Assiniboine College celebrated a new rural rotating Practical Nursing site in Steinbach on September 26 alongside program staff and students, community partners, the regional health authority and the Minister of Advanced Education. This site aims to address the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in rural Manitoba by providing accessible training opportunities closer to home.
"Assiniboine College is committed to delivering high-quality, hands-on education that meets the needs of Manitoba's workforce," said Mark Frison, President of Assiniboine College. "This rotating site in Steinbach will allow students to train in or near their own communities, reducing the barrier to training and supporting healthcare services in rural areas. We thank our partners in the community, the health region and the province for ensuring we can offer opportunities to the students learning here."
The Practical Nursing program offers classroom instruction, lab experience, and clinical placements to ensure graduates are well-prepared to serve their communities.
"Expanding training opportunities for healthcare professionals is essential to the long-term strength and resilience of our healthcare system," said Dana Human, Interim CEO of Southern Health-Santé Sud Regional Health Authority. "These educational opportunities support a sustainable workforce that can meet the evolving healthcare needs of our population. The collaboration between all the partners here reflects a forward-thinking approach, and we're excited to welcome new graduates into fulfilling nursing careers."
The launch of the Steinbach site also aligns with the Province of Manitoba's commitment to increasing training capacity for healthcare professionals and bolstering the number of people working in Manitoba's healthcare sector.
"Assiniboine College's Practical Nursing program site in Steinbach is a meaningful step forward in our commitment to strengthening healthcare across Manitoba and training Manitobans closer to home," said Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training. "By expanding access to nursing education in communities like Steinbach, we're not only creating new opportunities for students, but also helping to build a more resilient and responsive healthcare system for all Manitobans."
"We are happy to be celebrating this day with students in our community," said Mayor Earl Funk, City of Steinbach. "Welcoming Assiniboine College's Practical Nursing program to our community not only opens doors for local students to pursue rewarding careers but also helps ensure our residents have access to the care they need, now and into the future. This is a great step towards working together to create a good environment for all healthcare in our community."
In addition to rural rotating sites, the college has permanent Practical Nursing programs at its campuses in Brandon, Winnipeg, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie. For more information on the Practical Nursing program at Assiniboine, visit assiniboine.net/nursing.
