In response the increased demand for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in B.C., health care assistants will now have more financial support to allow them to ‘ladder up’ their careers to become licensed practical nurses and develop skills to provide care to seniors across the province. BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) lauds Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care Mable Elmore for a new provincial government-funded bursary program for healthcare Assistants (HCAs).
The province will be providing $3 million for the bursary fund for HCAs registered in an access to practical nursing (APN) program from September 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023 at a qualifying post-secondary institution. Each eligible HCA will receive $10,000 to cover the cost of the program, which includes tuition and fee costs. Participants will be required to sign a 12-month return of service agreement, committing to work in the healthcare system following graduation from the program.
“We are extremely pleased to have long-term care staffing shortages being addressed, as well as having improved pathways for HCAs,” says Terry Lake, BCCPA and Engage BC CEO. “BC Care Providers Association is among those who have strongly advocated for these kinds of opportunities for our current healthcare workforce to ‘ladder up’ into positions with more responsibility and better pay. We thank the Minister and PS Elmore for their efforts behind the scenes to make this program happen.”
It is hoped that this new bursary program will also help meet the increased demand for nursing staff in B.C.
To read the official release and supporting information, click here.
To learn more about our advocacy on Health Human Resources, visit our HHR page.
