VICTORIA - During the January to April semester, 200 B.C. nursing students re­ceived a total of $400,000 in Nurses Edu­cation Bursaries that will help them with their education-related expenses. The Nurses Education Bursary (NEB) is a provincial program that provides up to $1 million in bursary funding annually to qualified nursing applicants who dem­onstrate the greatest financial need. Each of the students in this round received $2,000. The NEB can make a difference in stu­dents’ lives the way it did for Vancouver Island University graduate Raquel Molina, who received a $2,000 bursary in August 2011. A single mother with two small chil­dren, Molina was grateful for the support that helped her make a fresh start. “The Nurses Education Bursary al­lowed me to focus on my school work and my children,” Molina said. “It helped offset my debt and lessen the financial stress for me and my family. I worked very hard to do well in my studies, become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and pro­vide for my family in coming years. What I have accomplished is the right thing for all, including society.”Molina now works as a private LPN, and contracts to a firm that provides nursing services. “I’m back on my feet, and off and running,” Molina said. “It feels great.”

The Province is committed to deliver­ing high-quality, affordable health educa­tion closer to home. In addition to pro­viding the NEB, the B.C. government is providing $2 million to approximately 302 health-care professionals this year in B.C. Under the loan forgiveness program, health-care providers who work in under-served B.C. communities for three years can have their B.C. student loan debt for­given at a rate of 33 per cent per year. Since 2001, over $7 million in B.C. stu­dent loans forgiveness has been provided for nursing graduates.

Quotes:
Minister of Advanced Education, Nao­mi Yamamoto -
“We are proud to provide financial as­sistance to students while they are work­ing toward credentials that will support them in future jobs. The Nurses Educa­tion Bursary is just one example of how we are helping students to get the skills they need for critically important careers such as those in British Columbia’s health-care sector.”

Dean of health and human services, Vancouver Island University, Carol Stuart - “Vancouver Island University applauds the Ministry of Advanced Education forhelping students succeed and increasing the health-care workforce.

The Nurses Education Bursary pro­gram allows students to focus on their studies and obtain the professional train­ing they need to work as top- quality em­ployees in the B.C. health-care system.”
“VIU is pleased to be able to provide nursing education to students in the Van­couver Island region, and support the needs of the local health authority.”
Executive VP, People and Organiza­tional Development, Practice and Chief Nurse, VIHA, Dr. Lynn Stevenson -
“Helping nursing students to pay for their education will help strengthen the nursing profession by attracting new nurses and enabling our existing work­force to upgrade their skills.”

Quick Facts:
Applicants in eligible nursing pro­grams are automatically assessed for bursaries based on financial need on their full-time StudentAid BC loan application.
The bursary is awarded in one of three study periods: January to April, May to August and September to December in each year.
More than 6,200 students have re­ceived over $19.8 million through the NEB program since 2001.

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