The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador is raising concerns about Memorial University’s decision to suspend the three-year accelerated option of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, questioning how the move aligns with the province’s urgent need for nurses and improved access to healthcare.
“With the nursing shortage we are facing, any decision that reduces pathways into the profession needs to be carefully examined,” said Yvette Coffey, President of the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador. “We understand Memorial University is under financial pressure, but our public healthcare system is under enormous strain as well, and nurses are essential to keeping it functioning.”
Memorial University has stated the decision was based on enrolment, attrition, and cost. The union says that, to date, clear public data has not yet been made available to demonstrate how suspending this program improves access to healthcare or strengthens the nursing workforce.
“This is a public institution making decisions that affect the public healthcare system,” said Coffey. “It is reasonable for people to ask how this decision serves patients, families, and communities, especially at a time when access to care is already a challenge.”
The union is also questioning whether all options to strengthen and support the program were explored before suspending it.
“If a program is not reaching capacity or students are struggling, the first question should be how to fix that,” said Coffey. “We should be looking at recruitment, student supports, and long-term workforce needs before removing an education pathway altogether.”
Coffey noted that flexibility in nursing education is particularly important for rural, remote, and underserviced areas, including Labrador, where access to care is already fragile.
“Accelerated nursing programs can be an important pathway for mature students, students with prior post-secondary experience, and people changing careers, many of whom go on to work in smaller communities,” she said. “When we reduce training options, we risk limiting the future nursing workforce in places that already struggle to recruit and retain healthcare professionals.”
At the same time, Coffey emphasized that the pressure is being felt across the province, including in urban centres.
“This is not just a rural issue or a Labrador issue,” she said. “Even our largest hospitals are under strain, with nurses facing heavy workloads and ongoing mandation because there are not enough nurses to meet patient needs.”
Coffey said the broader issue is stability and access to care.
“Nurses are a critical part of primary, community, and hospital care,” she said. “If we want people to have better access to healthcare, then we need a strong and stable nursing workforce. That starts with education.”
The union is calling on Memorial University and government to work collaboratively with healthcare partners, nurses, and students to ensure decisions about nursing education support the long-term needs of the public healthcare system.
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About the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador represents over 5,800 registered nurses and nurse practitioners across the province, advocating for quality health care, safe working conditions, and respect for the nursing profession.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
Tel: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca