The provincial government is monitoring the situation involving students at Memorial University’s School of Nursing very closely.
The final semester for about 70 nursing students is in jeopardy due to the MUNFA strike.
Those students are in the middle of completing their clinicals, and if the strike drags on, that could mean a delayed graduation and a delay in starting the jobs many of them have already lined up.
Premier Andrew Furey says government is looking at potential measures available, while also recognizing that a collective bargaining process is underway.
Furey wouldn’t specify what specific measures they are looking at, but did say that they are looking at all instruments available to ensure that nurses have access to the education and career that they have trained for.
(MUN Nursing Madison Bailey.)
Student Madison Bailey says a prolonged strike would have financial implications for students who are not allowed to have other jobs during clinicals, which are unpaid.
She says students really need to start working on May 1. Outside of that, they are seeing first-hand the challenges facing the health care system and they wish to be part of the solution.
