Nursing students fret over summer classes

The Northern Marianas College Nursing Club has expressed anxiety over the status of summer classes for the college’s nursing students next year, in the wake of reports that the classes will be cancelled.

Although Board of Regents chair Rita H. Inos had told them that the classes would be offered next summer, NMC Nursing Club president Lee Castro said the group hasn’t seen any written document about the classes to be offered next summer.

“We want a black and white saying that they will [offer the classes],” added Castro.

NMC Acting president Danny Wyatt told [I]Saipan Tribune[/I] that the college would still be offering nursing classes next summer but there could be “fewer classes” due to the number of students currently enrolled. “No, we’re not canceling it, although our concern is on faculty issue,” he added.

Castro said that Nursing students need to take the summer classes in order for them to graduate on time and “in time for the May graduation ceremonies.”

Castro said the summer classes would provide eight credit units for Nursing students: four credit units for lecture and four credit units for laboratory.

If the summer classes are cancelled, Castro said almost one semester would be moved back, resulting in the late graduation of nursing students.

“They will be able to finish the course in the same year but graduation is in May so they will be graduating the following year,” Castro said. He said it would be best if these students graduate on time and practice or work as needed.

This year, Castro said, there are 28 Nursing students who are set to graduate in time for the May 2008 ceremonies.

Besides their concern for the summer classes, Castro said the group is also worried about the decline in the number of Nursing teachers at the college.

He said several Nursing teachers are set to leave the college next month.

“It is therefore premature to say that everything is okay with the NMC Nursing Department,” he said.

Nursing Department chair Lynn Curtis will be leaving her post this December.

Wyatt said the classes have already been included in the budget despite major cuts the college incurred this school year.

NMC’s Nursing students continue to be involved in community service and have been conducting blood pressure checks and blood sugar readings at various community event throughout the year.

Nursing students fulfill the clinical component of the program by spending clinical hours, which vary each semester at the Commonwealth Health Center. NMC’s Nursing Department provides career guidance and education to students of the CNMI and Pacific Basin who desire to become nursing assistants, hemodialysis technicians or registered nurses.