Quebec City, 20 May 2025 — The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ strongly condemns the cuts severely affecting externship programs for nursing students. These placements, offered to nurses who have completed part of their training, enable them to carry out certain professional activities in healthcare institutions and contribute to supporting the network.

This decision, applied by several CISSSs and CIUSSSs, is inconsistent and directly harms the training, integration and retention of the next generation of nurses in a network already in crisis. For the FIQ, this is further proof that the government and network managers underestimate the seriousness of the situation and the importance of investing in future professionals.

“It’s incomprehensible. There is a nurse shortage everywhere, and yet we are slashing a program that contributes directly to training and retaining the next generation of nurses. What kind of message are we sending to these future professionals, while those who still work in the network are struggling to picture a future that holds stability and respect? Preventing a student from doing an externship is detrimental to their training, undermines their motivation and may very well discourage them from staying in the network. And then we’re surprised that we can’t recruit or retain them!” says Julie Bouchard, FIQ President.

Externships are an essential bridge between academic training and practical work in the field. They enable students to acquire concrete skills, develop a sense of belonging to the public network and forge their clinical judgement – three essential levers for successfully entering the profession. In a context where time devoted to orientation and guidance has been considerably reduced, and clinical support has been largely cut this year, externships are becoming more than ever a vital tool for arriving ready and confident in the field.

Back in March, the Syndicat interprofessionnel en soins de santé de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue alerted the Ministry of Health to the effects of these cuts on care safety and team stability. The ministry immediately pointed to Santé Québec. In the regions, there is a glaring workforce shortage. The externship program gives candidates an opportunity to discover the environment and take stock of the day-to-day. It plays an essential role in retaining healthcare professionals.

“There’s no way that, under the pretext of ‘balancing the budget’, we’re going to slash what works. If the government wants to save money, it should stop wasting millions on the private sector, on agencies or on unsound projects like Northvolt or SAAQclic. Certainly not on training future nurses,” concludes Julie Bouchard.

The FIQ applauds the interventions of the Fédération des cégeps and the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec and joins them in calling for a clear directive to quickly restore access to externships throughout Quebec. The FIQ also demands immediate reinvestment in externships and recognition of their strategic role in combating the shortage.

About the FIQ 

The FIQ represents over 80,000 nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists who work in healthcare institutions province wide. It is a feminist organization with a nearly 90% female membership, dedicated to defending its members and patients in the public health network.

For more information:

Philippe Desjardins, Union Consultant, Communication Service
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ