SYDNEY, N.S. — There are more than 300 additional nurses licensed in the province this year compared to 2018, the Nova Scotia College of Nursing reports.
It reflects 260 or 2.7 per cent more registered nurses and nurse practitioners and 48 or 1.1 per cent more licensed practical nurses who are now qualified to work as a nurse in this province as of Nov. 1.
“As the new and only nursing regulator, this was our first time re-licensing nurses of all designations in this province — LPN, RN and NP,” Sue Smith, CEO and registrar of the college, said in a news release. “In our public protection role, Nova Scotians are our top priority and the annual licence renewal process is a way to ensure that every nurse working in the province is qualified to provide safe and competent nursing care. As of Nov. 1, there are 13,993 nurses who fulfill this role.”
To mark six months in operation as the new nursing regulator, the college will host an open house Dec. 4 from 3-5 p.m. at its new office in Bedford. The event is open to the public and is a way to meet the organization’s new board, senior leadership team and staff, network with leaders, nurses and community members and learn more about the organization.
The open house comes on the heels of a three-year collaborative effort to create one single body to regulate all nurses in Nova Scotia. On June 4, the Nursing Act was proclaimed and the two legacy nursing colleges dissolved, paving the way for new college as the sole nursing regulator in Nova Scotia.
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