Nurses’ Union Welcomes Retention Payment as a Start to Address Nursing Crisis

(Halifax, March 20, 2023) The Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union says governments’ retention payment for nurses working in all sectors of care across the province is a step in the right direction.

NSNU President, Janet Hazelton says that the one-time payment of $10,000 for fulltime nurses (LPNs, RNs, NPs) with another $10,000 incentive next year to nurses who commit to staying in the system for another two years, acknowledges the hardships nurses endured long before COVID-19 but made worse by the pandemic. However, Hazelton emphasises more must be done to retain nurses.

“Money is part of a multi-pronged approach to keeping nurses on the job, in our public healthcare system. We must restore work-life balance, ensure nurses are not working short and are not working an excessive amount of overtime,” notes Hazelton. 

The union president says, the Nursing Council is currently at the bargaining table for acute care nurses where the teams will also address workplace violence, burnout and moral injury, time off, access to professional development opportunities, 24-hour shifts, staffing ratios, workload, incentives for late career nurses, and scheduling flexibility, which are all factors in retaining nurses.

The NSNU expects the news will be well received by many of their members, though some will want renumeration well beyond what the Premier offered today. 

“In addition to this announcement, it’s vital to achieve wage increases during negotiations, an economic adjustment that keeps Nova Scotia competitive in the long-term. Nurses deserve respect and today’s financial infusion in combination with other retention initiatives,” adds Hazelton. 

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The NSNU represents over 8000 Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Licensed Practical Nurses working in hospitals, long term care facilities, and community care (VON and Canadian Blood Services). NSNU represents nurses in acute care across the province including Zone 4 (formerly Capital District Health Authority); the IWK, Dartmouth General Hospital, Hants Community Hospital and Cobequid Community Health Centre. The NSNU represents most nurses working in long-term care facilities throughout Nova Scotia. 

Media Contact: 
Coleen Logan 
902-430-6169
coleen.logan [at] nsnu.ca