Alana Ross, MLA with students who will benefit from nursing loan forgiveness in an effort to recruit more people to the profession. (Derek Craddock/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Loan forgiveness

Nursing loan forgiveness expands to Prince Albert and beyond

Nov 24, 2023 | 5:24 PM

Prince Albert and the Battlefords are among the new communities that will have student nurses and nurse practitioners eligible for student loan forgiveness.

The program works by having the province forgive 20 per cent of their Saskatchewan student loan debt, which equals $4,000 annually up to a maximum of $20,000.

Staying near family makes a big difference for nursing students like Precious Alozie.

“When I heard I could take my entire USask College of nursing program here in Prince albert I was super relieved because that way I don’t have to leave my family behind. It’s been a life-changing situation for me,” said Alozie, who is now in her fourth year.

She can also save money while she remains near her support system.

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It was a nursing student who first questioned Prince Albert – Northcote MLA Alana Ross on why the loan forgiveness program that was available previously to those working in communities with population under 10,000 is also not available here.

Ross said that the provincial minister in charge then acted on the idea as nurses are more attracted to working in Saskatoon or Regina.

“It’s wonderful. It is so good for the city and it is so good for our young nurses and even recruiting young people into the nursing program,” she stated.

The expansion of the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert over the next several years means that the need for nurses will be even greater.

A shortage of health care staff has plagued Saskatchewan for some time and got worse over the course of the pandemic.

That lack of staff is noticeable to even new nurses such as Jeda Jones, who is in her second year of Practical Nursing training at SaskPolytech in Prince Albert.

Knowing some of her loans will be forgiven is a relief, she said.

“I have always wanted to work rural and it makes it easier to stay in my home town. It’s also a big relief financially knowing that I’ll be able to afford certain things once I’m done school and not have so much debt,” said Jones.

She lives in Rosthern and drives in every day for school in Prince Albert.

Students practice on a dummy patient during a tour. (Derek Craddock/paNOW)

Jones took her practicum at the Victoria Hospital and as someone who doesn’t want to go to a larger centre, is optimistic about working in Rosthern or Prince Albert.

“Hearing that they’re getting the expansion as well, it’s very exciting to know that I can add Prince Albert as a place to work,” she said.

She can also see just from her practicum how dire the need is for more nurses and hopes that other young people decide that health care can be a career for them as well.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com