SAINT JOHN (GNB) – The provincial government is providing financial support to help the University of New Brunswick (UNB) create a three-year bachelor of nursing program in Saint John.
The pilot program, launching in September 2024, will complement the university’s current four-year delivery model by offering the regular program in a condensed timeline.
“Our government continues to do everything it can to satisfy the demands for resources in the province’s nursing profession,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Arlene Dunn. “Our continued focus on this issue, alongside our various partners like UNB, is laying the foundation that will help us meet the labour force needs of our health-care system.”
The provincial government is providing an initial sum of $412,000 to help the university establish the program. It will provide up to $1,237,500 over a three-year period based on the evaluation of early success and results.
With the new option, UNB’s Saint John campus will offer 21 additional seats for the bachelor of nursing program.
“UNB is dedicated to improving the lives of people throughout the province,” said Paul Mazerolle, UNB president and vice-chancellor. “Together with the Government of New Brunswick, we continue to find exciting and innovative ways to address health-care staffing gaps around the province.”
The program delivery has three terms per year instead of two, leading to faster completion of the program. Broadening the pathway into nursing will offer students flexibility and choice in accessing their education, making it easier for more of them to complete their degrees, said Dunn.
This latest initiative responds to the action item related to the enhancement of nursing education in New Brunswick included in the Nursing Resource Strategy and complements other initiatives such as:
- Helping some nursing students study closer to home in Miramichi and Moncton.
- Expanding nurse practitioner programs at Université de Moncton.
- Launching Step Up to Nursing, a nursing program that combines work and education and provides salary and tuition support to participants.
- Offering a mental health specialization and doubling the number of nurse practitioner seats at UNB.
- Increasing the number of seats available for licensed practical nurses to apply directly to a bachelor of nursing program.
