Background
- 1 % of registered nurses in Canada are Aboriginal.
- Fastest growing demographic in Winnipeg.
- Marked difference between health status, infant mortality, chronic illness, life expectancy in Aboriginal populations compared to other Canadians.
(SSCSAST, 2000)
The Purpose of the Initiative
- Increase the number of Aboriginal nurses in the province and Canada.
- Promotes flexibility with scheduling of courses.
- Provide peer support for the science, stats and nursing courses needed for entry to the BN program.
- Provide counseling and advising support that is seamless from U 1 to Year 4.
Long Term Goals
- Provide conditions to optimize a workforce that is responsive to community needs.
- Achieve and maintain adequate number of Aboriginal health care workers, to ensure culturally competent health care.
- Facilitate adaptation of health curricula to improve cultural competence.
Non-Academic Admission Requirements
Please follow link above for details.
Special Consideration Category
Applicants from the Aboriginal populations of Canada and the University of Manitoba Nursing Access program - please follow link above for details.
Updated January 2012
Aboriginal Cohort Initiative
The Program in Brief
"I went to high school in a small community, and I didn't think I had the proper education to "make it" in University. But the ACCESS Aboriginal cohort gave me all the supports I needed to achieve academically. And once I started in the program I found that all the other students in the cohort were in the same boat I was. We were all scared, but we quickly all became like a family and helped each other out. I don't think I could have made it this far without the cohorts' continuous support!" (Jacqueline, Nursing student)