The Saskatchewan government is highlighting a significant growth in its nursing workforce as the province begins celebrating National Nursing Week.
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Health minister Jeremy Cockrill kicked off the week, which runs from May 11 to 17, by thanking the more than 20,000 nurses currently practicing across the province. This year’s theme, “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health,” focuses on the essential role these professionals play in the provincial health-care system.
“This week, we show appreciation to over the 20,000 amazing nurses across our province who put patients first every day,” Cockrill said in a release.
According to government data, the province has hired more than 2,800 nursing graduates since 2023 under its Health Human Resources Action Plan. A 2024 report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information indicates Saskatchewan currently maintains one of the highest nursing workforces per capita in the country.
Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff noted that the 2026-27 budget includes nearly $26 million to further expand training programs. Since 2022, the province has added more than 330 first-year nursing seats across various disciplines, including registered nursing and nurse practitioner programs.
To support recruitment in rural areas, the province is continuing to offer several financial incentives, such as:
- A rural and remote recruitment incentive of up to $50,000;
- Relocation grants of up to $40,000 for nurse practitioners moving to communities with fewer than 10,000 residents; and
- Student loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for those working in designated rural or mid-sized communities.
The government also highlighted new “career laddering” programs designed to help continuing care assistants (CCAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) further their education and advance within the health system.
National Nursing Week coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale on May 12 and is recognized annually across Canada to increase awareness of the nursing profession.
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