A campaign to encourage people to become nurses was launched this morning.

“Nursing is not a homogenous profession as people can expand their career by working with children and they can work with healthy people through health promotion, among other options,” Roberta Sammut , coordinator of the Institute of Health Care’s nursing division said.

The campaign – that involves television and radio adverts and handing out of leaflets – aims to ensure young people understand the versatility of the profession.

University courses have been decreased from four years to three and were expected to attract more people.

The course had also been made more efficient and was fully compliant with EU directives on nursing education. Students would also have the opportunity to spend a semester in a foreign university as part of the Erasmus exchange programme.

Health Care Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar said the demand for nurses was consistently so qualified nurses were guaranteed job security in the next few years.

Between Monday and July 19 an information stand is being in Mater Dei Hospital’s lobby where anyone interested in the profession could speak to academic staff.

Applications for the university courses close on July 26. A total of 140 students would be accepted. More information can be obtained from tels. 2340 1571 or 2340 1831 or email: ihc@um.edu.mt .