Ontario Launches Carleton University’s New Nursing Program to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortage

Ottawa, November 5, 2024

The Ontario government has announced the establishment of a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Carleton University, marking the first new university-based nursing program in Ontario in over 20 years. Aimed at enhancing the province’s healthcare workforce, this initiative is expected to produce over 200 new nurses each year, addressing Ontario’s critical nursing shortage.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Program

Program Details:

• Degree Offered: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
• Duration: A compressed, three-year program
• First Cohort: Up to 110 students, with the initial graduates expected by 2029
• Clinical Partnerships: Students will gain hands-on training starting in their first semester through a partnership with Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Beginning in September 2025, Carleton’s new program is designed to fast-track nursing education, equipping students with the skills to enter the workforce quickly. With Ontario facing a projected shortage of 33,000 registered nurses by 2028, this program will help to alleviate some of the burden on the province’s healthcare system.

Curriculum Highlights

Key Features:

• Early Clinical Placements: Students engage in clinical placements from their first semester, blending theoretical learning with practical experience.
• Specialized Concentrations:
  • Data Science in Healthcare: Incorporates artificial intelligence and digital tools in patient care.
  • Neuroscience and Mental Health: Prepares nurses to handle a broad range of mental health issues.
  • Indigenous Health: Fosters cultural competence, integrating Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum.

Emphasis on mental health is woven throughout the program to prepare nurses to support both patients and their own well-being, enhancing the overall quality of care.

Addressing a Critical Need

Ontario’s decision to introduce this program comes in response to a longstanding nursing shortage, intensified by an aging population and increased complexity of patient needs. Studies have shown that Ontario has the lowest RN-to-population ratio in Canada, underlining the need for urgent action. The new program at Carleton is part of Ontario’s broader plan to increase healthcare access and quality.

Premier Doug Ford emphasized this effort as part of a $50 billion investment in healthcare infrastructure and workforce development, which also includes the largest expansion of Ontario’s medical school network in over a decade.

Building Ontario’s Future Health Workforce

Carleton University’s nursing program is an important addition to Ontario’s strategy for a sustainable healthcare system. “Our government is investing in new pathways to strengthen the healthcare workforce that Ontario families depend on,” Ford said. By allowing institutions like Carleton to innovate, students can now begin their nursing journey right after high school and start working within three years.

Quick Facts:

• Ontario has added 80,000 new healthcare professionals since 2018, with 30,000 more nursing students currently enrolled in colleges and universities.
• The province has committed $128 million to support increased enrollment for nurses, aiming to add 3,000 nursing spots across Ontario institutions.
• The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant has provided nearly 7,500 students in healthcare fields with tuition and other support, committing graduates to work within local communities.

A Vision for the Future

Ontario’s investment in Carleton’s nursing program is an important step in revitalizing nursing education, aiming to produce skilled nurses who are ready to face the demands of a modern healthcare landscape. This new program signifies hope for a strengthened healthcare system, driven by well-prepared nurses ready to make an impact across Ontario.