The province’s nursing regulator has announced an increase in licensed nurses this year over last.
The Nova Scotia College of Nursing says over 300 more nurses were licensed to work in the province this year compared to 2018, representing just under 14,000 nurses.
Sue Smith, CEO and Registrar of NSCN, said that rise in numbers can be seen across the province.
“Colchester, Pictou and Kings Counties had some pretty high numbers,” she said.
“Generally speaking, most counties saw an increase. You know, it could have been only one or two, but it could also be as high as 30 in some. In the Halifax County, it was about 180 nurses overall.”
Although Lunenburg County saw a decrease of six nurses, Shelburne, Queens and Yarmouth Counties all saw a rise of nurses in the area.
She also said the numbers reflect the efforts made to help bring in new medical staff and she expects them to continue rising.
“The Province has a specific nursing strategy, where there has been funding of additional seats in nursing programs,” she said.
“We also have a stream that opened of LPNs who want to become RNs.”
Smith said the numbers reference all designations of nurses, and represents 260 RNs and NPs and 48 more LPNs for this year.
