Southern Health-Sante Sud and Prairie Mountain RHA partnered earlier this year on a bridging program to integrate internationally trained nurses into local healthcare centres.

There were 16 nurses, with eight in each RHA.

Southern Health-Sante Sud Staff Development Regional Director Kim Dyck says it's part of a program offered at Red River College in Winnipeg.

"For 16 weeks of theory, and then we have the students that enrolled in the program, both in Prairie Mountain and Southern Health-Sante Sud, in a six week clinical placement in our regional health authorities. And then followed by successful completion of their clinical placements, they are hired on as employees in the region."

Recruitment and Retention Officer Jolene Ross Says they could be on the job shortly.

"Probably as early as next week. Right now, they're just waiting on their licencing. There's a waiting period from the time they finish their schooling to the time they actually get their licence. And that's just a processing time through the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba. So we're really hopeful to actually start seeing some start working on July 18th, and maybe a few the week after."

The nurses will be placed in Portage, Altona, and St. Claude.