The provincial government is investing in 37 additional nurse training seats for University College of the North’s three campuses.

 

The funding is for UCN’s Diploma in Practical Nursing program, which is offered in Thompson, Flin Flon, and Swan River.

 

The president and vice-chancellor of the institution Doug Lauvstad states this means that intake will double at the Thompson campus, meaning they can take 20 students into the program every year instead of every two years.

 

He adds the announcement helps address the staffing issues facing the northern health care system.

 

“The North is challenged in terms of recruitment and retention of professionals, particularly health professionals. We all know that if you teach people in the North with an institution that’s in the North for jobs in the North, they will stay in the North.”

 

The investment is worth up to 4.3 million dollars.