Nursing Retention Program

As of January 2007, the Regional Association of West Quebecers collaborated with Heritage College and McGill University creating the McGill Nursing Retention Program. The West Quebecers initiated this partnership between the English-speaking community and the region's public health care providers. By working together, the partnership increases the number of nurses that decide to stay and work in the Outaouais.

The two-year project, funded by Health Canada, facilitated the development of a comprehensive French-language program specifically designed for nursing students.

At Heritage College, this project is a cross-departmental program between the Department of Modern Languages and the Department of Nursing.  The goal of the program is to graduate English-speaking nurses with enhanced French language skills. With this customized component to the existing nursing curriculum, students can enhance both oral and written communication skills and so become better prepared to work in the Quebec health care system. This project has been highly successful with more student placements in Quebec and increased retention of nurses in the Outaouais region. This collaborative arrangement among the three partners has an 80% success rate in retaining the participating nurses.

The West Quebecers continue to administer this comprehensive program locally.