CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Conestoga receives provincial funding for accelerated nursing degree program

The province is investing $2 million in Conestoga, St. Lawrence College, Western University and York University, each receiving up to $500,000 to support the development and implementation of the accelerated nursing program, beginning in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.

"Conestoga is honoured to receive this grant to support the accelerated training of nursing students. Our accelerated BScN stream will offer a comprehensive nursing curriculum over 32 months, allowing students to expedite their academic journey to enter the workforce one year faster," said Natalia Ronda, dean of Health & Life Sciences.

"Conestoga believes this transformative grant will help address nursing workforce shortages and strengthen the province's health-care system."

The accelerated degree program will allow registered nursing (RN) students to complete their undergraduate program within three to 3 1/2 years instead of four.

The funding is part of $4.2 million earmarked to expand nursing education across the province to improve access to care by ensuring more nurses are ready to work in communities across Ontario.

The new investment will also support the addition of prescribing education into the registered nursing curriculum at three institutions, allowing nurses to play a greater role in patient care by prescribing medication. This will make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to include RN prescribing in undergraduate programs.

Capacity for nursing programs in northern and rural Ontario is also being expanded, increasing enrolment and creating new clinical placement opportunities.

"By investing in education and accelerating training for nurses, our government is protecting Ontario and building on our progress to grow our nursing workforce for years to come," said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "These investments will help ensure families can connect to the care they need no matter where they live, while also supporting the next generation of health-care professionals."

Conestoga's new Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is a four-year program that prepares graduates to provide care that is relevant, connected and responsive. Extensive hands-on clinical learning opportunities provide students with strong foundations in nursing practice across a variety of settings and client ages. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario.

The School of Health & Life Sciences offers a range of credentials to assist individuals achieve their goal of becoming a health-care professional. From pre-health programs, through to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and degrees, the School of Health & Life Sciences delivers the most up-to-date training provided by expert faculty and staff in state-of-the-art facilities.