Retired nurses return to Nova Scotia workforce as casual/relief workers

Retired nurses answered when Nova Scotia Health put out the call and invited them back to the workforce. 

It’s been a year since the retire-to-rehire program launched. 

The program, aimed at filling vacant positions across the province in hopes of relieving some pressures on the strained health-care system, is meant to streamline the hiring process to make it easier for retired nurses to return to work. 

Since last November, 124 nurses have enrolled in the program.  

And as of this week, all but one of the 124 nurses remain employed with Nova Scotia Health. 

“Nova Scotia Health is fortunate that a number of our retirees have decided to come back to provide care to patients during their stage of retirement,” Jennifer Lewandowski, a spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Health, said in an emailed response to questions. 

Nurses have returned to many different positions, such as registered nurse, licensed practice nurse, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, family practice nurse, intake nurse, palliative care consultation nurse, public health nurse and community mental health nurse. 

Most of those who have returned, however, have done so as casual/relief workers, which means they don’t have set hours or schedules. \

Only one nurse opted to join full-time, while seven are part-time and 115 are casual/relief. 

The Nova Scotia Health spokesperson said nurses are offered to come back as a casual/relief as it’s the most flexible option and allows people to pick up shifts as needed.

“Those who like to have a planned schedule come back as a ‘0.4’ so there is no impact on pension and benefits,” Lewandowski said. 

It’s not the first time the retired nurses have returned to work when the province needed them. 

During the pandemic, hundreds of nurses signed up to help administer COVID-19 shots. 

“Being able to tap into this knowledgeable resource will always be a benefit to Nova Scotia Health,” Lewandowski said. 

“Nova Scotia Health is fortunate that a number of our retirees have decided to come back to provide care to patients during their stage of retirement.”

And with the retire-to-rehire program expected to continue, retired nurses who have been considering returning to work can still do so without having to jump through extra hoops.

Thanks to the program, retirees no longer have to provide a resume/cover letter and proof of education. And those who retired less than a year ago are no longer required to submit a new criminal record check and/or vulnerable sector check. 

There are also recruitment assistants who are available to help those interested in returning to work.

“These assistants guide retirees through the process and address any questions they may have,” Lewandowski said. 

“The onboarding process is handled by recruitment assistants on behalf of the retiree, making the transition smoother and more efficient.” 

Retired nurses who are considering returning to the health authority are advised to email [email protected] to discuss their options.