Years ago, the Flemish government decided to extend the bachelor’s degree in nursing from 180 to 240 credits from the 2016-2017 academic year. Since then, a standard trajectory has taken at least four years instead of the classic three years. Because the final year is almost entirely filled with internships, it was also decided to give the students an (expenses) reimbursement for that fourth year. An annual expense allowance of 1,000 euros was introduced for students who successfully completed their studies.
It has always been said that this would be a temporary measure pending the VIO status or the status of nurse in training, by analogy with the status of doctors in training. But because that more sustainable solution does not yet exist, the existing expense scheme will be extended once, according to Minister Crevits.
“All students who obtained their bachelor’s degree in nursing at an educational institution in Flanders in the academic year 2022-2023 with a study load of 240 credits, including a contract internship of 800 hours, are eligible. This concerns about 1,700 students,” Minister Crevits explains.
According to the CD&V minister, the intention remains to arrive at a sustainable VIO statute together with employers, the federal government and the educational field. In this way, students in their final phase of training could count on a unique status “whereby they remain students, but are given more responsibility and autonomy.” “We continue to consult with the social partners, because we believe that the framework for the internships should be improved,” said the minister.