New Brunswick has a bold new vision to add 130 nurses a year over the next 10 years to resolve the nursing shortage currently facing the province.

The province has 8,000 nurses; however, the acute shortage has led to the closure of hospitals in Bathurst, Perth-Andover, Saint John and Dr. Georges L-Dumount University Hospital centre.

The main focus is to give better education incentives for students to make it affordable in the province and on attracting internationally trained nurses.

The province is looking into having a bridging program for students to enable licensed practical nurses to obtain a nursing degree and thus help them become a registered nursed in 2 years.

The province is also planning to identify countries which have similar nursing programs and grant them accreditation. The province is looking at all options to streamline the accreditation process.

Also, being considered is giving nurses bonuses to work in rural areas for areas for a few years.