$3.4-million investment spread across provincial campuses
The Nova Scotia government announced Wednesday it will spend $3.4 million to expand nursing programs across the province by 226 seats.Nova Scotia’s health minister says more nurses are needed as 832 long-term care beds are added to the system. Chris d’Entremont says the province is also facing a shortage of healthcare workers as nurses retire over the next few years.
Dalhousie University is expanding its nursing programs at its Halifax and Yarmouth campuses by 30 seats this fall with financial help from the province.
The Nova Scotia Community College will receive funding to create 180 practical nursing seats distributed among seven of its campuses across the province.
Cape Breton University in Sydney will also add 16 seats to its Bachelor of Nursing program.
The $3.4-million investment brings the province’s total annual budget for nursing seats to $11.4 million.
Training of the 226 nurses will begin in September.
– The Canadian Press