NS Premier Announces CBU Satellite BScN Program at Acadia University

Anyone interested in becoming a nurse in Nova Scotia will have more options as the Province is increasing the number of nursing seats across the province, with many opening this fall.

Premier Tim Houston announced today, May 11, the government will provide $1.9 million to support a new nursing program at Acadia University, in partnership with Cape Breton University.

“We have a long-term plan for healthcare in Nova Scotia and that includes working with post-secondary institutions to find every possible solution to train more healthcare workers, faster, here at home,” says Premier Houston. “We know Nova Scotia needs more nurses and we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure they have a nurse when they need one. More nursing seats means more opportunities for people to learn, work, live and to care for people in communities across the province.”

The new nursing program at Acadia University will be a satellite site of Cape Breton University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The program will start in September 2023, and eventually transition to a standalone program at Acadia.

“Quality nurses are foundational to any strong healthcare system, and we are thrilled that Premier Houston recognizes this and is taking action to create more opportunities to train skilled nurses in Nova Scotia,” says David C. Dingwall, President and Vice-Chancellor of CBU. “This partnership with Acadia University will allow more educational opportunities outside the urban core and enhance access to exceptional nurses in more rural and remote areas of our great province.”

Applications for the CBU BScN program at Acadia will open May 29, 2023. About 50 per cent of the nursing seats in the program at Acadia University will be designated to Mi’kmaq, Indigenous and African Nova Scotia people. In total the the program at Acadia University will graduate 42 nurses in 2026 and 63 nurses every year after.