Program to cover nurses’ salaries as they study
A new incentive program and additional seats at Dalhousie University will help ensure Nova Scotia has the nurse practitioners it needs.
The nurse practitioner education incentive will cover the salaries of up to 10 registered nurses while they attend Dalhousie University’s two-year master of nursing nurse practitioner program full-time. In return, recipients will commit to work in one of several designated communities for five years.
“Our top priority is improving access to primary health care and that includes nurse practitioners,” Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey said in a news release. “Supporting registered nurses to become nurse practitioners will fill a growing workforce need and improve access to collaborative health care.”
An expression of interest will be issued to those accepted to Dalhousie’s nurse practitioner program, family all-ages stream. Recipients will be selected based on whether they live in or are affiliated with one of the designated communities and are willing to relocate.
The eligible geographic areas are: Cape Breton County; Inverness County; Victoria County; Town of Digby, plus 50 kilometre radius of surrounding area; Town of Shelburne, plus 50 kilometre radius of surrounding area; Cumberland County; Pictou County; Town of Sheet Harbour, plus 50 kilometre radius of surrounding area.
An arrangement with Cape Breton University will allow students to complete some program requirements locally, minimizing the need to travel to Halifax.
“I think it’s fantastic the importance and benefit of nurse practitioners and how they contribute to the health and wellness of all Nova Scotians is being recognized,” says Cape Breton registered nurse Chris Browner. “This type of forward thinking will improve access to health care and promote wellness in all areas of the province, including those that may have limited access to primary health-care services.”
Government is also funding an additional 25 seats in Dalhousie’s nurse practitioner program. Fifteen seats will be added this academic year and 10 will be added in 2019-20.