https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/01/05/remunerer-stages-cliniques-en-soins-infirmiers
Cost-of-living crisis and nursing shortage emphasize the need to reconsider structure of apprenticeship
By Kathy Dinh
January 5, 2026
istockphoto.com/FrazaoStudioMX
Nursing students are found to positively contribute to primary health care, directly assisting with patient care in the clinical setting. As such, there is no reason that they should not be compensated for their labour.
Most nursing students are worried about their finances, with more than a quarter having contemplated dropping out or transferring programs because of financial difficulties. That’s what the first nationwide survey of 3,751 nursing students at the end of 2024 critically revealed.
The survey also found that most students felt that the current financial support measures were inadequate; over 40% stated that financial challenges had a significant negative impact on their health.
Although unpaid clinical placements have been an ongoing issue championed by different nursing unions, the current cost-of-living crisis and nursing shortage in Canada emphasize a dire need to reconsider the long-standing structure of nursing apprenticeship.
As part of their education, nursing students must attend clinical placements as early as the first year of their program. The number of hours spent at their clinical placement increases every year, typically amounting to a minimum of two clinical shifts per school week. Despite fewer hours in class and more time at hospitals, tuition — which doesn’t include the costs of books, certifications, supplies, travel expenses, and parking fees if you do have a vehicle — remains the same.
While financial support measures, such as provincial student financial assistance programs, can cover academic fees, these measures are not enough. According to Statistics Canada, almost half of Canadians were concerned about being unable to meet their day-to-day expenses due to the rising food and housing costs in 2024. Young adults, in particular, disproportionately reported high financial stress, which is correlated to reporting poorer quality of life.
To make matters worse, compared to other programs, such as trades, engineering or even political science with co-op placements where students are paid at least minimum wage, nursing clinical placements are all unpaid. Though nursing students do not choose this profession for money, having no financial compensation for these clinical hours worked makes handling academic, work, and life responsibilities nearly impossible, often leading to moral distress and burnout.
It is no secret that there is a nursing shortage in our country. Statistics Canada reported 28,700 vacant positions for registered nurses, of which 56.1% were long-term vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2023. By offering paid clinical placements, we can improve the well-being and retention of nursing students, which will have positive long-term effects on our health-care system. These effects include reducing burnout, enhancing the quality of nursing education, and ultimately addressing the growing number of vacancies.
Already, other countries have begun implementing policies to initiate paid clinical placements. For example, the Australian minister of education introduced Bill 2024, which allows nursing and midwifery students since mid-2025 to receive about CA$285 a week during their mandatory training placements.
Nursing students are found to positively contribute to primary health care, directly assisting with patient care in the clinical setting. As such, there is no reason that they should not be compensated for their labour. Potentially, there could be a trial period where nursing students are paid the federal minimum wage of $17.75 per clinical hour, and adjustments can be made following the results of the trial.
No longer can we afford to ignore the reality of many nursing students being pushed to sacrifice their physical and mental well-being due to the lack of financial support. Now is the time for policy-makers to step up and invest in the future of nursing.
Kathy (Giang) Dinh, RN, works at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and recently graduated from the nursing Bridging Pathway program offered by the University of Ottawa in collaboration with Algonquin College.
#opinions
#education
#nursing-education
#recruitment-and-retention