'Lengthy overdue': Alberta broadcasts extra coaching areas for worldwide nurses

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Alberta’s Superior Schooling Minister Rajan Sawhney says the province is funding 1,221 new seats to assist practice internationally educated nurses to work in Alberta.

Sawhney, making the announcement on the College of Lethbridge Tuesday, mentioned these bridging program seats are along with 600 new areas introduced in February.

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“One of many points crucially necessary to Albertans at the moment, and one that may proceed to be necessary into the longer term, is well being care, throughout Canada and around the globe. There’s a excessive demand for the important expertise and experience of nurses,” mentioned Sawhney, who credited former superior training minister, now Schooling Minister Demetrios Niccolaides, with doing the “heavy lifting” on the file.

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The newest spherical of funding will assist create 848 new registered nurse pathway seats and 373 new licensed sensible nurse seats at 9 postsecondary establishments throughout the province over three years.

“That is lengthy, lengthy overdue,” mentioned Sawhney, who added the cash received’t go particularly to hiring instructors, that are additionally in excessive demand.

In Edmonton, $400,000 will fund 90 seats at NorQuest School, whereas $2.4 million will go in direction of 364 seats at MacEwan College. Total, the provincial authorities is placing nearly $11 million into the brand new nurse bridging applications as a part of the 2023-24 price range.

Sawhney’s press secretary, Melissa Crane, informed Postmedia in an announcement as of Sept. 30, each Bow Valley School and NorQuest School had met or exceeded their first-year enrolment targets underneath the $7.3-million effort to spice up seats by 600 over three years. “Collectively, they’ve elevated enrolment by 92 seats, exceeding their mixed yr one goal of 90 seats. Mount Royal College has not but began growth of its bridging program for RNs.”

Additionally in February, the federal government introduced $7.8 million in direction of a bursary program permitting for nurses to rise up to $30,000 over 5 years to assist offset training and residing bills. Those that comply with reside and work in rural Alberta as a nurse after commencement can see $6,000 forgiven for annually labored.

“This can make it much more enticing for them to ascertain their careers the place we want them essentially the most,” mentioned Sawhney.

Crane mentioned that program is being finalized and is anticipated to launch in early November.

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