By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

A MAJORITY of the 26 nursing graduates of Northern Marianas College say they will stay on island and seek employment at the Commonwealth Health Center — despite the low salary it offers.
According to outgoing NMC Nursing club president Lee Castro, one of their co-nursing graduates will be leaving next week for a job offer in the U.S. while two more are also scheduled to leave in June.
“But a lot of us are staying to review for the NCLEX at the college if they were to offer it and try to work at CHC,” he told Variety.
Hospitals in the U.S. pay more than CHC but Castro said most of them are willing to help the health-related activities and programs of NMC and the Department of Public Health.
He said their group will continue to participate in community activities like the upcoming Family Day at Laolao Bay.
Next month, they will participate in the diabetic prevention program sponsored by Public Health.
“I informed the officers of the first year (nursing students) that if there are any activities, we are always here to extend help to the NMC Nursing Club,” Castro said.
Under his leadership, the club lobbied for the passage of Public Law 14-75 which appropriated $310,000 to NMC’s nursing department, of which $250,000 went to instructors’ salaries and $60,000 for equipment and supplies.
“Some of the money was used to renovate the nursing laboratory and buy new computers for the facility,” Castro said.
He said their club’s concerns were also considered in the passage of P.L. 15-45, which allowed nonresident NMC nursing graduates to work at CHC.
“I and my classmates went up six times to the Legislature to ask for help when summer classes were about to be suspended and the budget of the nursing department would have been cut,” Castro said.
He added that the club appreciates the support and assistance given by the college administration and the legislature to their group.
The club will elect a new set of officers in the fall semester.