More money will be going to bring in more qualified nurses to Alberta.
The province announced that $11 million will go toward nurse bridging programs to help train internationally educated nurses.
Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney was at the University of Lethbridge to unveil the news and says these nurses will now have access to an additional 1,221 spaces at post-secondary institutions so they can complete the programs they need for certification in Alberta.
“This includes 848 new seats for registered nurses and 373 new seats for licensed practical nurses at nine postsecondary institutions across the province. These new seats are being created over three years to help nurses who are trained in other countries become licensed to work and live here in Alberta. This is long, long overdue, and I’m so pleased to be making this announcement today.”
Dr. Jon Doan, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the U of L says funding for nurses has even helped his own family in the past.
“My mother was a longtime registered nurse and nursing instructor who did a pivotal part of her training in Alberta’s postsecondary system 65 years ago, including clinical experiences right here in Lethbridge and community health delivery with the Blood Tribe. That educational experience in Alberta postsecondary had a profound effect on my mother’s career. It also affected thousands families around our small town. My mom was a nursing instructor in obstetrics who spent nearly 50 years guiding students, helping patients and their loved ones, and changing many lives.”
In Lethbridge $2.4 million and 100 seats will go to the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College. The college will also be partnering with Bow Valley College to provide an extra 108 seats along with an added $2.6 million.