– The most important thing is not how many start, but how many complete their education within three years, says subject leader Lill Sverresdatter Larsen in the Norwegian Nurses’ Association. At the weekend, students could, for the first time in several years, apply for nursing studies without fulfilling the maths and Norwegian requirements. After the main intake was completed, several universities and colleges advertised for vacant places, in the hope of being full from the autumn. One of those who took advantage of the opportunity is 26-year-old William from Bergen. The maths grade has long stood in the way of a career as a nurse. Now he finally has the opportunity to study what he wants. William from Bergen is looking forward to studying nursing at the University of Western Norway. Photo: Private – A door opener for me. I have tried to take up maths several times, and have taken private exams. I simply haven’t managed it, he says. Fills 160 vacant places While most educations do not have special grade requirements, there is a requirement for three in Norwegian and maths from secondary school to the nursing studies. The requirement was introduced for the nursing education in 2019. Since then, the number of applicants to the education has decreased. Last year, the number of applicants was at its lowest in ten years. This year, several educational institutions have local admissions without grade requirements to fill vacant places. The move attracted 879 applicants to 160 available study places at the nursing study program at the University of Western Norway. – After we announced available study places, there has been an influx of applicants for the nursing education, says vice-chancellor for education at HVL, Anne-Grethe Naustdal. Photo: Tony Ågotnes / news – This shows that it is a very important step, which means that we can get motivated applicants for nursing education, exults the vice-chancellor for education at the University of Western Norway, Anne-Grethe Naustdal. Several hundred in a few hours At the University of Tromsø, they have received 353 applicants for 195 vacant places. Bjørnar Pande Wølner at the University of Southeast Norway is optimistic about filling the five nursing studies. Photo: Magnus Skatvedt Iversen / news The University of Southeastern Norway reports a high number of applicants after they published their vacant places on Saturday at 09:00 – During the first hour we received several hundred applicants. On Monday, we passed 600 applicants, says a well-satisfied section manager for admissions, Bjørnar Pande Wølner. At Høgskulen på Vestlandet, the vice-chancellor is eager for the grade requirement to be removed. Norway lacks around 4,300 nurses. The vice-chancellor in Vestland believes that the grade requirement has been a major obstacle to getting more people onto the course. She believes that the search figures for the local recordings show exactly that. – Many have certainly waited for many years for the special requirement to be removed, so that they had the opportunity to study for a very exciting and important profession that society has a great need for, she says. The association is critical With a large shortage of nurses and a low number of applicants, subject leader Lill Sverresdatter Larsen of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association is happy for everyone who wants to become a nurse. She is nevertheless critical of removing requirements for important subjects in an already demanding study. – Norwegian is important for communication and documentation. Mathematics is important for calculating medicine, nutrition and fluids, she says. – The most important thing is not how many start, but how many complete their education within three years, says Lill Sverresdatter Larsen of the nurses’ association. Photo: Glenn Aaseby / eng@ndiv Sverresdatter Larsen notes that dropping the grade requirement could lead to greater pressure on universities, which are already under pressure on qualified teachers. – Over the years, students have complained about little guidance. If teachers are to spend effort on getting maths and Norwegian up to a certain level in addition, then it takes effort from the guidance that students need to learn nursing, she says. If motivation is important for completing studies, the head of department also relies on statistics which show that higher grades make it easier for students to complete their education over three years. – You train more nurses over three years than when you spend a lot of time building up students’ Norwegian and maths skills before they go through a demanding course, she says. Published 24/07/2024, at 13.41
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Drops the grade requirement and fills up empty study places on the nursing course – news Vestland
