College offers payment plans for future NMI nurses

A payment plan for the Commonwealth’s potential nurses is now being offered by Emmanuel College to assist families in the community who are struggling to provide education to their children amidst the financial hard times.

Emmanuel College president Mark Mendiola disclosed this yesterday to Saipan Tribune, adding that the institution is also considering some financial assistance for its current students.

The college is the island’s first vocational nursing school offering an 11-month course at the Pacific Tower in Chalan Kanoa.

Only on its second year, the institution had conferred certificates to 20 graduates last November, majority of whom are already preparing for their national licensure examination.

Mendiola said their second batch of nurses is composed of five students from Tinian and the rest are from Saipan.

“We’re working on our third batch. In understanding the economic challenge at present, Emmanuel College is doing its best to accommodate some students who may need financial assistance. We’re considering to offer some payment plans to assist students who may want to look at our program,” he said.

Mendiola disclosed that the college is in the process of communicating with national nursing accreditation agencies where the institution will soon file its candidacy.

“We’re excited now that we’re seeking our accreditation status to be recognized nationally and we’re in the process of doing that. We know it’s a long process but Emmanuel College is committed in completing it … hopefully we can expand and grow from there,” he said yesterday.

Mendiola reiterated that Emmanuel College’s vocational nursing program intends to assist and supplement the good work at NMC.

“We’re complementing the NMC program. Our program is very focused and it doesn’t have other general educational requirements,” Mendiola said, adding that Emmanuel College offers advance level of nursing skills that would help students when they expand the program to NMC’s two-year course.

Citing the high demand for nurses here and abroad, Mendiola said there’s a need for greater support from the community and government.

“The nursing position is in high demand…and [the] CNMI is in dire need of nurses. There’s a need for community and government support to this industry,” he said.

Emmanuel College, which opened its doors last year for its 11-month vocational nursing course, was lauded for its commitment to provide a quality vocational nursing program for the Commonwealth. With the collapse of the garment industry, the CNMI has found education as a new industry to supplement the tourism market, noting the establishment of Ladera International School and the Loyola Medical and Business School.