Sask. government to reduce training period for foreign-trained nurses

Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman says it will soon be easier for foreign nurses to help alleviate shortages across the province.

Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman says it will soon be easier for foreign nurses to help alleviate shortages across the province. Until now, nurses from other countries required more than a year of extra training before they could work here. That is being reduced to 14 weeks.

Merriman said some nurses from the Philippines have been going to Great Britain, where they could begin work immediately, and then making their way to Saskatchewan because the province recognizes British credentials.

"It was an unnecessary step in my opinion. We've worked to streamline that process so that we can get to a faster process to get them in here," he said. Merriman said the changes will increase the supply of nurses, but patient safety will remain the top priority.