Nova Scotia, a popular province in Canada, has been facing a workforce shortage, especially in the healthcare sector, for a long time. The demand for healthcare workers, majorly nurses, is at an all-time high. Nurses are integral to the healthcare sector in providing quality patient treatments. To fill the nurse shortage in Nova Scotia, the only open method is to welcome international nurses through immigration.
In the post-pandemic era, Canada uses immigration to deal with the labour shortage. To bridge the vacant positions, thousands of immigrants have been invited to Canada so far. Despite historic high immigration plans, Canada needs more skilled workers to ease the constant workforce shortage. Therefore, Canada is looking for skilled workers throughout the world.
At the present time, Nova Scotia is looking for nurses from worldwide and in other parts of Canada. In order to bring international and Canadian nurses, Nova Scotia has taken some significant actions to make it easier for nurses to work and stay in this province.
International nurses from the below mentioned countries are eligible for the new scheme:
- USA
- UK
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Nigeria
- India
- Philippines
However, to obtain a license to work as a nurse, nurses must clear an entrance exam.
The announcement is a first in “Canada strategy” to expedite nurses’ applications.
Sue Smith, the nursing college’s CEO and registrar, told CBC Radio’s Maritime Noon guest presenter Brett Ruskin that it would offer a stable path for international nurses who are eagerly willing to work and stay in Nova Scotia.
She further added that if you hold a valid nursing license, but from a different jurisdiction, we would be considering it. Isn’t it exciting and welcoming?
Registered nurses with a license, great communication skills, and excellent character from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Nigeria, and the Philippines can start working instantly in Nova Scotia after passing an entrance exam.
Nova Scotia demands more licensed nurses to uplift and improve healthcare facilities. Therefore, our system requires to make it easy for nurses who plan to stay and work here to excel in their career, said the Minister of Health and Wellness in the press.
If nurses from other parts of Canada wish to work in Nova Scotia can apply. The application processing time has been reduced from 9 days to 24 hours. This processing time will be active from 29 March 2023.
Conversely, if any international nurse applies, the application will be processed within a few weeks. The concerned authorities will no longer take years to process your application.
According to Smith, patients will continue to get nurse care that satisfies Nova Scotia standards.
She additionally added that we keep the public as the top priority. No matter whether you get the treatment in the hospital or a clinic, you will receive the same level and quality of treatment from a nurse as any other nurse who has been educated and licensed in N.C.
She also said the college, named Nova Scotia College of Nursing, surveyed the licensed nurses from the above-listed countries.
Number of Nurses in Nova Scotia
According to Smith, nurses are the province’s largest group of healthcare professionals.
In 2022, the college registered 282 licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, or nurse practitioners, higher than in 2019, 2020, and 2021 combined.
In an interview with the Canadian press, Janet Hazelton said these changes are needed to recruit nurses to close the nursing vacancies shortly. There are approximately 1,500 vacant nursing positions in Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health Care.
Further, she added that the current university programs are not competent to produce enough nursing graduates to cover those leaving this industry. There are multiple international healthcare workers who are working in service sectors or driving a taxi due to not getting certification.
If international healthcare workers are here and express interest in working in the system, the system must make it easy and possible for them. Till today, it has been very time-consuming and challenging for everyone.
She added another point: we need to improve and increase amenities for the nurses currently working in the system. We need to ensure they have bearable work pressure and enough time to go on vacations.
“Together with our other partners, companies, and government, we can surely have a significant positive effect for all Nova Scotians,” Smith said.
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