Malta is packed with attractions and places of interest.
The capital city of Valletta host to regular plays and concerts, as well as scores of exhibitions and street events. The Museum of Archaeology in Valletta houses an exceptionally rich collection of prehistoric artefacts. The War Museum at Fort St. Elmo is home to a Sunday military parade in period costumes re-enactment and the capital also possesses the impressive Grand Master’s Palace and St. John’s Co-cathedral.
With 7,000 years of history, the sites to visit are endless – Megalithic temples, underground catacombs, churches and forts are not to be missed. Interactive walkthrough and multimedia attractions offer an overview of Malta’s history in under an hour. They’re interesting and a great way to learn the significance of what visitors will later be looking at.
The Museum of Roman Antiquities and various other sites are found in Rabat. The Cathedral and its museum in the fortified medieval city of Mdina, right next door to Rabat, are not to be missed, For a romantic stroll like no other, wander the lamp lit streets of Mdina at night. Don’t miss the renowned chocolate cake at Fontanella Tea rooms, situated right on the bastion with a spectacular view.
For those who love art, the possibilities are endless – visit the impressive collection at the National Museum of Fine Arts, see the Caravaggio’s Beheading of St. John at St. John’s co-Cathedral and visit medieval Palazzo Falson in Mdina with its collection of antiques. To view more contemporary work, walk around the exhibits at the St. John’s Cavalier Art Centre.
Children will enjoy activity and fun parks, which include the original movie set where Popeye was filmed.
The rural side of the Islands is fascinating, with charming villages & captivating folklore. And on Sunday morning, go to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, the open-air market outside Valletta or the It-Tokk market in Victoria, Gozo.
Getting bored is out of the question!
Please follow the link for latest update https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/less-bureaucracy-longer-residency-permits-for-foreign-nurses-and.855898 The government and the nurses’ union have reached an agreement that will reduce bureaucracy for foreign nurses and their immediate family by increasing the validity of their residence permit to three years. The government is also pledging to process the residency application within 15 working days and has substantially cut the costs linked to the permit. RELATED STORIES This is why we are leaving Malta for the UK Identity Malta bureaucracy has been cited as one of the main reasons why some 140 nurses, equivalent to over a fifth of the nurses who are third-country nationals working here, have either already quit or were in the process of submitting their resignation. In January, Times of Malta reported that the country was bracing itself for an exodus of foreign nurses – mostly Indian, Pakistani and Filipino – who are being poached by the UK as part of its efforts to control its COVID-19 situation. The government said on Friday that following two meetings led by Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar, and MUMN president Paul Pace, in consultation with Identity Malta, changes will be implemented with immediate effect. It has also been agreed that all necessary medical examinations will be free of charge for non-EU state employees. This also applies to those on an indefinite contract with the public sector. What has been agreed? Three-year residency permit Identity Malta Agency will start issuing a residency permit valid for three, instead of one year, to nurses and other health professionals employed by the state on an indefinite contract. Decrease in fees Nurses or other health professionals from outside the EU, who are employed by the state, will have the usual application fee substantially reduced. They will now be paying €250 for their three-year work permit and €82.50 for a residency card that used to cost €27.50 annually. This means that in total, over a three-year period, they will be paying €332.50 instead of €832.50. Applications processed within 15 days Identity Malta Agency will start processing applications within 15 working days. Once the application is approved and the card is ready for collection, the applicant will receive a letter by post to collect it in person. Conditions to be extended to family members Wives, husbands and the children of the applicant will also be issued a three-year residency permit, as long as all applications are filed together. Family members of sponsors who have a long-term residence permit will be issued a permit valid for five years.
Credits Bryan Barajas , The end of 2019 signaled the beginning of a new paradigm in healthcare. The World Health Organization named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife to highlight the vital role nurses play in healthcare delivery. Global health organizations sparked this initiative before COVID-19 emerged, and with cases continuing to spike across the globe, the role of nurses has never been more critical. But the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and similar initiatives do more than celebrate the hard work and dedication of the largest healthcare profession. These initiatives also bring hospital and health system leadership attention to what nurses need to continue delivering optimal care. AMN Healthcare’s 2019 Survey of Registered Nurses revealed key insights about nursing staff needs and how you can support your most crucial players in patient care delivery. A Divergence in Career and Job Satisfaction AMN Healthcare’s survey results show that, by and large, nurses are proud of their careers. “Most nurses love the work they do,” says Beverly Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, CEO at the National League for Nursing. “That’s why we choose to be a nurse.” But this isn’t always reflected in job satisfaction: 42% of survey respondents are only “somewhat satisfied” with their current job, and only 44% of nurses agreed that they had sufficient time at their current job to spend with patients. Due to staffing shortages, nurses working the COVID-19 floor in hard-hit areas continue to deal with an intense workload of acute care patients. “Nurses require both the human and physical resources necessary to carry out the nursing process,” says Suzanne Crincoli, MSN, RN, Vice President of Clinical Quality at CareThrough. Integrating temporary/traveling nurses and identifying new staffing models can allow nurses more freedom to give patients the full care and attention they need. Persistent Staffing Challenges Nurse staffing has been a problem since long before COVID-19. In 2019, 52% of respondents agreed that the shortage is worse than five years ago, compared with 48% in 2017 and 37% in 2015. Baby boomer nurses are on the verge of retirement, and new nurses are not coming in at matching rates. The aging U.S. population is compounding the problem, and the need for acute care will continue to increase. Hospitals and health systems will need to get creative with staffing and care delivery as they continue to respond to COVID, whether it’s bringing back retirees part-time or increasing telehealth services. Seek out ideas from nurse representatives as you consider different options and scenarios. “Nurses need to be in leadership positions, helping to make decisions about what nurses need, listening to nurses and understanding what they’re hearing,” Malone says. Myriad Influences on Care Quality Nearly half, or 46%, of surveyed nurses rated safety practices among the top influences on patient care quality, followed by staffing levels and the use of electronic health records (each at 45%). During COVID-19, safety is especially critical, as staffing can be affected if nurses must be quarantined. Ensure that nurses have the right protective equipment to be and feel safe. Have backup plans for staffing to ensure care continuity in the event of nurse exposure and quarantine. Ensure that your nursing staff has the right electronic tools to optimize their workflow, and survey your team to identify their specific needs. “Healthcare systems need to prioritize understanding the needs of their nursing staff,” says HR & Beyond CEO Ivelices Thomas. “Gain an understanding of what’s important to your existing workforce and create a strategy around that.” Nurses at hospitals and health systems face many challenges during COVID-19, but the results of the 2019 AMN Healthcare survey illuminate a path forward. By listening to your nursing staff and prioritizing their needs, you can empower them to provide better patient care. Embrace the new paradigm of elevating the nursing profession, and empower your nursing workforce to improve community health.
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