At Manitoba's Red River College, the waiting list for nurses who want to upgrade their skills has become so long that the school is no longer accepting new applications from them.
The college has sent out letters to Licensed Practical Nurse applicants indicating it had suspended accepting applications from LPNs to the accelerated RN program, which takes about two years.
Some nurses have already been on the waiting list for over 5 years.
Twenty-five LPNs are on the waiting list for the college's accelerated RN program, so no more will be allowed to apply, at least for now, said Louise Gordon, spokeswoman for nursing programs at the college.
"It's simply because we don't believe it's fair to have people wait for that long," she said, noting the waiting list is about five years long.
Goverment promises 100 more placesAs reported on Monday, some Manitoba LPNs, frustrated by the wait, are opting to upgrade at Northland College in Minnesota, despite obstacles including higher cost, certification exams and a requirement to attend classes in the U.S. about two days a week.
Health Minister Theresa Oswald said the NDP has committed to opening 100 new spaces for students of nursing.
"We're, on one level, quite delighted that there are lots of people that want to be nurses in Manitoba. It's, on one level, a good problem to have, rather than clamouring for human resources," she said.
"But certainly we know that for every particular program that we created quite recently at Red River, for LPNs to upgrade to RNs, that there is a waiting list that is not satisfactory to people."
However, where those spots will open and for which nursing programs has yet to be determined.
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