FREDERICTON (GNB) – The registration process for nurses working across Canada will be expedited in New Brunswick as of today, as announced by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick on Monday.
“Addressing the shortage of nurses requires everyone working together to find solutions and we are pleased that the association was able to implement an expedited licensing process for Canadian nurses that aligns with Nova Scotia’s implementation date,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder. “We are hopeful we can also quickly implement an expedited process for internationally educated nurses that would be in line with the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act.”
“We are pleased with the incredible work being done by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick to make changes to their registration requirements to ensure nurses working in other jurisdictions can work in our province sooner,” said Health Minister Bruce Fitch. “We look forward to further conversations with them in the coming weeks.”
“Given the current labour shortage crisis facing our province, it is in the best interests of our province to adopt similar practices as our neighbouring province,” said Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard. “I am proud of the approach taken by the association to relieve the burden on devoted nurses who want to come live and work in New Brunswick.ˮ
The association will also submit a plan to the government that will help expedite the registration and licensing of internationally educated nurses.
“As the regulatory body for registered nurses and nurse practitioners in New Brunswick, we are committed to supporting public safety by continuing due diligence in registering safe and competent nurses,” said Julie Weir, president of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick. “With a strong sense of trust among regulators within Canada, we believe these rule changes will assist the health-care system in addressing the current nurse shortage in our province.”
This initiative supports the government’s health plan, Stabilizing Health Care: An Urgent Call to Action, which has five action areas: access to primary health care, access to surgery, create a connected system, access to addiction and mental health services, and support seniors to age in place.
It also builds on the government’s efforts to support the recruitment and training of nurses, which include:
- Establishing navigation services for internationally educated nurses.
- Signing 10-year performance-based agreements with Université de Moncton and the University of New Brunswick to increase the number of nursing graduates by 85 per year.
- Increasing the number of seats for bridging programs that help licensed practical nurses apply directly to a bachelor of nursing program.
- Doubling the seats in the University of New Brunswick’s master’s program for nurse practitioners.
- Increasing educational opportunities through a partnership with Beal University in Maine.