Hundreds of new nursing training seats announced for B.C.

Feb 20, 2022 | 3:00 PM

The B.C. government has announced plans to add 602 new nursing seats at post-secondary institutions in the province.

The positions will be added to the approximately 2,000 seats currently in nursing programs. The new seats include 362 registered nursing seats, 40 registered psychiatric nursing seats, 20 nurse practitioner seats and 180 licensed practical nurse seats at 17 public post-secondary institutions.

Okanagan College will get 48 new seats for health care assistant to licenced practical nurse laddering with the first intake in January 2023. UBC Okanagan has already added 15 registered nursing seats, which began last September.

As part of the expansion, new seats will support health-care assistants who want to train as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), and LPNs looking to move into a career as a registered nurse (RN).

“Nurses are, indeed, the backbone of health care, but more often than not, their backs are breaking due to the staffing crisis,” said Aman Grewal, president, BC Nurses’ Union. We recognize this investment as a step in the right direction and look forward to working together with all parties to build on today’s announcement for the future.”

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There are approximately 40,000 registered nurses working in British Columbia.

Government provided $5 million to public post-secondary institutions in 2021-22 to begin the expansion of nursing seats throughout the province. The University of British Columbia (UBC), Thompson Rivers University and UBC Okanagan took-in additional students in September 2021, with new and expanded intakes at more public post-secondary institutions opening up over the next year and a half.

“The past two years have shown us just how critical our health workforce is. By supporting post-secondary institutions like the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, University of the Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University, Northern Lights College and Selkirk College, we’re not only expanding the future nursing capacity in the province, but creating pathways to incredibly rewarding, long-term and family-supporting careers,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.

The province says between 2017 and 2020, the number of registered nurses providing publicly funded health services increased by 2,259 or 6 per cent, while the number of licensed practical nurses increased by 1,141 or 12 per cent.

To help grow the next generation of nurse leaders who will teach, mentor and support new nursing students, government is providing an initial $475,000 to support graduate nurse education at UBC, UVIC and UNBC. The funding will provide for the development of faculty and nurse leaders.

by Pete McIntyre

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