BURSARIES OFFERED FOR STUDENTS PURSUING HEALTH DISCIPLINES

Students who want to enter the health professions will benefit from bursary funding in exchange for a commitment to work in Saskatchewan. Health Minister Don McMorris today announced funding for 600 new and continuing return-in-service bursaries.

This year, the provincial government is devoting more than $6 million to support bursary programs in the health field. Closing date for nursing and health sciences bursary applications is May 8.

"Our bursary program is a strong incentive to keep young people in Saskatchewan after they complete their studies," McMorris said. "With our steady economy and vibrant job opportunities, our province, now more than ever, is an attractive place for health care workers to call home. Partnered with the government's goal to address our human resource shortage these bursaries assist tremendously in keeping Saskatchewan health professionals right here at home."

New bursaries will be targeted to Saskatchewan students studying to be licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, nurse educators, primary care nurse practitioners, advanced nurses and those wishing to re-enter nursing.

The bursaries combined with the partnership agreement between the province and the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses has helped to recruit and retain an additional 159 full-time employed nurses who now work in the health system.

New bursaries will also be offered to Saskatchewan students studying health sciences disciplines: including audiology; combined laboratory and X-ray technology; cytology; dental therapy; dietetics and nutrition; public health inspection; MRI technology; medical laboratory and medical radiation technology; midwifery; nuclear medicine; physical, occupational and respiratory therapy; pharmacy; prosthetic and orthotic technology; speech language pathology; clinical psychology; clinical social work; and ultrasonography. Certain health professions will be eligible for clinical placement bursaries.

In partnership with the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the government is offering bursaries throughout the year to students and residents studying medicine.

Students are encouraged to check the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health website for application details on all bursaries. Students interested in applying for bursaries should contact 306-787-7955, e-mail bursary@health.gov.sk.ca, or visit the website at www.health.gov.sk.ca.

Bursaries are provided with a service commitment to work in the province's publicly funded health system, and are one of many ways the government retains and recruits health professionals.

A partnership agreement between the province and the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses sets aggressive targets to add 800 more nurses over the next three years. So far, 159 more nurses are working in the health system during the first 11 months of the 2008-09 fiscal year than during the previous year.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083