The NRRF established this grant in response to a need for bilingual/Francophone nurses. This grant underscores the importance of French language services, supports nursing staff, helps eliminate barriers to professional practice, and enhances quality and patient safety.

This one-time grant supports bilingual/Francophone nurses to work in a recognized bilingual/Francophone facility or program for a return of service commitment. This allows them to work to the best of their abilities, enabling them to further contribute to improving access to French language health services in Manitoba and to support the needs of the province’s Francophone individuals and communities.

The eligibility criteria for the Bilingual/French Nursing Grant are as follows:

• Bilingual/Francophone nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs) with an active practice license. Graduate nurses are eligible and must provide approval from the respective regulatory college to practice as a graduate nurse.
• Bilingual/Francophone nurses must be newly hired to a position where bilingualism/French language is a requirement and have not been employed in any such position in the 6 months prior to the grant application.
• Confirmed employment as a direct caregiver by an approved employer in a permanent or term position for a duration of at least one year and 0.6 EFT or higher. This excludes terms under one year in length, indefinite terms and casual employment.
• Acceptance of and compliance with the conditions of a return of service commitment of 12 months.
• The Bilingual/French Requirement Nursing Position Grant can be received in conjunction with other financial assistance from the Fund, such as Conditional Grant, Personal Care Home Grant, and Relocation Assistance. However, the return-of-service for any combination will be consecutive.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of $3,000.

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• Bilingual/French Nursing Grant Policy
• Bilingual/French Nursing Grant Application Form
• Employer Verification of Incomplete Service agreement for terminated employees

This grant was established to support Licensed Practical Nurses as they upgrade their education and training to the Bachelor of Nursing level.

To be eligible for the LPN to RN Training Grant, you must:

• Have enrolled with an approved BN program.
• Successfully complete the BN program and be eligible for registration as an RN.
• Have confirmed full- or part-time employment (minimum 0.6 EFT) as an RN within six months of completing the course. Casual positions do not qualify.
• Be willing to commit to a return service for a period of twelve months.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of up to $8,000.

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• LPN to RN Training Grant Policy

This grant was established to encourage new graduates to relocate to rural and northern communities in Manitoba and to reduce the number of vacancies in personal care homes in rural and northern Manitoba.

There are two types of conditional grants:

• Financial Assistance of $4,000 for RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs for a return of service agreement in a rural or northern employment opportunity; OR
• Financial assistance of $8,000 for RNs, RPNs, and LPNs for a return of service agreement to work in a personal care home in rural or northern Manitoba.

In order to qualify for the conditional grant, the applicant must:

• Be a recent graduate from an approved nursing education program in Manitoba and within six months of initial registration as an RN, RPN, LPN, or NP.
• Be willing to relocate to a site in rural or northern Manitoba (outside of Winnipeg or Brandon).
• Have written confirmation of employment in a permanent or term nursing position of 0.6 equivalent full time (EFT) or higher. Casual positions do not qualify for the grant.
• Be willing to commit to a return service for a period of twelve months.
• Submit application forms and all documentation to the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund within 6 months of initial registration with their nursing college as an RN, RPN, LPN, or NP.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply.

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• Conditional Grant Policy
• Conditional Grant Application Form
• Employer Verification of Incomplete Service Agreement

All applications for NRRF Continuing Education funding must come from the Regional Continuing Education Committees. Please contact your RHA Nursing CME contact from the list below.

RNs and LPNs working in designated obstetrical units in northern Manitoba (St. Anthony’s General Hospital, The Pas and Thompson General Hospital) are eligible for a retention incentive.

In order to qualify for the incentive in the qualifying year (2024 and/or 2025), the applicant must:

• Occupy a 0.7FTE or greater position; and
• Work in a designated eligible obstetrical unit; and
• Be employed as of March 31, 2024 and/or March 31, 2025.

Nurses who meet all eligibility criteria will receive $4,000 for each eligible year (Year 1 – April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024; Year 2 – April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025).

Resources:

• Northern Obstetrics Nursing Incentive Policy

The NRRF has established a grant to assist in addressing the workforce requirements to recruit nurses to work in personal care homes for a return of service commitment. This is being offered in the form of a Personal Care Home (PCH) Grant.

The eligibility criteria for the PCH Grant are as follows:

• Nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs, and NPs) with an active practice license. Graduate nurses are eligible and must provide approval from the respective regulatory college to practice as a graduate nurse.
• Nurses must be newly hired and have not been employed in any personal care home in the last 6 months.
• Confirmed employment as a direct caregiver by an approved employer in a permanent or term positions for a duration of at least one year and 0.6 EFT or more. This excludes ALL terms that are under one year in length, indefinite terms and casual employment. Approved employers are personal care homes that are licensed by the province of Manitoba.
• Acceptance of and compliance with the conditions of a return of service commitment of 12 months.
• The Personal Care Home Grant, which began January 1, 2008, can be received in conjunction with other financial assistance from the Fund, such as Conditional Grants and Relocation Assistance. However, the return-of-service for any combination will be consecutive.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for a grant in the amount of $4000.

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• PCH Grant Policy
• PCH Grant Application Form
• PCH Grant – Employer Verification of Incomplete Service Agreement
• PCH Grant – List of Personal Care Homes

Financial assistance for up to 80% of course costs (up to a maximum of $2,000) per individual who is a Manitoba resident and is accepted into an approved RN, RPN or LPN refresher or re-entry program.

For information on refresher and re-entry programs, please review the following information for your specific profession.

Registered Nurse

• CRNM Reinstatement Information
• RN Re-Entry Program

Licensed Practical Nurse

• CLPNM Reinstatement Information

Registered Psychiatric Nurse

• CRPNM Reinstatement Information
• RPN Refresher Program

In order to qualify you require:

• Review of qualifications by professional licensing body
• Acceptance into refresher or re-entry program at applicable educational institution
• Agreement to work in Manitoba in a full time or part time nursing position for one year upon successful completion of refresher program

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• Refresher and Re-Entry Program Policy
• Refresher and Re-Entry Program Application Form

The NRRF established this grant to support recruitment of nurses to Manitoba, offering relocation assistance up to $5,000 for nurses who come to this province to work.

In order to qualify for relocation assistance, the applicant will require:

• Confirmed full- or part-time employment (minimum .6 EFT) in an approved permanent, or term nursing position of at least one-year duration. Casual positions are not eligible.
• Confirmed nursing position as a direct caregiver or first level nursing manager with an approved employer in Manitoba.
• Evidence of licensure with applicable nursing college.
• Applicants are required to have successfully passed their Canadian licensing exams and must provide evidence of registration as an active practicing registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or registered psychiatric nurse prior to being approved for relocation assistance.
• Applicants must agree to work in a nursing position in Manitoba for a minimum of one year.
• Applicants must apply for funding within one year of moving to Manitoba.
• Applicants returning to Manitoba must have resided outside of the province for a minimum of one year.

Upon approval of the application, relocation assistance is calculated utilizing a formula that includes a base amount, mileage, and number of individuals moving.

For further information, please contact the Nurses Recruitment and Retention Fund team.

Resources:

• Relocation Grant Policy
• Relocation Grant Application Form
• Employer Verification of Incomplete Service Agreement

Targeting both the recruitment and retention of nurses, the NRRF has allocated ‘one-time’ funding for a range of specialty programs and projects that help nurses enter, or remain in, Manitoba’s nursing workforce.

In partnership with a wide variety of nursing stakeholders, the NRRF has provided funding for numerous specialty nursing education programs and projects throughout the province. NRRF-allocated funds have gone to RHAs and educational institutes to develop programs, assisted with books and tuition costs, and provided stipends for nurses. A key way to retain nurses was through return of service commitments agreed to by the nurses. While all projects were integral to improving nursing resources throughout the province, NRRF funding varied based on the specific program, RHA and educational institute.

Resources:

• Specialty Programs/Projects Policy
• Specialty Programs and Courses Reporting Template
• Specialty Programs and Courses Request for Funding Template