CNC unveils expanded Nursing Lab in Quesnel to shore up health care needs

After four months of renovations, the College of New Caledonia (CNC) opened its expanded Nursing Lab at its Quesnel campus today (Monday).

Last year, CNC received just under a million dollars in capital support from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills to convert an existing classroom and renovate the current Nursing Lab.

“Together, we’re investing in training and preparing health-care workers across the province,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

“With this renovated laboratory at the College of New Caledonia’s Quesnel campus, we’re setting our next generation of health-care professionals up for success, so people across B.C. can access the care they need, when and where they need it.”

The expansion will accommodate increased seats and meet new program requirements for the following career trajectories:

• Registered Nurses in the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NCBNP), which is offered in partnership with the University of British Columbia (UNBC); and

In addition, Health Care Assistants in the Career Access Program, which is offered in partnership with Northern Health.

“Providing exceptional learning environments is an important part of ensuring students have a positive experience. We’re grateful for the support of the Government of British Columbia and our opportunities to work with UNBC and Northern Health to help educate the next generations of health care professionals,” said Cindy Heitman, CNC president.

Every year, CNC offers close to 430 seats across its Health Sciences programs. These include, but are not limited to, registered nursing, practical nursing, health care assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, medical radiation technology, medical laboratory technology sciences, dental hygiene, and dental assisting.

Due to the high demand of health care professionals, successful graduates of CNC’s School of Health Sciences enjoy a 94% employment rate in jobs related to their program.