Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ16: Clinical practicum training for nursing programme students

     Following is a question by the Hon Michael Mak and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 9):

 

Question:

 

     As stipulated by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong (NCHK), enrolled nurses (ENs) taking the Higher Diploma course in Nursing offered by the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) may apply to be registered nurses (RNs) upon completion of a clinical practicum training of 1,800 hours.  The OUHK may, having regard to the previous clinical experience of individual students, recommend that NCHK approve shortening the duration of their clinical practicum training by up to a maximum of 200 hours.  ENs sponsored by Hospital Authority (HA) to take the above course will be appointed as RN students during such training period.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

 

(a)  if OUHK has discussed with HA the clinical practicum training period of the above course over the past 12 months; if it has, of the discussion results;

 

(b)  if the contract terms of RN students employed by HA are standardised at 1,800 hours; if so, of the reasons for that; and

 

(c)  if HA has dealt with the contract terms of individual students in a flexible manner in accordance with the decision of NCHK on the clinical practicum training period of such students; if it has, of the arrangements in this regard; if not, the reasons for that?

 

Reply:

 

(a)  The HA and the OUHK hold regular discussions over the detailed clinical placement arrangements for students of the Higher Diploma in Nursing Programme who work in HA.  These discussions do not touch on matters relating to the employment contracts between individual students and the HA, but the OUHK informs HA of the number of clinical hours that each student is required to undergo to ensure that the students receive the requisite number of hours of training.

 

(b) & (c)  The HA sets the clinical practicum training period for students of the Higher Diploma in Nursing Programme working in HA as 10 months in general, which is about 38 weeks (approximately 1,670 hours) of clinical training after deducting various leaves during the period.  This length is sufficient for most students whose clinical practicum training period has been reduced to less than 1,800 because of their previous clinical experience as enrolled nurses.  For the few who have to undergo 1,800 hours of training, the HA will flexibly arrange for the clinical practicum period to be extended.  In all cases, HA will ensure that students who enrolled in the programme meet the clinical practicum requirement stipulated by the NCHK.

 

Ends/Wednesday, June 9, 2004

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