Provincial funding aims to streamline licensing process for internationally trained nurses

The one-time funding of $340,000 will support the review of the registration and licensing process for internationally educated nurses

CITYnews halifax \ Dan Ahlstrand

Listen to this article

The province is providing funding to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing to review the licensing process for internationally trained nurses.

According to a release from the Department of Health and Wellness, the review is to look at the current process and to determine if it can be streamlined to get international nurses their licences sooner.

“The demand for healthcare professionals, including nurses, has increased since the pandemic started, with all jurisdictions competing to attract these highly skilled workers,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness.

“Today’s announcement builds upon other important initiatives to secure and retain nurses throughout Nova Scotia, including the government’s commitment to fund 200 new nursing seats and guarantee every nurse graduate over the next five years a full-time job.”

The Nova Scotia College of Nursing has already taken steps this year to make registration and licensing more efficient, and the number of internationally educated nurses is up significantly. So far in 2022, more than 210 nurses have obtained their licence, about 60 more than in all of 2021.