Nova Scotia: late career nurse and new graduate transition.

Abstract

Addressing Canada's growing shortage of nurses requires effective strategies for their education, retention and recruitment. Although Nova Scotia produces more than 250 registered nurses and 125 licensed practical nurses each year, some 20% of these graduates leave the province to work elsewhere. The Nova Scotia Research to Action project focused on three retention and recruitment projects: (a) a new-nurse graduate orientation/transition framework, (b) guidelines for nursing mentorship and (c) an online employment tool to assist in the hiring of new nurse graduates. Project partners continue to work collaboratively to advance these provincial initiatives.