TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 458.21

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED

NURSES REGULATIONS

16th September, 1986

LEGAL NOTICE 56 of 1986, as amended by Legal Notices 4 of 1987, 46

of 1988, 91 of 1989 and 94 of 1991.

The title of these Regulations is Training School for

Enrolled Nurses Regulations.

(Regulations 7 and 8)

SCHEME OF TRAINING

(PUPIL NURSES)

Weeks

(both

INTRODUCTORY PART

inclusive)

1-4

Lectures in: ANATOMY

PHYSIOLOGY

NURSING

FIRST AID

INTRODUCTORY ASSESSMENT

Weeks

(both

INTERMEDIATE PART

inclusive)

5-10

Practical Nursing Experience 1.

MEDICINE/SURGERY

11-12

Study Block 1 (Theoretical Instruction)

13-18

Practical Nursing Experience 2.

SURGERY/MEDICINE

Holidays

Study Block 2 (Theoretical Instruction)

21-32

Practical Nursing Experience 3.

GYNAECOLOGY/

UROLOGY/

MATERINTY CARE/

CARE OF THE NEWBORN

Holidays

Study Block 3 (Theoretical Instruction)

35-36

Practical Nursing Experience 4.

ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/

ORTHOPAEDICS/

MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY

(includes experience in Oncology and Fever Unit at

Boffa Hospital, and in Outpatient Department)

47-48

Holidays

49-50

Study Block 4 (Theoretical Instruction)

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION

Weeks

(both

FINAL PART

inclusive)

51-60

Practical Nursing Experience 5.

GERIATRICS (includes Community Geriatrics)/

PAEDIATRICS

Holidays

Study Block 5 (Theoretical Instruction)

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES

63-74

Practical Nursing Experience 6.

GERIATRICS (includes Community Geriatrics)/

MENTAL DISORDER AND HANDICAP

Holidays

Study Block 6 (Theoretical Instruction)

77-88 Practical Nursing Experience 7.

COMMUNITY CARE (includes Home Nursing)/

MEDICAL OR SURGICAL SPECIALITY (includes

experience in Oncology and Fever Unit at Boffa

Hospital and in Outpatient Department)/

MENTAL DISORDER AND HANDICAP

Holidays

Study Block 7 (Theoretical Instruction)

91-100 Practical Nursing Experience 8.

MEDICINE/SURGERY

101-102 Holidays

103-104 Study Block 8 (Theoretical Instruction)

FINAL EXAMINATION

Allocated Periods

Introductory Part

4 weeks

Study Blocks

11 weeks

Practical Nursing

Experience

80 weeks

Holidays

9 weeks

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;

"training school" and "school" mean a complete 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 roll of nurses kept by the said council.

Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations

Application for admission to the Intermediate/Final * Examination

for Student Nurses

(ADDRESS)

(DATE)

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives,

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

Examination for Pupil Nurses which will be held during

in terms of the Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations.

In support of my application, I am forwarding herewith a

certificate signed by the Principal Nursing Tutor certifying that I

have completed the practical nursing experience at the

........................................... Training School for Nurses (which I

joined on the ...................................................) in terms of sub-

regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the Training School for Enrolled

Nurses Regulations and also 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 ........................

(Pupil Nurse)

*

Delete whichever is inapplicable

PART IIA

Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations

Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purposes of the

Intermediate Examination for Pupil Nurses *

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives

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

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

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

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

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

a.

has completed the practical nursing experience

required under sub-regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the

Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations in

respect of the Intermediate Examination, and

b.

has regularly attended the relative period of training,

in accordance with the said 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 only: Her/His marks in the

Introductory Assessment were ..................... (maximum 20 marks).

In case of second or third attempt only: Further satisfactory

training has further been undergone in accordance with sub-

regulation (1) of regulation 11 of the said Regulations. 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 Intermediate Examination for Pupil Nurses.

PART IIB

Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations

Certificate by Principal Nursing Tutor for the Purpose of the Final

Examination for Pupil Nurses *

The Registrar

Council for Nurses and Midwives

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

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

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

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

a.

has completed the practical nursing experience

required under sub-regulation (1) of regulation 8 of the

Training School for Enrolled Nurses Regulations, in

respect of the Final Examination, and

b.

has regularly attended the relative period of training,

in accordance with the said 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 Pre1iminary

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

In case of second or third attempt only: Further satisfactory

training has further been undergone in accordance with regulation

13(2) of the said Regulations. 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 Pupil Nurses.

The training 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 English

language, Maltese and mathematics.

(1) 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 paragraphs (b) or (c)

of regulation 3 and candidates who pass this examination and

satisfy the provisions of regulation 3( a) shall be eligible for

admission to a training 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 III 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

English (two papers), Maltese and mathematics.

No candidate shall be admitted to the training 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 training school shall be known

as pupil 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 four weeks,

during which basic instruction shall be imparted at a

training school; and

(b)

(i)

the intermediate part, which shall last for a

period of forty-six weeks, and

(ii) the final part, which shall last for a period of

fifty-four weeks,

during which Intermediate and final parts theoretical

and practical instruction shall be imparted at a training

school in accordance with the scheme of training laid

down in the First 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 pupil nurses.

(1) During the intermediate and final parts, pupil 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 First Schedule.

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

regular intervals.

There shall be an assessment at the end of the introductory

part, known as introductory assessment, an examination at the end

of the intermediate part, known as intermediate examination, and

another after the end of the final part, known as final examination.

(1) The introductory assessment shall be conducted by the

principal nursing tutor of the training school and shall consist of

one written paper in anatomy, physiology and theory of nursing and

first aid. The marks obtained by a pupil 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.

(2) The intermediate examination shall consist of one written

paper. The written paper shall consist of questions on the subject

matter covered during the intermediate part in accordance with the

First Schedule.

The result of the introductory assessment shall supplement

the marks for the written paper of the intermediate examination

with the remaining eighty marks being allocated for the written test

questions bringing the total maximum marks up to one hundred

Provided that the result of such assessment shall not be

taken into consideration in any supplementary examination.

(3)

The Final Examination shall consist of -

(a) a written test (one paper on all aspects of nursing, and

another paper on nursing ethics, including civics and

human relations); and

(b) a practical oral test (lasting one hour) which shall deal

with the practice of nursing and with questions on the

subjects specified in the syllabus for the course of

studies, at which test pupil nurses will be required to

present to the assessors their record of practical

instruction and experience.

(1) Any pupil nurse who fails in the intermediate

examination shall be allowed to sit again for such examination

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 that any such pupil nurse who fails at his second

attempt at the intermediate examination shall, saving always the

production of evidence that he has undergone further satisfactory

training, be allowed to sit for the examination for the third time but,

if successful, he shall -

(a) 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 10 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;

(b) in any other case, join the final part of the following

course of studies

Provided further that no pupil who will have failed for the

third time in the intermediate 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 pupil nurse may sit for the Final Examination

unless -

(a) he shall have passed the intermediate examination and

has applied to sit for such examination and submitted

the relative certificate as provided for in regulation 18;

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

such pupil has undergone the required level of

training.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the principal

nursing tutor shall report to the said Council every six

months, on the progress made by such pupil nurse,

which report shall be in accordance with such format

as may be required by the said Council.

(2) No pupil 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 twenty days throughout

the duration of the prescribed course of studies at the training

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 instructions of any of such study 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 sub-

regulation (2), such pupil 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 pupil nurse may, subject to the provisions of sub-

regulation (2), make up for the absenteeism referred to in the same

sub-regulation or for any part thereof, by forfeiting an equivalent

number of days of vacation leave to which he may be entitled.

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

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

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

the Board of examiners.

(2)

A pupil 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 pupil 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 pupil 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.

A pupil 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 the written papers or in the oral and

practical test.

(1) The intermediate 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 intermediate examination

shall include at least two nurses whose names are entered in the

general part of the register of nurses kept by the Council for Nurses

and Midwives.

(3) The Board of examiners for the final examination 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) three nurses, two being persons whose names are

entered in the general part of the register of nurses and

the other being a person whose name is entered in the

roll of nurses.

(4) The Board of examiners shall submit the respective 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 intermediate and final examination shall be held,

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

(2) A pupil nurse who intends sitting at either the intermediate

examination 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 Second

Schedule accompanied by a certificate signed by the principal

nursing tutor also as per said Schedule certifying -

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

practical nursing experience required under regulation

8(1); and

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

pupil nurse during the relative period of training in

accordance with the requirements of these regulations.

(1) Pupil 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 pupil 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.

The Council for Nurses and Midwives may exempt male

pupil nurses from gaining clinical nursing experience in -

general medical nursing of females;

general surgical nursing of females;

maternity care and gynaecological nursing care;

geriatric or long stay chronic sick nursing of female

psychiatric or mentally handicapped patients.

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

any certificate course for enrolled 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

Board is satisfied with the conditions for admission to the course

and with the curriculum and assessments and examinations of the

said course.

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

shall issue a certificate to successful candidates from the course

referred to in subregulation (1) for the purposes of the Health Care

Professions Act.

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES