Discover Nova Scotia while making a difference: Internal travel nursing with Nova Scotia Health

Imagine building your nursing career, gaining valuable experience and exploring the diverse communities of Nova Scotia, all while helping to strengthen emergency care where it’s needed most.

Nova Scotia Health’s Provincial Internal Travel Nurse Program launched in emergency departments as a pilot in April, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions. It provides registered nurses (RNs) a chance to work across different hospitals in the province. Along with competitive compensation and benefits, the program also gives nurses an opportunity to grow professionally, experience new communities and contribute directly to patient care.

True Patter is a travel nurse at Aberdeen Hospital. She described the experience as both rewarding and transformative. 

“Every day is different. I’ve learned so much about how different departments operate and have grown both as a nurse and as a person,” Patter said. Travel nurses not only help stabilize staffing levels, but they also bring a fresh perspective, share their knowledge and mentor early-career colleagues, helping to strengthen teams across the province.

The program is designed to create a flexible, skilled team of nurses ready to be deployed to support hospital staffing across the province. Christine Hines is the health   services manager for the program. She says the travel nurses in the program are building invaluable experience and skills. “We’re building an A-team of emergency care nurses who can step in when and where help is needed most. It’s a chance for nurses to grow their skills, take on leadership opportunities and make a meaningful impact”. 

The Nova Scotia Health travel nurses receive competitive salary and travel expense coverage, unique scheduling flexibility, such as four days on, five days off rotations, accommodation support and assistance with living arrangements, along with opportunities to maintain certifications and gain new skills. The flexibility allows a fulfilling lifestyle and career while exploring all that Nova Scotia has to offer, from its vibrant communities to its breathtaking natural landscapes. 

Jenn MacDougall is director of Interprofessional Practice and Learning. She highlighted the program’s importance. “It’s about creating opportunities for nurses to grow without leaving the province, while helping communities maintain essential services.” 

By providing well-trained nurses to sites across Nova Scotia, the program ensures communities can continue to rely on their local hospitals for high-quality care.

Whether you're seeking professional growth, new challenges or a better work-life balance, Nova Scotia Health’s internal travel nurse program offers it all. You will be supported every step of the way. “We’re here for our nurses. They’ll always have a manager to turn to for support, something you won’t always find in other travel nurse programs,” Hines said. 

The program is designed to help nurses maintain and build on their certifications, gain leadership experience and make meaningful connections across health teams in Nova Scotia. 

If you’re an experienced emergency RN ready to explore Nova Scotia while making a difference in communities across the province, we want to hear from you. Apply today - https://jobs.nshealth.ca/nsha/job/All-Locations-Internal-Travel-Nurse-Emergency-Department-NS/589878117.

Casual relief positions are also available. Interested in working casual while working at other places? Apply today - https://jobs.nshealth.ca/nsha/job/Dartmouth-Internal-Travel-Nurse-Emergency-Department-%28Casual-Relief-Positions-Available%29-NS-B2Y-4G8/594310317/ 

Photo of True Patter.