Change of campus best medicine for student nurses

Would-be Blenheim nurses may not have to travel so far to study as NMIT bosses gets set to offer the popular course closer to home.

A plan to train new nurses in Marlborough is in the pipeline at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).

The training provider is investigating the possibility of delivering a Bachelor of Nursing course at their Blenheim Campus.

And about twenty learners have expressed interest in the course, it has been revealed.

The move would mean and end to student nurses having to head over the hill to Nelson where the popular course is currently offered.

NMIT chief executive Wayne Jackson says their strategy is to invest wisely in people, delivery and, where necessary, in infrastructure to support an expected growth in learner numbers.

“To that end NMIT collaborates closely with our stakeholders, iwi partners and regional skills leadership groups to discuss future workforce skills,” he says.

He says they recently called for expressions of interest from learners who would consider enrolling in the Bachelor of Nursing programme if the majority of the programme was delivered at the NMIT Marlborough Campus.

“To date approximately 20 learners have indicated interest,” Wayne says.

But he wouldn’t say if that number of learners would see the course, which has never been offered in Marlborough, proceed.

“The process is ongoing. There are many factors to consider including approval, funding and staffing.”

A decision is expected to be in the next couple of months.