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NMC seeks to promote nursing
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Posted on Jan 04 1999
Key officials of the Northern Marianas College will meet with the Board of Education to revive discussions on promoting the health profession, particularly nursing, in the secondary level.
This motion was carried by the Board of Regents last Thursday in an effort to help its Nursing Program increase its enrollment to attract government funding for a four-year degree.
The Nursing Program earlier joined the Department of Public Health in securing a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Raw Utility Service to support its plans to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing through distance education.
However, with the economic downturn, the loan negotiation didn’t materialize as scheduled.
Nursing Director Debbie Ramaukita told the board that a significant increase of student enrollment was recorded this year compared to previous registrations. However, its over 20 student population has convinced the board that an early introduction in the secondary level will help attract enrollees.
Earlier coordination between Ramaukita and former associate commissioner for instruction Patrick Tellei provided the preliminary discussions of founding an academy for health and science at the Marianas High School.
According to Ramaukita, she developed the curriculum intended for the nursing part based on the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary’s Commission of Achieving Necessary Skills or SCAN. High school graduates who will earn these credits will qualify to become nursing aides at the Commonwealth Health Center.
She added that the Public School System has the school to work funding from the federal government to put this Health and Science Academy into motion.
