Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund
There are a number of grants and incentives available to nurses in Manitoba through the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund (NRRF).
Main functions of the NRRF include the development of strategies to assist with recruitment and retention of registered nurses (RNs), registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or nurse practitioners (NPs) in Manitoba.
Listed below is a wide range of strategies funded by the NRRF, including information on eligibility criteria and the application process. Take a look — you may be eligible for one or more!
Questions? Contact Keara Joss, Human Resources Administrative Assistant, at 204-785-4760 or [email protected]
Bilingual / French Requirement Nursing Position Grant
The NRRF established this grant in response to a need for bilingual/Francophone nurses. This grant underscores the importance of French language services, supports nursing staff, helps eliminate barriers to professional practice, and enhances quality and patient safety.
This one-time grant supports bilingual/Francophone nurses to work in a recognized bilingual/Francophone facility or program for a return of service commitment. This allows them to work to the best of their abilities, enabling them to further contribute to improving access to French language health services in Manitoba and to support the needs of the province’s Francophone individuals and communities.
The eligibility criteria for the Bilingual/French Nursing Grant are as follows:
- Bilingual/Francophone nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs) with an active practice license. Graduate nurses are eligible and must provide approval from the respective regulatory college to practice as a graduate nurse.
- Bilingual/Francophone nurses must be newly hired to a position where bilingualism/French language is a requirement and have not been employed in any such position in the 6 months prior to the grant application.
- Confirmed employment as a direct caregiver by an approved employer in a permanent or term position for a duration of at least one year and 0.6 EFT or higher. This excludes terms under one year in length, indefinite terms and casual employment.
- Acceptance of and compliance with the conditions of a return of service commitment of 12 months.
- The Bilingual/French Requirement Nursing Position Grant can be received in conjunction with other financial assistance from the Fund, such as Conditional Grant, Personal Care Home Grant, and Relocation Assistance. However, the return-of-service for any combination will be consecutive.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of $3,000.
Resources:
LPN to RN Training Grant
This grant was established to support Licensed Practical Nurses as they upgrade their education and training to the Bachelor of Nursing level.
To be eligible for the LPN to RN Training Grant, you must:
- Have enrolled with an approved BN program.
- Successfully complete the BN program and be eligible for registration as an RN.
- Have confirmed full- or part-time employment (minimum 0.6 EFT) as an RN within six months of completing the course. Casual positions do not qualify.
- Be willing to commit to a return service for a period of twelve months.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of up to $8,000.
For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.
Conditional Grant for Manitoba’s Nursing Graduates
This grant was established to encourage new graduates to relocate to rural and northern communities in Manitoba and to reduce the number of vacancies in personal care homes in rural and northern Manitoba.
There are two types of conditional grants:
- Financial Assistance of $4,000 for RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs for a return of service agreement in a rural or northern employment opportunity; OR
- Financial assistance of $8,000 for RNs, RPNs, and LPNs for a return of service agreement to work in a personal care home in rural or northern Manitoba.
In order to qualify for the conditional grant, the applicant must:
- Be a recent graduate from an approved nursing education program in Manitoba and within six months of initial registration as an RN, RPN, LPN, or NP.
- Be willing to relocate to a site in rural or northern Manitoba (outside of Winnipeg or Brandon).
- Have written confirmation of employment in a permanent or term nursing position of 0.6 equivalent full time (EFT) or higher. Casual positions do not qualify for the grant.
- Be willing to commit to a return service for a period of twelve months.
- Submit application forms and all documentation to the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund within 6 months of initial registration with their nursing college as an RN, RPN, LPN, or NP.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply.
Resources:
Personal Care Home Grant
The NRRF has established a grant to assist in addressing the workforce requirements to recruit nurses to work in personal care homes for a return of service commitment. This is being offered in the form of a Personal Care Home (PCH) Grant.
The eligibility criteria for the PCH Grant are as follows:
- Nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs) with an active practice license. Graduate nurses are eligible and must provide approval from the respective regulatory college to practice as a graduate nurse.
- Nurses must be newly hired and have not been employed in any personal care home in the last 6 months.
- Confirmed employment as a direct caregiver by an approved employer in a permanent or term positions for a duration of at least one year and 0.6 EFT or more. This excludes ALL terms that are under one year in length, indefinite terms and casual employment. Approved employers are personal care homes that are licensed by the province of Manitoba.
- Acceptance of and compliance with the conditions of a return of service commitment of 12 months.
- The Personal Care Home Grant, which began January 1, 2008, can be received in conjunction with other financial assistance from the Fund, such as Conditional Grants and Relocation Assistance. However, the return-of-service for any combination will be consecutive.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of $4000.
Resources:
Refresher/Re-Entry Courses for RNs, LPNs and RPNs
Financial assistance for up to 80% of course costs (up to a maximum of $2,000) per individual who is a Manitoba resident and is accepted into an approved RN, RPN or LPN refresher or re-entry program.
In order to qualify you require:
- Agreement to work in Manitoba in a full time or part time nursing position for one year upon successful completion of refresher program
- Review of qualifications by professional licensing body
- Acceptance into refresher or re-entry program at applicable educational institution
Resources:
Relocation Assistance
The NRRF established this grant to support recruitment of nurses to Manitoba, offering relocation assistance up to $5,000 for nurses who come to this province to work.
In order to qualify for relocation assistance, the applicant will require:
- Confirmed full- or part-time employment (minimum .6 EFT) in an approved permanent, or term nursing position of at least one-year duration. Casual positions are not eligible.
- Confirmed nursing position as a direct caregiver or first level nursing manager with an approved employer in Manitoba.
- Evidence of licensure with applicable nursing college.
- Applicants are required to have successfully passed their Canadian licensing exams and must provide evidence of registration as an active practicing registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or registered psychiatric nurse prior to being approved for relocation assistance.
- Applicants must agree to work in a nursing position in Manitoba for a minimum of one year.
- Applicants must apply for funding within one year of moving to Manitoba.
- Applicants returning to Manitoba must have resided outside of the province for a minimum of one year.
Upon approval of the application, relocation assistance is calculated utilizing a formula that includes a base amount, mileage, and number of individuals moving.
Resources:
What’s New?
The poster below outlines the current grants and incentives for nurses, further information can be found above or by contacting Keara Joss, Human Resources Administrative Assistant, at 204-785-4760 or [email protected].
Stay tuned for updates and more!