Nursing students currently must attend over 650 hours in their fourth year to reach the curriculum requirements. Thats almost the equivalent of a full time job. Yet, we do not get paid. Majority of students cannot manage a job while completing these hours and many students were forced to lose their jobs in the summer due to classes. This has made it extremely difficult for nursing students to accumulate any savings, buy groceries, pay for gas, rent or anything else. The Government of Ontario has the ability to manage the nursing crisis by allowing more nurses to spend more time studying and focusing on finishing the program, as opposed to all the time we spend worrying about finances. Many other trade programs allow for paid co-ops and apprenticeships, so why can’t we? Please sign this petition to pay nursing students for their hard work and help in hospitals during our consolidating year.