REGINA — As Saskatchewan marked National Nursing Week, nurse practitioner education is expanding to help address workforce shortages and improve access to primary health care across the province.
In the 2025-26 provincial budget, the Government of Saskatchewan committed new funding to Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina to expand the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (CNPP). Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, 13 new seats will be added, increasing total program capacity to 48 seats per year.
“Our government is committed to strengthening Saskatchewan’s health-care workforce and ensuring people across the province have access to high-quality primary care,” Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says. “By adding more seats in the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program, we are supporting registered nurses to advance their training while remaining in their home communities. Ultimately, this will help improve health outcomes for Saskatchewan residents.”
“This investment strengthens Saskatchewan’s health-care system by expanding access to nurse practitioner education,” says Christa MacLean, dean of the School of Nursing at Sask Polytech. “Our CNPP graduates provide comprehensive, front-line care in communities across the province.”
"The increased nurse practitioner graduates will support improved patient access to primary health care for Saskatchewan residents," says Robin Evans, interim dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Regina. "This will result in improved health for the people of Saskatchewan."
The CNPP is a two-year, graduate-level program offered through a partnership between Sask Polytech and the University of Regina. Aside from a one-week residency in Regina during the second year, the program is delivered entirely online.
Clinical practice is completed in communities across Saskatchewan, allowing these students who are registered nurses to remain in their home communities while advancing their education. Online delivery also makes the program a practical option for working nurses balancing full-time employment, family responsibilities and advanced studies.
Nurse practitioners play a key role in Saskatchewan’s health-care system. Nurse practitioners work in diverse healthcare environments, primarily providing primary and acute care in clinics, hospitals and community settings. They frequently work in family care clinics, long-term care facilities and specialized clinics. They can also operate independently, running their own clinics or visiting patients at home. Nurse practitioners are autonomous, advanced practice nurses who diagnose illnesses, order/interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and manage acute and chronic diseases.
Expanding nurse practitioner education supports the government’s goal of ensuring every Saskatchewan resident has access to a primary health-care provider, in line with the Patient’s First Health Care Plan.
