A provincial announcement giving colleges the option to deliver stand-alone nursing degree programs is being welcomed by Canadore.

Officials say it will produce more qualified nurses to fill key shortages in many communities.

“We are very pleased with this decision as it will provide greater access to people in our region who want to pursue a career in nursing, as well as meet the growing healthcare needs of Ontario,” said Canadore College President, George Burton.

“There will be an orderly transition for the students and affected post-secondary institutions. Students currently enrolled in existing programs will remain and be given the opportunity to finish. Details regarding program transition for those colleges that wish to offer stand-alone programs will be forthcoming. The change in the credentialing is to increase access to Nursing programs,” says Burton.

Since 2000, the province has required any college looking to offer a nursing degree program to partner with a university.

A release from the college says, “This has created unnecessary costs and other bureaucratic hurdles that often discourage students from going into nursing. For example, it can often mean students enrolled in a college program have to relocate to a different community to complete their studies at university. That’s despite the fact a number of colleges have the capacity to deliver the full program on their own. A number of colleges already deliver at least 90 per cent of the current curriculum and some colleges currently deliver 100 per cent of the curriculum. Providing students with the option to complete their nursing degree program in one community reduces the costs for students and government and makes nursing programs more attractive to many students.”

Colleges can continue to partner with universities or offer four-year degree programs on their own.

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: Canadore College, north bay