(Photo Credit: University of Alberta)

By Nathaniel Leigh

University of Alberta

University of Alberta sees surge in nursing program rural enrolment

Mar 21, 2025 | 1:30 PM

The University of Alberta is seeing a significant increase in rural placements and enrolments to their nursing program.

Over the last three years the U of A has run a campaign to recruit, train and graduate rural and Indigenous students to create a pipeline of qualified nursed to work in underserved areas.

Thanks to an investment of nearly $1.6 million by the Government of Alberta, the university was able to create 132 new seats for students in the Faculty of Nursing, allowing an average of 271 rural students to enrol over the past three years.

The number of Indigenous students increased to 100, and opportunities for hands-on practical training in small-town and rural hospital increased by 32 per cent.

Nursing dean Shannon Scott says the shortage of nurses in rural and remote places is dire, and that it is a goal of hers to sees every student have at least one clinical placement in a rural setting.

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Program graduate Sean Knorr says rural nursing keeps nurses involved with people and community and keeps people active and constantly learning.

The university has hands-on learning experiences for nursing students in many smaller communities across northern Alberta.

Ninety percent of University of Alberta nursing students have job offers before they graduate.

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