The provincial government has opened up additional training spots for nurse practitioners at Ontario universities, including Laurentian University in Sudbury.
This week, the province announced 121 additional training positions have been added to the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program this year.
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced university education that can provide primary care in nurse practitioner-led clinics, long-term care homes, hospitals, and other community settings.
The positions were opened in September at the following institutions:
- 24 new positions at University of Windsor
- 20 new positions at University of Toronto
- 17 new positions at Toronto Metropolitan University
- 16 new positions at Western University
- 15 new positions at Queen’s University
- 11 new positions at York University
- eight new positions at McMaster University
- six new positions at Laurentian University of Sudbury
- four new positions at Lakehead University
“Expanding training opportunities to become a nurse practitioner will grow this important profession, ensuring more Ontarians can connect to high-quality care, when and where they need it,” said Health Minister and Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones.
The Community Commitment Program for Nurses offers a $25,000 incentive for nurses who commit to work in an area of highest need for two years. This program has hired more than 3,700 nurses since 2020.
Applications are open for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for the 2023-24 academic year. The grant provides full, upfront funding for tuition, books and other costs for first-year post-secondary students who enrol in an eligible nursing, paramedic or medical laboratory technologist program and agree to stay in high-needs communities to work after graduation for a term of service.
Last year, the province said more than 15,000 new nurses registered to work in the province, with another 30,000 nursing students currently studying at one of Ontario’s colleges and universities.
