Bursaries Offered to French-speaking Nurses

French-speaking nursing students will have extra incentive to begin their careers in Nova Scotia.

The Department of Health is offering bursaries to students and recent graduates of nursing programs who have completed, or are completing, their final term of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program or Licensed Practical Nurse program.

The department is committed to providing more patient care in French to the province's Acadian and francophone communities.

"This bursary program will help attract nurses with these valuable language skills to work in areas of the province that have been identified as having the highest concentration of French-speaking Nova Scotians," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Health and Minister of Acadian Affairs.

The bursaries have a value of $4,000 for registered nurse graduates and $2,000 for licensed practical nurse graduates. They will be awarded to students who are hired in one of the five district health authorities identified as having the greatest need. Nurses will receive the bursary after being hired and will be required to work in Nova Scotia for one year.

Students interested in the bursary can find out more information and download application forms on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ns.ca/health/ .