by Laura Mejia
Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health has announced that working together with nine Ontario universities, the Ontario government has added 121 training positions, including 11 new positions at York University.
Jones says expanding training opportunities to become a nurse practitioner will grow this profession.
“They work in primary care, long term care homes, hospitals and in community settings, providing a full range of health care services including prescribing, ordering and interpreting tests and diagnosing and treating illnesses” said Jones. “Our government recognizes the important frontline work nurse practitioners do to provide people primary care and support.”
In the news conference the Health minister said that with this expansion, Ontario has more nurse practitioner seats than ever before. Additionally, Ontario is the first in Canada to adopt the nurse practitioner led clinics model. Investing over $46 million dollars each year to fund 25 nurse practitioner led clinics across Ontario. Connecting nearly 100,000 patients to the primary care they need.
15-thousand new nurses
Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop, added that this investment is part of the government’s plan “Your Health Plan” to strengthen the healthcare workforce fostering a pipeline of talent for the future. Since this plan was implemented, “Over 15,000 new nurses registered to work in Ontario and with another 30,000 nursing students currently studying at one of Ontario’s colleges or universities” said Minister Jones.
Furthermore, The Community Commitment Program for Nurses offers a $25,000 incentive for nurses committing to work in an area of highest need for two years. The program has hired more than 3,700 nurses since 2020. Growing the pipeline of talent for Ontario’s health care workforce is another way the province is ensuring access convenient and connected care now and for years to come.
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