Government to increase enrolment in nursing program

Julie Bettney, Minister of Health and Community Services, has announced the number of students admitted into the province�s nursing program will be increased. In Budget 2002, government will provide $300,000 to the Bachelor of Nursing Collaborative Program to increase, by at least 32, the number of students accepted into the program.

"We recognize the need to increase the number of students accepted into the Bachelor of Nursing Collaborative Program to respond to the anticipated decline in the number of nurses as a result of retirements," said Minister Bettney. "We are ensuring a stable workforce in the future by making this investment now."

While Newfoundland and Labrador currently has the second highest ratio of nurses in Canada, with 10 nurses per 1,000 people, one-third of the current workforce is expected to retire by 2015 and new nurses need to start their education now to fill this emerging gap.

"We continue to support the BN program," said Minister Bettney. "We will take measures now to have highly-trained professional nurses for the future." In keeping with trends in other provinces, some of the new nursing seats will be dedicated to students with a previous degree and allow them to access a "fast track" option. These students will be able to complete their nursing degree in two years.

Minister Bettney further stated that the initiative today complements other investments government has been making to recruit and retain nurses. Bursaries of $3,000 helped the regional health boards recruit 148 graduates in 2000 and another 153 in 2001. As well, a reclassification of the nursing profession in 2000, which totaled $17 million, assisted in making nursing salaries in this province more competitive. Government will also continue its recruitment and retention package for nurses in remote Labrador communities.

Furthermore, this year sees the completion of a three-year pilot project aimed at encouraging student nurses to complete their community placements in rural areas. The success of this program will see government commit to this program on an ongoing basis with an annual contribution of $75,000. Over the three-year pilot program approximately 150 students have availed of the funding assistance to work in rural and remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador. Evaluation of this pilot reveals this has been a very positive experience for communities, health boards, students and the province�s three nursing schools - Centre for Nursing Studies and Memorial University in St. John�s, and the Western Memorial Regional School of Nursing in Corner Brook.

"We remain committed to having stability in our nursing resources in this province," said Minister Bettney. "We will continue to work with the professional organizations which represent nurses and our regional boards to ensure this occurs."

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2002 03 21                            3:10 p.m.