Manitoba will be spending nearly $20 million to increase the number of training seats for nurses at several colleges and universities in the province.
More than 250 will be made available at Université de Saint-Boniface (15), Assiniboine Community College in Portage la Prairie and rural rotating sites (55), Brandon University (32), University of Manitoba (120) and University College of the North (37). The available spots will be divided between registered nursing seats, licensed practical nursing seats and registered psychiatric nursing seats.
“We know this pandemic has put an enormous strain on our nurses and our health-care system. Our government is keen to work closely and collaboratively with our post-secondary institutions to expand nursing education seats across the province to ensure Manitoba has a strong nursing workforce now and well into the future,” said Premier Heather Stefanson.
There are currently 800 nursing seats in Manitoba at six publicly funded colleges and universities. The additional seats are part of a multi-year plan to add nearly 400 seats.
“We know additional seats are required to ensure we support the labour needs of our health care system, and the addition of these seats builds on other commitments to address the nursing shortage in Manitoba,” said Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon. “This includes recent incentives to increase intensive care unit nurse capacity, supporting internationally educated nurse applicants to begin practising in Manitoba, introducing the province’s first undergraduate nursing employee program and adding 60 new full-time nursing positions to ICUs at Grace, St. Boniface and Health Sciences Centre hospitals in Winnipeg and in Brandon.”
© News4.ca 2021
