In the last several weeks, at least 60 non-practising or retired nurses have received their emergency licences, according to the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association’s executive director, Cindy Smith.
The licences are good for 90 days with an option to renew for an additional 90 days.
A notice sent out to RNs in late March asked members who were interested in helping to apply as part of the organization’s pandemic planning. All of the emergency licences are being manually processed to make it more streamlined for those who apply.
Emergency licences are also being considered for this year’s graduating nurses, says Smith.
“We continue to collaborate with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the institutions,” she said. “(We’re also talking to) the nursing education programs because graduates will be successfully completing their programs very soon and we anticipate quite a high number of graduate nurses as well.”
That could be anywhere from 300 to 400 additional resources at this time of year.
The whole process has gone fairly smoothly so far.
“In preparation for health-care system needs, we have been compiling a bank and nurses have risen to the call to action and so … I’m quite pleased and expect that the interest will continue,” Smith said.
Smith says the process is expected to continue as long as the health crisis continues.
Any retired or non-practising nurse who would like more information should go to the SRNA website.