A report looks at three groups of health-care workers, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and paramedics to examine how they could help provide more primary care. <\/p>\n
When Dechen Palmo found out about a dual-degree nursing program between Canada and India, she said it felt like God had given her a second opportunity. <\/p>\n
The Tibetan lives in India, where her status makes it complicated to travel or even find work. She thought the best way to accomplish both was through her studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom said, \u2018Go for it, go for it! I\u2019m there for you!\u2019\u201d Palmo said in an interview with CTV News.<\/p>\n
Fast-forward nearly four years and Palmo is in Fredericton, N.B. about to start her six-week practicum at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital and a Shannex long-term care home.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IKTUE3P5KVFSDEJDXWNBBZGEJU.jpg\")
Jennifer Joseph receives her red coat. Jennifer Joseph receives her red coat. The nursing student from India will begin a six-week practicum in N.B. before returning to India to complete her nursing degree. She hopes to return to Canada once she graduates (Laura Brown\/CTV News). <\/p>\n
She\u2019ll be part of the first graduating class of 25 students, from the dual-degree program in the fall. Upon graduating she will earn both a nursing degree from Manipal College of Nurses<\/a> and the University of New Brunswick.<\/p>\n The program was created, in part, because of an ongoing nursing shortage in N.B. <\/p>\n \u201cIf we look at our own province, there\u2019s ten more clinics that are going to need nurses. So there\u2019s always going to be a need,\u201d said Dr. Lorna Butler, UNB\u2019s Dean of Nursing and one of the founder\u2019s of the program.<\/p>\n She said it\u2019s considered ethical too, because the 25 students are on top of already existing nursing seats in India. <\/p>\n Administrators went through the curriculum at Manipal line-for-line, to verify it included everything necessary to work as a registered nurse in Canada. <\/p>\n After the students complete their Canadian practicum, they\u2019ll also write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses \u2013 to earn their Canadian license. Butler said she wanted to ensure the graduates could seamlessly enter Canada\u2019s healthcare system without waiting for credentials.<\/p>\n But students won\u2019t be expected to return to Canada and work if they don\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n Butler is hoping at least 19 of the 25 students do consider coming back. She says she has been talking to government and consulate representatives to make sure the graduates do not come across any obstacles navigating Canada\u2019s new immigration policies. <\/p>\n \u201cThe government here is working on our behalf to mitigate what might be happening in the world,\u201d she said. \u201cI mean, we can\u2019t predict what will happen, but we\u2019ve just come through some relationship issues with India and we\u2019ve been able to, I think, have those repaired based on Prime Minister (Mark) Carney\u2019s last visit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Butler says she has not been concerned about Ottawa\u2019s international student cap, because the 25 are receiving most of their education in India and are not full-time international students.<\/p>\n But for students looking to transition into full-time work within the province, challenges could arise due to Canada\u2019s 2026 immigration plan.<\/a> <\/p>\n The 2026 target of 380,000 new permanent residents, is a slight drop from the 395,000 accepted in 2025 and a major shift from 2024, when more than 483,000 were welcomed. The number of new permanent residents is set to remain at 380,000 through 2028.<\/p>\n Butler reiterated the province of N.B. is in constant communication with her and has been working with immigration officials so that the graduates can quickly accept positions in the province. <\/p>\n Students say, \u2018that is my greatest opportunity\u2019<\/p>\n Palmo and her classmate, Jennifer Joseph, reiterated how thankful they are to be a part of the program, during an interview with CTV News.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XVVL6LIQVNCAFBNNRZCGAOKYSI.jpeg\")
Red coat ceremony in Fredericton, N.B. Dr. Lorna Butler, Dean of Nursing at UNB speaks at the red coat ceremony in Fredericton, N.B. Butler founded the dual-degree nursing program between India and Canada four years ago (Laura Brown\/CTV News). <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/TALA7OCR2ZDS5IAX4EW3K6H2EM.jpg\")
Jennifer Joseph and Dechen Palmo Jennifer Joseph and Dechen Palmo speak at the red coat ceremony in Fredericton, N.B. The nursing students are about to enter the last phase of their joint Canada-India degree program before graduating in the fall (Laura Brown\/CTV News). <\/p>\n