In response to the article published today in the “Diário dos Açores” newspaper, the regional Secretary for Health stressed that the study conducted by the Regional Board of the Nurses ‘Association concluded that the majority of the nurses registered at the Association in 2009 and 2010 are already working.

The study coordinator stated to the Media that “94% of the 168 nurses who graduated in the Azores in 2009 and 2010 are working, which is, for us, a very interesting finding.”

Similarly, the study made available on the webpage of the Nurses’ Association mentions that “when asked if they were currently working, 96% of the nurses responded affirmatively.”

The Secretary for Health stressed that, in the current context, the study in question is encouraging for this professional class, which also pleases the Government.

It is understandable that a significant number of the nurses who graduated in 2010 is working under the “Estagiar L” programme because the institutions, in order to avoid direct costs, use this tool implemented by the Regional Government to provide graduates with a paid internship.
 
According to this study, of the students who graduated in 2009, only 2 were working under the “Estagiar L” programme; the remaining 72 nurses are already working, of whom 37 work under a contract of indefinite duration, 26 under a fixed-term contract and 9 under a service provision contract. This situation is the result of the measures implemented by the Government in 2010 to end with extended schedules and reduce overtime hours in regional hospitals.

On the other hand, the study author conveyed some concerns about the future, particularly with regard to the nurses participating in paid internships in 2010 as well as to those who are about to complete their degree.  These concerns are also common to other professions; however, in the case of nurses the situation is not desperate. 

The Regional Secretary for Health welcomed this fact, stressing the success of the “Estagiar L” programme, providing young graduates with an opportunity to participate in a professional traineeship as soon as they complete their degree. This initiative has been an important opportunity, allowing the entry of youngsters in the labour market, as evidenced in the cases of nurses. 

Miguel Correia regrets that the reading made by the “Diário dos Açores” newspaper distorts the interpretation of the published data.