N.L. earmarks $2M in tuition subsidies for nursing students in effort to boost rural enrolment

Some incoming nursing students in Newfoundland and Labrador are getting tuition subsidies through a new $2-million government program to help fill rural seats.

The subsidy will be available for first-year bachelor of science in nursingstudents accepted into the fall semesterand practical nurse students in satellite programs.

Health Minister Tom Osborne says the government is focusing on financially helping students enrolled in rural satellite nursing programs because it can be difficult tofill seats.

"If you're from rural Newfoundland, you train in rural Newfoundland, you tend to stay in rural Newfoundland. And we need registered nurses in rural Newfoundland. The same is true for practical nursing," Osborne told reporters at a news conference Friday.

Students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing at satellite nursing sites in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Happy Valley-Goose Bay can get a $2,000 tuition subsidy each semester for the first two years of the program, for a total of $8,000 in subsidies.

Practical nursing students enrolled at the College of North Atlantic in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. Anthony, Burin, Gander, Bay St. George, Clarenville, Carbonear, Corner Brook or Grand Falls-Windsorcan get $1,000 for each of the five semesters of the program, for a total of $5,000 in subsidies.

Meanwhile, practical students at the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's campus could get $500 for each of the five semesters of the program, for a total of $2,500 in tuition relief.

Osborne said the vouchers are for anyone enrolled in the nursing programs, not just students from N.L.

Filling vacant seat

Dr. April Pike, interim dean of Memorial University's faculty of nursing, said the registered nursing satellite sites in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Happy Valley-Goose Bay have a total of 72 seats per year. The second- and third- year classes are 75 per cent full.

"With any new program, it has to get out there and people have to see the value of it. But there is value in providing the care for the people within the rural regions of the province and that people have said they need to have nurses everywhere. And this is a place that we need to have our students," she said.

Housing is the main barrier to filling vacancies in rural areas, said Pike, and they have taken steps to help students secure a place to stay.

"A lot of people want to come into the city and into the St. John's campuses and we are well known for our strong program but they do get the same education in the satellite sites," said Pike.

Work commitment

Osborne said the subsidy comes with a one-year return of service commitment for students who receive itin their second year of study. That could take place in a number of sectors, he said.

"It's within the public health system. It may be within the provincial health authority. It could be within a doctor's office, for example. As long as it's contributing to the public health system. A personal-care home. Even home support," said Osborne.

In an email, spokesperson Brian Scott clarified how newly graduated nurses would fulfil their work commitment.

"N.L.Health Services recruiters visit with students at nursing schools to discuss the opportunities that are available and work with graduates regarding their preferred employment opportunity. This may depend on factors such as employment vacancies, nursing training and experience, and seniority," he wrote.

He added that some areas of the province have more vacancies but that new nurses can get a lot of experience and benefits from those areas, and can move to other "preferred positions in the future.

Some nursing jobs need more experience and training and that the Registered Nurses' Unionrequires some jobs be awarded based on seniority, wrote Scott.

Osbornesaid they want to fill nursing seats as well as retain those nurses after they graduate.

N.L. has had a "challenging time" in the health-care system, he said, but improvements initiated through the provincial Health Accord the government's blueprint for health-care reform have been enacted and are improving the situation.

He saidrecruitment efforts inplaces like Dubai, Jamaica and India, have been beneficial. There are also improvements through travelling orthopedic surgeons and Health Force One.

"Things continue to get better in health care. So it's a noble profession. It is a profession where individuals see people through their most stressful times, but can guide them through that and provide the care that they need," said Osborne.

"So we want to fill these seats. We need more health-care professionals in the province."

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