, and

(b) a paper mainly dealing with surgery and surgical

specialities.

(2) The results of the introductory assessment shall supplement

the marks for the written test of the preliminary examination as

follows

(a) the marks obtained in the written paper on anatomy,

physiology, personal and community health shall be

added to the marks for the written paper on medicine

and medical specialities, and

(b) the marks obtained in the written paper on nursing,

psychology and first aid shall be added to the marks

for the written paper on surgery and surgical

specialities,

in either case another eighty marks being allocated for each of the

written papers of the preliminary examination

Provided that the results of the introductory assessment

shall not be taken into further consideration in any supplementary

examination.

(3) The practical and oral test of the said examination shall

deal with the practice of nursing and with questions on the subjects

specified in subregulation (1).

(1) Any student nurse who fails in any paper and/or in the

practical and oral test of the preliminary examination may sit again

in such paper and/or test provided he gives evidence to the

satisfaction of the Council for Nurses and Midwives, of having

undergone further satisfactory training and, if successful, to

continue his course of studies

Provided than any such student nurse who fails at his

second attempt at the preliminary examination shall, saving always

the production of evidence that he has undergone further

satisfactory training, be allowed to sit for the examination in such

paper and/or test for the third time but, if successful, the following

conditions shall apply

(a) where any student is following a course of training

which started before the 16th day of September, 1986,

he shall continue his training in the same course of

studies in the same group but will only be allowed to

sit for the final examination (in accordance with

provisions of the Training School for Registered

(General) Nurses Regulations, 1971 * ) not earlier than

four months and not later than six months after the

*Revoked by these Regulations.

date when such final examination is due, during which

period he must undergo further training to the

satisfaction of the principal nursing tutor;

(b) where a student is following a course of training which

starts or started after the 16th day of September, 1986,

he shall -

(i)

if the following course of studies has started

more than six months after the course of studies

he is currently following, sit for the final

examination in accordance with the provisions

of regulation 13 but not earlier than four months

and not later than six months after the date when

such final examination is due, during which

period he must undergo further training to the

satisfaction of the principal nursing tutor;

(ii)

in any other case, join the final part of the

following course of studies

Provided further that no student who fails for the third time

in the preliminary examination will be allowed to continue the

course of studies.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, and of regulation 13,

absence from an examination or from any part thereof shall be

deemed to be a failure at that examination or part thereof.

(1) No student nurse may sit for the final examination

unless -

(a) he shall have passed the preliminary examination and

has applied to sit for such examination and submitted

the relative certificate as provided for in regulation 17.

(b) the Council for Nurses and Midwives is satisfied that

such student has undergone the required level of

training.

For the purpose of paragraph (b), the principal

nursing tutor shall report to the said Council every six

months, on the progress made by such student nurse,

which report shall be in accordance with such format

as may be required by the said Council.

(2) No student nurse shall sit for the final examination if he has

absented himself on sick leave or other cause, (excluding vacation

leave) in excess of an aggregate period of thirty days throughout

the duration of the prescribed course of studies at the school, unless

he has made up for the excess absenteeism by attending for

practical duties at a government hospital to the satisfaction of the

principal nursing tutor before sitting for the final examination

Provided that where the curriculum of studies includes

study blocks in accordance with curricula as may from time to time

be approved by the Council for Nurses and Midwives, any period of

absence for whatever cause, exceeding twenty per cent of the

duration of the theoretical instruction in any of such blocks shall

render the candidate ineligible to sit for the final examination

unless he has made up for this absenteeism by attending for the

specific instruction for which he had been absent before sitting for

the final examination.

(3) After making up for the absenteeism as provided for in

subregulation (2) such student nurse shall not be entitled to a

special session of the final examination but may sit at a session not

earlier than that which is due in the normal course of events.

(4) Any student nurse may, subject to the provisions of

subregulation (2), make up for the excess absentee-ism referred to

in the said sub-regulation or for any part thereof, by forfeiting an

equivalent number of days of vacation leave to which he may be

entitled.

(1) The written test of the final examination shall cover all

aspects of nursing care and treatment of patients, and shall consist

of -

(a) a paper mainly dealing with medicine and medical

specialities;

(b) a paper mainly dealing with surgery and surgical

specialities; and

(c) a paper mainly dealing with nursing ethics (including

civics and human relations).

(2) The practical and oral test shall similarly deal with all

aspects of nursing care and treatment of patients and shall last for

one hour, at which test student nurses will be required to present to

the examiners their record of practical instruction and experience

(general).

(3)

For the purpose of this regulation, the terms -

"medical speciality" shall include paediatrics and care of the

newly born, geriatrics (including community geriatrics), care of

psychiatric and mentally handicapped, treatment of medical

emergencies, community care and intensive care in a medical

speciality; and

"surgical speciality" shall include gynaecology, urology,

maternity care, treatment of accidents and surgical emergencies,

orthopaedics, operating theatre techniques, oncology and

community care and intensive care in a surgical speciality.

(1) A student nurse shall not be deemed to have passed the

final examination unless he shall have obtained a pass mark in each

of the written test and in the practical and oral test to the

satisfaction of the board of examiners.

(2)

A student nurse -

(a) who fails in any paper or in the practical and oral test

of the final examination shall be allowed to sit again

for that examination in any such paper or test if he

produces a certificate from the principal nursing tutor,

to the satisfaction of the Council for Nurses and

Midwives, that he has undergone further intensive

training at a school

Provided that no student nurse may avail himself

of this concession to sit for such a supplementary

examination at any time before the lapse of three

months from the date on which he last sat for the said

examination;

(b) who does not produce a certificate as is referred to in

paragraph (a) shall be entitled to sit for a

supplementary examination in accordance with the

other provisions of these Regulations, at any session

which is due in the normal course of events after the

expiry of six months from the date of the session in

which he last failed

Provided that, however, no student nurse may

avail himself of any of these concessions at any time

later than three years from the date on which he first

sat for the final examination.

(3) A student nurse who fails in the final examination may opt

to sit for the final examination for pupil nurses conducted in

accordance with the regulations governing training schools for

enrolled nurses, at a session not earlier than that which is due in the

normal course of events, and if successful shall be awarded a

certificate signed by the Chairman of the Council for Nurses and

Midwives, which certificate shall be deemed to be the certificate

referred to in Part IV of the Health Care Professions Act.

(4)

Where the option referred to in subregulation (3) is taken

(a) any such student nurse who shall have failed in any of

the papers of the written test referred to in regulation

13 shall only be required to sit for the written test in

the final examination for pupil nurses;

(b) any such student nurse who shall have failed in the

practical and oral test referred to in regulation 13 shall

only be required to sit for the corresponding test in the

final examination for pupil nurses; and

(c) any such student nurse who shall have failed in any of

the written papers and in the practical and oral test of

the examination for student nurses shall be required to

sit for the whole final examination for pupil nurses.

A student nurse shall not be deemed to have passed any of

the tests unless he shall have obtained at least fifty per cent of the

marks awardable at any of such tests or parts thereof.

(1) The preliminary and the final examinations shall be

conducted by a board of examiners, to be appointed by the Council

for Nurses and Midwives.

(2) The board of examiners for the preliminary and final

examinations shall consist of -

(a) a principal medical officer or a senior medical officer,

or any other medical officer performing administrative

duties in the Department of Health, as chairman;

(b) two medical practitioners, one being a physician and

the other a surgeon; and

(c) two nurses whose names are entered in the general part

of the said register of nurses.

(3) The board of examiners shall submit the examination

results to the Council for Nurses and Midwives for approval and

ratification prior to publication.

(1) Not less than one month’s notice shall be given of the

date on which the preliminary and final examinations shall be held,

which notice shall be exhibited on the notice board of the school.

(2) A student nurse who intends sitting at either the

preliminary or the final examination shall, together with the

relative fee for the examination, submit to the Council for Nurses

and Midwives an application on the form prescribed in the Third

Schedule accompanied by a certificate signed by the principal

nursing tutor also as per said Schedule certifying -

(a) the fact that the student nurse has completed the

approved course of studies and the period of training

in respect of the preliminary part or of the final part, as

the case may be, and

(b) the conduct and the regular attendance of the said

nurse during the relative period of training.

(1) Student nurses who, on the completion of the full

period of training, pass the final examination shall be awarded a

certificate signed by the chairman of the Council for Nurses and

Midwives, stating that the student nurse has undergone the

prescribed course of studies at the training school and has been

approved at the prescribed examinations.

(2) Such certificate shall be deemed to be the certificate

referred to in Part IV of the Health Care Professions Act.

(3) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of these regulations,

any person -

(a) whose name is entered in the roll of nurses in

accordance with the provisions of the Health Care

Professions Act, and

(b) who satisfies the conditions for admission to the

training school in terms of regulation 3, and

(c) who after having undergone a twelve week bridging

course of training at a school, has completed further

training in accordance with the scheme of training laid

down in the Second Schedule starting from the

seventy-third week of training of such scheme of

training,

shall be entitled to sit for the final examination referred to in

regulation 13 with the other students in the group who have at the

time completed the full relative training in accordance with such

scheme, and the provisions of regulation 12(2), (3) and (4), of

regulations 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 and of the preceding sub-

regulations of this regulation shall mutatis mutandis apply to such

person.

(4) The principal nursing tutor may, on the advice of the

Council for Nurses and Midwives, allocate in respect of any person

to whom subregulation (3) applies, additional theoretical

instruction in lieu of an equivalent period of practical nursing

experience from such periods laid down in the Second Schedule

Provided that no such person shall miss more than fifty per

cent of the period of practical nursing experience in any study

block referred to in the Second Schedule after the seventy-third

week of such training.

(1) The provisions of these regulations need not apply to

any diploma course for registered nurses organised and run by the

Institute of Health Care of the University of Malta or by any school

recognised by the Council for Nurses and Midwives if the said

Council is satisfied with the conditions for admission to the course

and with the curriculum and assessments and examinations of the

said course.

(2) The provisions of these regulations shall not apply to any

degree course in nursing studies organised by the University of

Malta or by any other university recognised by the Council for

Nurses and Midwives if the said Council is satisfied with the

conditions for admission to the course and with the curriculum and

assessments and examinations of the said course in respect of

training for the practice of nursing.

(3) The Chairman of the Council for Nurses and Midwives

shall issue a certificate to successful candidates from the courses

referred to in subregulations (1) and (2) for the purposes of the

Health Care Professions Act.

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR REGISTERED

NURSES