Nova Scotia Receives Comprehensive Nursing Study
Nova Scotia is in a good position with its existing nursing strategy to address nation-wide nursing sector challenges brought forward in a comprehensive study released today, May 9.
The study involved licensed practical nurses and registered nurses from across the country, as well as employers, unions, educators and provincial, territorial and federal governments.
"This work confirms that we're on the right track in terms of our own nursing strategy," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac. "We look forward to seeing how we can improve upon helping our health professionals provide the best quality care possible to Nova Scotians."
The study is part of the federally funded project entitled Building the Future: An integrated strategy for nursing human resources in Canada. The goal of the project is to use solid research findings to create a strategy that incorporates current nursing trends and addresses the challenges faced by the nursing sector.
Representing the most comprehensive analysis of nursing human resources in Canada today, the study outlines 10 recommendations to address the changing needs of Canada's health-care population and challenges such as an aging workforce and a decreasing supply of nurses. Recommendations include creating an adequate supply of nurses, developing a cross-Canada approach to nursing education, enhancing data collection capabilities and addressing workload issues.
"This is a highly-anticipated study and we look forward to taking an in-depth look at how the recommendations fit with what we're doing and how we can establish new directions," said Debra Barrath, nursing policy analyst with the Department of Health. "Many of the recommendations deal with areas we're already working on, such as recruitment in rural and urban areas, clinical placement and continuing education. We have a strategy built for nurses, by nurses, and we'll continue to get their input as we look at these recommendations."
The department will work with the Provincial Nursing Network to study the findings and deliver recommendations for action within the province. Federal consultations with the provinces will take place in early fall.
Nova Scotia is seen as a national leader in its positive and productive collaboration within the nursing sector, through its Provincial Nursing Network. In 2001 the network developed the nursing strategy. Between the years 2001 and 2006, almost $60 million will have been invested by the province to support the strategy.