New Master of Nursing in Mental Health and Addictions

Registered nurses wanting to gain advanced skills and education in mental health and addictions care now have the opportunity to do so in Nova Scotia through a new university program.

Dalhousie’s school of nursing will offer Atlantic Canada’s first master of nursing, mental health and addictions this fall. There are 22 spots available.

The new degree program is open to nurses with two years of clinical experience in the mental health and addictions field within the past five years. This graduate program can be completed in two years as a full-time student or in three years as a part-time student.

Graduates of the program will have career opportunities in advanced nursing practice, leadership, administration, management and education.

“The new master of nursing, mental health and addictions is another way we are growing our healthcare teams right here in Nova Scotia,” said Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health. “The new program will help nurses grow their clinical expertise to help Nova Scotians, as well as pass their knowledge to their fellow nurses who are building careers in mental health and addictions.”

The Office of Addictions and Mental Health and the Department of Advanced Education provided Dalhousie University $306,000 to support the program, with additional funding in future years.

Applications for this new program close on April 1. More information, including how to apply, is available at: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/nursing/graduate-programs/master-of-nursing--mn-/mental-health-and-addictions.html

An entrance award equal to the first term’s tuition is available to qualifying full-time students.

Quotes:

“We’re so proud to work with Dalhousie University and support this new master’s program for nurses who want to help people dealing with mental health issues or addiction. Time and time again, post-secondary institutions in Nova Scotia have stepped up to develop new programs or add seats to create additional training opportunities that will help transform the province’s healthcare system. This is innovation in action.”
— Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education

“Nova Scotia nurses currently working in mental health and addictions can apply for this new master’s program, which will deepen their clinical and leadership expertise, provide valuable advanced credentials, and prepare them for rewarding career opportunities in advanced nursing practice, leadership, education and management/administration.”
— Ruth Martin-Misener, Director of the School of Nursing, Dalhousie University

Quick Facts:

• the program includes 250 clinical practicum hours that will be completed in a variety of mental health settings
• provincial funding is estimated to be $237,000 in 2024-25; $187,000 in 2025-26; $160,000 annually for 2026-27 to 2030-31; and $150,000 annually starting in 2031-32
• Dalhousie’s master of nursing program has two other streams – nurse practitioner and professional
• the school of nursing also offers a master of science in nursing and a PhD in nursing

Additional Resources:

Dalhousie School of Nursing: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/nursing.html

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

Mandate Letter for the Minister of Addictions and Mental Health: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-CNS-AMH-Youth.pdf