In order to meet the province’s demand for nurses, the college of nursing at the U of M is expanding, welcoming a third intake of nursing students.

Earlier program changes have allowed nursing students to complete their studies in 28 months, expediting the previous four-year timeline. This is possible because the program has expanded into three terms per year — fall, winter and summer. The class of 120 starting in summer 2023 is the first semester of the expanded intake.

In a December 2021 press release, the province addressed the need for a strong future workforce of nurses. The conversations around the expansion of nursing programs across the province began around December of 2022, only allowing for approval and implementation to reach the U of M within the last few months.

The provincial government and hospitals decide when nurses are not in as high a demand, a situation in which the increases may be discontinued.

With 120 seats to fill per cohort, and three or four applicants per seat, the addition of another 120-person cohort allows more opportunities for students to enter into the program.

One major post-COVID-19 concern for the college of nursing deals with the degree program’s mandatory theory courses. While students enrolled in the program during the pandemic attended in-person clinical and simulations, with the return to in-person learning, theory classes are seeing a lower engagement and attendance rate.

During the 28-month program, academic and mental health support is available for students, as well as accommodations for time off.