Arabic version: طلاب التمريض في جامعة نوتردام يواجهون تحديات وإحباطات في التوظيف

Nursing students at Notre Dame University are expressing growing concerns over the lack of sufficient practicum placements necessary for graduation. According to ABC News, students and parents have reported that the high demand for nursing courses has resulted in a shortage of available placements in hospitals.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 800 hours of practical training to graduate and become registered nurses. However, many have found themselves struggling to secure these essential placements. One student, Chloe, shared her experience of being scheduled for placements that required extensive travel and faced logistical challenges, including inadequate accommodation.

The university has acknowledged the difficulties some students are facing, stating that while it provides 15,000 weeks of practicum placement for students each year, there have been delays for certain individuals. Notre Dame has suspended new enrolments in its nursing program, citing a need to ensure the program’s sustainability.

Former WA chief nursing officer, Phill Della, has called for a centralized approach to placement allocation, suggesting that universities should be aware of how many students they can realistically enroll based on available placements. He emphasized the importance of clinical training for nursing graduates to meet the needs of the health system.

In addition to student frustrations, staff at Notre Dame have also raised concerns about the governance issues affecting the university, as evidenced by a letter signed by over 200 staff members. The letter highlights declining morale and student satisfaction within the nursing program, which has been further complicated by recent operational challenges following a ransomware attack in 2025.