SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Questions are being asked about the future of the nurse practitioner program at the Yellowknife Campus of Aurora College.

Bob Bromley: Yellowknife MLA concerned about future of Aurora College program to train nurse practitioners. - NNSL file photo

In the legislative assembly on Feb. 7, Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley raised concerns about funding for the two-year Master of Nursing program which trains nurse practitioners (NPs), along with a six-week introduction to advanced nursing program.

Bromley said he has been told by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) the nurse practitioner program will continue through 2012, depending on demand and funding.

"However, other sources tell me that the program will end when federal funds are cut in 2012," he said in the legislative assembly.

Calling the program vital, Bromley said the 2010-2011 Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) business plan states the GNWT is committed to increasing the number of nurse practitioners in the NWT.

The MLA asked Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty about the long-term future of both programs.

"Our GNWT and ECE are supportive of having more NPs in the Northwest Territories," Lafferty replied. "We will continue to have this discussion with Health and Social Services on what kind of options are there."

The Department of Health and Social Services is noncommittal to the long-term future of the programs.

"Currently, the Department of Health and Social Services has signed a contract with Aurora College for the 2010-2011 school year in the amount of $511,282," said Damien Healy, the department's manager of communications. "The department has informally agreed to fund the programs until the end of the 2012 school year to allow students currently enrolled in the Master's program to complete their studies. The program will be reassessed at that time based on priorities with the HSS system."

Healy explained the department is funding the programs internally with $460,000. The rest of the money comes from the federal Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative, but that support is coming to an end.

The nurse practitioner Master of Nursing degree program is offered by the college in conjunction with Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. There have been 14 graduates since it began in 2009 and there are five current students.

They study in the NWT and do some courses from Dalhousie University by teleconferencing.

Students require a nursing degree to enter the Master's program.

Bromley said 12 of the graduates are working in the NWT.

The introduction to advanced nursing program began in 2001. It offers health assessment skills and techniques needed to practise in remote rural communities.

Aurora College has no comment on the funding issue.

"All I can tell you is it's a really great program and we hope that it continues into the future, That's really all we can say as a college," said Liz Doyle, the manager of college relations and communications at Aurora College's head offices in Fort Smith.

Doyle said the Master of Nursing program adds a lot to the healthcare system in the NWT.

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