Source: Communications NS

The province is putting up more money to boost staffing levels in our hospitals.

Premier Tim Houston announced a new nursing program at Acadia University and a plan to add 180 seats to NSCC’s over the next few years.

Acadia will graduate 42 nurses in 2026 and 63 nurses every year after. It will begin in September as a satellite from Cape Breton University and then become stand alone in Wolfville.

“We have a long-term plan for healthcare in Nova Scotia and that includes working with post-secondary institutions to find every possible solution to train more healthcare workers, faster, here at home,” said Houston. “We know Nova Scotia needs more nurses and we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure they have a nurse when they need one. More nursing seats means more opportunities for people to learn, work, live and to care for people in communities across the province.”

A total of 30 seats will be added at community colleges in the Valley, Strait, Lunenburg and Truro starting in 2024.

“With this significant investment to support the creation of 180 additional practical nursing seats, the college will be able to augment its training capacity to help support the real needs in this vital caring sector.” said NSCC President Don Bureaux.