She wants to be a nurse, but a 94% average wasn't enough to get into program

Abby Poffenroth spent her high school years focused on one thing: becoming a nurse.

When she graduated this past spring with a 94 per cent average, Poffenroth never imagined she wouldn't make the cut for the program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S.

"I knew it was pretty competitive, but I didn't realize it was as competitive as it was until I got the letter saying I was not accepted," said Poffenroth, 18, who is from Antigonish.

"I had my mind so set on it.... I wasn't really thinking about any other options."

Nova Scotia's desperate need for nurses has some people questioning why the province doesn't simply train more people like Poffenroth, especially as those who are from the province are more likely to stay and work.

Premier Tim Houston has said it's an option being considered, but the solution is more complicated than it sounds.

That's because the staffing gaps they need to fill are limiting the number of students who can be trained, as the programs contain clinical, on-the-job components.

Last week, Houston announced the province was guaranteeing all Nova Scotia nursing graduates a job for the next five years. The province estimates there are 700 nursing graduates a year. 

At that time, he was questioned about increasing school capacity. He responded that problems with finding clinical spots need to be addressed before the province can commit to training more people.

"I think we've got to make sure that the product we're offering is the best it can be," he said. "Then increasing enrolment of that product is ... part of the long-term solution, so it's certainly something that we want to do."

Poffenroth is one of four Nova Scotians who spoke to CBC News after they were rejected by nursing programs in the province due to intense competition. The others did not want their names published out of fear it would affect their chances when they apply again.

They pointed out the significant shortage of nurses in the province is not caused by a lack of interest in the field.

St. FX did not reply to multiple requests from CBC News about the number of applications it receives for the program.

But the stiff competition isn't just in Antigonish.