Furey Liberals slashing nursing seats at CONA: Petten
For Immediate Release
(March 28, 2024, St. John’s NL): Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Critic for Health and MHA for Conception Bay South, today reacted with disbelief to learn Budget 2024 has cut nursing seats at College of the North Atlantic in the practical nursing program.
Petten has received information from students and staff that nursing admissions at CONA have been slashed, while 60-65% of nursing instructors are being eliminated.
“This is simply unbelievable. We have a healthcare system in crisis. We have hundreds of vacancies in the healthcare profession. We are paying over $300 an hour for expensive travel nurses to fill critical positions. Yet, the Furey Liberals are dismantling programs that train nurses and laying off staff.”
Petten noted recent commentary has condemned the recent budget for a lack of recruitment and retention initiatives for nurses, while simultaneously continuing to point out flaws in the lucrative contracts with travel nurse agencies.
“We should be expanding nursing seats at the College versus slashing admissions at a time when the healthcare system is very vulnerable. We simply need every nurse we can get. Nurses in the system feel disrespected and are demoralized by the behaviour of this Government. The travel nurses contract fiasco has only made the situation worse. And now to eliminate seats in such a critical program is incredible.”
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Contacts:
Ashley Jackson-Politi
Media Relations Manager
(W) (709) 685-3161
(C) (709) 325-5200