Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

This occupational group includes head nurses, nursing supervisors, graduate nurses and registered nurses who provide and/or co-ordinate patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, nursing agencies, rehabilitation centres and extended-care facilities. Nurses can specialize in any number of areas in the field of health care. They may also conduct research or educate patients and other health care providers.

Nature of Work

This occupational group includes head nurses, nursing supervisors, graduate nurses and registered nurses who provide and/or co-ordinate patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, nursing agencies, rehabilitation centres and extended-care facilities. Nurses can specialize in any number of areas in the field of health care. They may also conduct research or educate patients and other health care providers.

Duties

Head nurses and supervisors supervise registered nurses, nursing assistants and other nursing personnel. This involves co-ordinating nursing services in conjunction with other health services and ensuring that quality nursing care is provided and that appropriate administrative procedures are followed. Head nurses and supervisors are also responsible for assisting in the establishment of unit policies and procedures and for administer nursing unit budget and ensuring that supplies and equipment are available. They also assist in the selection, evaluation and professional development of nursing personnel. Some head nurses and supervisors may provide direct patient care.

Registered nurses consult with other members of a health care team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care and administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physicians. They also monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions and operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment. Registered nurses may also assist in surgery and other medical procedures and supervise registered nursing assistants and other nursing staff.

Registered nurses may specialize in numerous areas, such as surgery, obstetrical care, psychiatric care, critical care, pediatrics, geriatrics, community health, occupational health, emergency care, rehabilitation or oncology. Accordingly, their specific work duties may considerably. The following are examples of specializations in the field of nursing.

Occupational health nurses develop and implement employee health education programs and provide registered nursing care in private businesses and industry.

Public health nurses provide health education and registered nursing care in public health units and through home visits.

Psychiatric nurses provide nursing care, supportive counselling and life skills programming to patients in psychiatric hospitals and mental health clinics.

Nursing consultants provide consultative services to institutions or associations regarding issues and concerns related to the nursing profession and nursing practice.

Nursing researchers engage in research activities related to nursing.

Example Titles

• Head nurses and supervisors
• nursing care co-ordinator
• psychiatric nursing supervisor
• nursing unit administrator
• nursing supervisor
• head nurse
• public health nursing supervisor
• patient care co-ordinator
• Registered nurses
• public health nurse
• critical care nurse
• nurse clinician
• nursing researcher
• nursing consultant
• community health nurse
• occupational health nurse
• graduate nurse
• private duty nurse
• registered nurse (r.n.)
• registered psychiatric nurse (r.p.n.)

Training Paths

Education and training for nurses in the province is consolidated under the Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (NEPS), a joint degree program in Nursing with SIAST, First Nations University of Canada and University of Saskatchewan. The first two years of the program are taken at SIAST and the remaining two at the University of Saskatchewan. Students graduate with a four year degree from the University of Saskatchewan and register with the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) or with the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan to obtain the license to practice as nurses in the province. SIAST and the University of Saskatchewan also joint offer the 2nd degree nursing option for those students with previous education.

Head Nurses or Supervisors usually have a degree in Nursing and years of experience in their given field. Nurses interested in administrative positions may also benefit from a degree in Business Administration from University of Regina or in Health Care Administration through the College of Commerce at University of Saskatchewan. University of Saskatchewan also offers a certificate program in Hospital and Health Care Administration. Individuals interested in the NEPS can contact the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing, First Nations University of Canada Northern Campus,, or SIAST through Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon or Wascana campus in Regina.

SIAST offers a number of advanced certificate additional nursing training programs, such as Advanced Diabetes Education for Health Care Providers, Basic Critical Care Nursing, Basic Diabetes Education for Health Care Providers, Perioperative Nursing for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program. SIAST also offers applied certificates in Nursing Re-Entry, Practical Nurse Re-Entry and Psychiatric Nursing Re-Entry, for those wishing to re-enter the Nursing profession.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: good

After dropping off in the late nineties, employment in nursing rebounded in the last few years. Between 2001 and 2006, the number of nurses in Saskatchewan increased by nearly 10%. This represents a rise in over 500 jobs in 5 years.

Opinions are divided regarding the future. The Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) has expressed concern about a possible nursing shortage in the next five to seven years as the need for health care increases and more experienced Saskatchewan nurses retire. Indeed this is an aging work force. In 2006, more than 55% of all Saskatchewan nurses were 45 years of age or older. Training programmers often have different views. SIAST, one of the partners in the Nursing Education Program (NEP), is often more conservative with its employment projections and remains cautious about increasing the number of nursing students enrolled in the program. The truth likely lies between these two positions. Regardless of the rate of new job growth in the next few years, nursing students should remember that this is an extremely large occupational group in the province, with well over 9,000 employed in 2006. As a result, numerous employment opportunities will arise due to the retirement, leave or transfer of nurses presently employed in the province.

Head nurses and supervisors are well paid in Saskatchewan. In 2005, the average full-time income in this field of work was $64,542 per year, well above both the provincial full-time average for all occupations ($42,298 per year) from the same year and a significant increase from the average in 2000. Of course, many head nurses and supervisors in these fields earned more or less than the average income. In 2005, the average annual income for nurses was $58,595. Incomes for nurses are fairly consistent throughout Saskatchewan.

In keeping with national trends, the vast majority of nurses in Saskatchewan are women. In 2006, less than 5% of all nurse supervisors and registered nurses in the province were male. Employment in these fields is distributed throughout the province. Just over 50% of all nurses worked outside Regina and Saskatoon in 2006. Nursing is neither seasonal nor sensitive to overall economic conditions.

The increasing role of technology in the work place over the last decade has changed the role of nurses. For example, nurses now perform many procedures previously restricted to physicians. Their roles will continue to change as the Saskatchewan population ages and the demand for health care and related services increases.

Employment trends have changed in health care, and the greatest opportunities for nurses as the new millennium begins may be in such community and private sector settings as nursing homes and private clinics.

Professional Associations

All practising nurses in the province must be registered with the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA). Applicants for registration must be graduates of the Nursing Education Program, or another approved education and training program. Foreign-trained nurses must pass the Canadian Nurses Association's Registration Examination and be approved by the Association to work in Canada. All successful applicants must pay an application fee and annual registration fees. For more information, contact:

Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association

2066 Retallack Street

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

S4T 7X5

Telephone: (306) 757-4643

Outside Regina (toll free): 1-800-667-9945

Fax: (306) 525-0849

E-mail: info@srna.org

Web site: http://www.srna.org/

All practising psychiatric nurses in the province must be registered with the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS). Applicants to the Association must be graduates of the Nursing Education Program or a similar program accredited by the RPNAS. Registered psychiatric nurses must pay an

initial application fee as well as annual licensing fees. Foreign-trained nurses may be charged two additional fees for credential verification and examination costs. For more information, contact:

Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan

2055 Lorne Street

Regina, Saskatchewan

S4P 2M4

Telephone: 306-586-4617

Fax: 306-586-6000

E-mail: rpnas@sk.sympatico.ca

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