Many faces, one profession makes a career in nursing

OSHAWA, Ont. - On Thursday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College, in partnership with the Durham Region Local Training Board, Lakeridge Health, Rouge Valley Health, Durham Access to Care, Whitby Mental Health, and the Regional Municipality of Durham's Health Department and Services for Seniors, held a unique career awareness event for students of Durham Region to promote educational and career opportunities in the field of nursing at the Oshawa campus.

Over 125 students and teachers attended this event. They heard from various nursing professionals about the diversity of careers and future opportunities in acute and specialty care nursing, gerontology, mental health, and community care and public health, and toured the Durham College and UOIT state-of-the-art lab and training facility.

In her opening address, Irmajean Bajnok from the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, remarked that "the demand for Nurses will intensify and prospects have never been brighter," despite recent staff reduction announcements in some Ontario hospitals.

According to the Canadian Nurses Association, 50 per cent of nurses will reach retirement age in the next five to seven years, and the nation can expect a shortage of more than 100,000 nurses by the year 2011.

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About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading edge research, and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused undergraduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education, as well as a Master's degree in Information Technology Security. It is also developing leading edge research and graduate programs, and is Ontario's first laptop-based university. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 1,800 students since its inception in 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Media contact:

Rick Lea, executive director
Durham Region Local Training Board
905.666.3620
localtrainingboard@sympatico.ca

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
tania.henvey@dc-uoit.ca