Conestoga College to receive provincial funding so nurses can upgrade skills
Posted Dec 1, 2022 03:58:27 PM.
Kitchener's Conestoga College is one of six institutions in the province that will share over $9 million from the provincial government, that will be used to support accelerated critical care nursing.
The announcement was made by the premier and health minister on Thursday.
The Michener Institute in Toronto will also receive over $4.6 million to remove financial barriers for nurses wanting to upskill to work in critical care areas of hospitals.
“While there is still more work to do, our plan to expand Ontario’s health workforce is adding thousands of new nurses, with nearly 14,000 new nurses registered to work in the province so far this year,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re breaking down barriers for internationally educated nurses to work here in Ontario and are providing more opportunity for all nurses to grow in the job. It’s all hands on deck as we use every tool we have to get more nurses working in Ontario right now.”
6,300 of those nearly 14,000 new nurses are internationally educated.
The funding covers tuition for students, all college and hospital costs, including backfilling their roles to ensure continuity of care, allowing nurses to train to work in critical care areas of hospitals.
It's expected by the spring, close to 600 more nurses will be able to work in critical care at Ontario's hospitals.
