Lambton College's nursing students are being given some extra incentive to work locally, thanks to Ontario's new Learn and Stay Grant.
The province will cover tuition and book costs for successful applicants, if they agree to work in the region for a minimum of six months for every year of study funded by the grant.
College Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Success Mary Vaughan said there's no doubt there's a global shortage of nurses.
"You can go anywhere, and there's a need for nurses," said Vaughan. "Our area right now is our biggest concern in terms of ensuring that we have nurses that are here to serve Sarnia, but our students are sought out globally."
In addition to the two-year Practical Nursing program, the college is also launching a new standalone four-year Bachelor of Science – Nursing program this fall.
Vaughan said students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Nova Chemicals Health & Research Centre, which features state-of-practice simulation labs.
"It's an incredible nursing lab that we have here with all of the bells and whistles," she said. "There are nursing beds, simulations and ICU units. It's an incredible space for students to learn in and we also have great clinical placements."
She said Lambton College has a multi-disciplinary approach when it comes to healthcare.
"If you're in the nursing program, you're working alongside paramedics and social workers and occupational therapy and pharmacy students," she said. "They're all working in the same hub, the same type of wing within our building. It's designed that way particularly to simulate a real-world healthcare facility. The students that come into the nursing program, they're learning the same systems that are in place at Bluewater Health and other healthcare providers in the area. They will know what's expected when they go into work after graduation, so that seamless approach is there for students. It also increases the confidence and safety for patients as well."
Applications for the new funding will open this spring.
For more information, go to www.lambtoncollege.ca.
