Province releases plan to increase the number of nurses in Manitoba
The provincial government is looking to get more nursing students into Manitoba and is also working to get internationally educated nurses licensed.
The government announced Thursday it plans to add 400 new nursing education seats throughout Manitoba over the next few years.
Manitoba has around 800 nursing seats throughout six post-secondary schools and the intake for the first group of new seats will start during the 2021-22 school year.
Heather Stefanson, the minister of Health and Seniors Care, said these new seats will help increase the number of nurses available to work at hospitals in the years to come.
"We can accelerate the entry of prospective students into the nursing profession," said Stefanson.
Skills and Immigration Minister Wayne Ewasko said dealing with COVID-19 has shown how important nurses are to the province.
"It also showed us just how critical it is that we support those who want to get into the nursing field by making sure they have access to the education," said Ewasko.
He noted this will mean more licensed practical nurse graduates by 2023 and more registered nurses and psychiatric nurse graduates by 2025.
Ewasko said the province is putting forward $7.5 million to help with adding seats and once the government knows more from the post-secondary schools more can be allocated.
As part of the announcement Thursday, the province said it is also launching an initiative to help internationally educated nurses with financial assistance for assessment and training.
The province plans to provide $23,000 to the nurses who apply for the program.
"This includes funding for clinical competence assessments and bridge training, as well as other related expenses such as living allowance, transportation and childcare," the province said in a news release.
Ewasko added as part of the application process, the province can learn their educational background and skills and they can determine what upgrades these nurses need.
The nurses who want to apply for the program can do so through an online portal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.