Introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, the measure proposes to waive the two-year work requirement for nonresident nursing graduates of NMC.
The lawmaker said the bill will help fill the positions needed at the Commonwealth Health Center.
“The Department of Public Health cannot hire all the nursing graduates of NMC every year…thereby leaving many nursing graduates without job opportunities to gain experience,” said Quitugua, D-Saipan.
Private medical clinics on island also require the services of nurses and would like to hire the nursing graduates of NMC, he added.
But current law requires these nurses to have least two-year nursing experience before they can be hired.
According to Quitugua, promoting the hiring of NMC graduates is consistent with his proposal to allow nonresident nursing graduates to work in the public or private sector without any work experience restriction.
The proposed waiver is also applicable to all nursing graduates of other vocational nursing schools on island such as Emmanuel College and University of Loyola in the CNMI.
However, passing the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, will remain a requirement for employment.
