It’s hoped that MUN’s new school of nursing learning sites in central Newfoundland will help generate greater interest in the nursing profession and retain registered nurses in the region.

The Grand Falls-Windsor location was officially opened yesterday evening while a similar ceremony is taking place at the Gander location today.

Associate dean of satellite sites with Memorial’s Faculty of Nursing, Andrea Watkins, says while enrollment numbers this year are not as high as last, the hope is that training nurses closer to home will help with the expense of post-secondary education, and keep nurses in the community.

She says many of the students in the program are from the region and their families and other supports are there. She says they’re hoping that will help with retention of health care professionals in the region.