News Release

1999-24
February 17, 1999

Federal nursing research fund supports changing health needs

TORONTO - Health Minister Allan Rock today announced that the Government of Canada's 1999 Budget allocates $25 million to a new Canadian nursing research fund. The NURSE Fund will finance research of critical issues related to nursing and the delivery of health care.

"Nurses play a vital role in the health system, and the 1999 Federal Budget recognizes the importance of research to the nursing profession at a time when health care is undergoing fundamental change," Mr. Rock stated to a gathering of nurses and other health care providers at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. "This $25 million NURSE Fund will develop research capacity, and support training and information sharing about solutions to the challenges facing nursing in the coming decade."

In underscoring the importance of nurses in the health system, Minister Rock stressed the need to involve nurses in all aspects of health planning for the 21st century. He also pointed out that the recent health care restructuring across Canada has significantly affected the nursing profession and created challenges related to training and retention of nurses, as well as to attracting new people to the profession.

The NURSE Fund will invest in four areas.

• Nursing Research Chairs: To enhance both the profile and leadership capacity of nursing research, the Fund will support the salaries of university chairs for research on nursing policy, nursing management, nursing human resources, and nursing care.

• Training: To increase Canada's capacity for nursing research related to the changing role of nurses and nursing in the health care system, the Fund will provide support for post-doctoral fellowships, career renewal awards, and student stipends.

• Research Funding: The Fund will support research projects on identifying critical policy and management issues facing nursing, as well as on sharing best practices about nursing care for patients.

• Knowledge Dissemination: This area of funding focuses on maximizing the impact of research results by creating a knowledge network for nurses, including information highway solutions. This will serve as a resource for developing nursing policy and for influencing the management of health care.

The President of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), Lynda Kushnir Pekrul, said today that "designated funding for nursing research will allow us to build the necessary nursing research capacity in Canada. A well-qualified and educated nursing profession will ensure quality care for Canadians now and in the future."

"The Fund will provide a unique boost to an upcoming area of research," said Jonathan Lomas, Executive Director of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. "As the health care system becomes increasingly multidisciplinary and community-based, this investment will play a critical role in developing the knowledge base to train and keep in Canada qualified health services providers."

It is anticipated that all four programs will be initiated in fiscal year 1999-2000. The fund will be managed by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and an advisory committee with representatives from all areas of nursing.

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