More Nurses Working in Nova Scotia

There are more nurses working in Nova Scotia compared to last year, according to new statistics released today, Nov. 13, by the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia.

Eighty per cent of the class of 2002 renewed their licences for another year, compared to only 51 per cent in 2001. It is the highest retention rate since 1999.

The statistics also show that 154 more nurses are licensed to work in Nova Scotia and that 282 more are working in permanent full-time or part-time positions compared to last year.

"I'm extremely pleased. Today's information confirms what we've been saying all along -- that Nova Scotia's nursing strategy is working," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "There are more nurses working in hospitals, nursing homes and in the community delivering quality care to Nova Scotians."

Mr. Muir said the most striking statistic is the significantly higher number of new graduates that are staying in Nova Scotia.

One of the main thrusts of the nursing strategy is to keep Nova Scotia-trained nurses in the province to work through incentives such as bursaries, co-op work experience and job fairs.

Another important goal of the nursing strategy is to encourage practising nurses to stay in the province through incentives like professional development and continuing education in the workplace.

The statistics also suggest that fewer nurses are leaving the province. One indication is that 93 fewer nurses asked the college to confirm their licences for another province or country.

"We owe this success to the Provincial Nursing Network and to the many nurses across Nova Scotia who are helping to implement our strategy," said Barb Oke, the province's nursing policy advisor. "Nurses have helped in many ways -- by mentoring a co-op student or helping to arrange a professional development session in the workplace."

The province's $5-million nursing strategy was first introduced in April 2001 and was renewed this year.