Recruiting Starts for Province’s First Internal Travel Nurse Program
Nova Scotia is creating an internal travel nurse program that will see registered nurses help staff emergency departments. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
Registered nurses can now apply to participate in the province’s first internal travel nurse program.
The pilot program will create a Nova Scotia Health travel nurse team to be deployed to emergency departments.
“We committed to establishing an internal travel nurse team so we can limit the hiring of nurses from external companies,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This program is the first of its kind in the Maritimes and is intended to help retain and provide a different opportunity to those already working in our system and bring those currently working for external travel nurse agencies into our public healthcare system.”
The new program will hire 20 to 30 full-time registered nurses and offer internal and external candidates an opportunity to grow their skills and experience, travel and work in different areas.
Expected to launch by the end of March, it is a joint effort of the Province, Nova Scotia Health and the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions.
Quotes:
“We’re very excited to be accepting applications for this pilot program. This is the result of a tremendous amount of work in close partnership with the council of unions, which will ultimately provide safer, more timely access to care for Nova Scotians and help Nova Scotia Health continue to attract and keep registered nurses.”
— Annette Elliott Rose, Chief Nurse Executive and Vice-President, Clinical Performance and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Health
“Since before the pandemic, nurses’ unions have been calling on the Province to reduce its reliance on agency nurses. This announcement is a step in the right direction, one that provides structure, support and stability for those interested in working in this area of nursing and for Nova Scotians who require care.”
— Janet Hazelton, Chair, Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions, and President, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
Quick Facts:
- Nova Scotia Health and the council of nursing unions will share details soon about information sessions for interested candidates
- nurses on the team will have $6 per hour, or 15 per cent – whichever amount is higher – added to their registered nurse base hourly rate for all shifts worked as a travel nurse
- internal candidates will continue to accrue pension and seniority and maintain their benefits with Nova Scotia Health
- the Province announced changes to limit hiring of external travel nurses in December 2023
Additional Resources:
Provincial internal travel nurse program job posting: https://jobs.nshealth.ca/nsha/job/All-Locations-Internal-Travel-Nurse-Emergency-Department-NS/589878117/
News release – New Approach to Hiring Travel Nurses: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/12/04/new-approach-hiring-travel-nurses
Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare: https://actionforhealth.novascotia.ca/