The Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) Board is the governing body responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization and ensuring that NSCN meets its mandate of public protection by overseeing the practice of nursing in Nova Scotia. The Board consists of members of the public appointed by government and registrants elected by the nursing profession.
The NSCN Nominating Committee is seeking three qualified registrants to sit on the Board and help regulate the practice of nursing in the public’s interest. Between March 4, 2025 and March 31, 2025, registrants who wish to serve for a three-year term are encouraged to apply.
The call for applications has now closed. The Nominating Committee will email you their decision by April 17, 2025, if you have been advanced for nomination. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact Marie-Claude Geddry at MarieClaude.Geddry@nscn.ca.
Preparing for the Application
The Nominating Committee is seeking three qualified registrants to sit on the Board and positively contribute to NSCN’s governance.
The NSCN Board is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment, and encourages applications from all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our organization. The Nominating Committee especially welcomes applicants who identify as Indigenous, are from Black Nova Scotian communities, racialized minorities in Canada, are from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, have lived experience accommodating, supporting, or navigating diverse abilities, are from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds, or who are internationally educated.
There are three vacancies to be filled on the NSCN Board from any nursing designation.
The NSCN Nominating Committee has determined that the following attributes would be assets, but not requirements, to fill the vacancies on the Board:
- LPN designation
- Nurses currently practising within direct care
The NSCN Board Composition Matrix, attached to the application, outlines the competencies, skills and attributes that the NSCN Board, as a whole, seeks to encompass. Do not be discouraged if you only have experience in a couple of these areas - not every Board member is required to possess all of the competencies, skills or attributes, nor does the Board seek to have each competency, skill or attribute represented equally. The goal of the Board is to achieve balance and reflect diversity in its composition. You are required to provide examples of how you meet competencies, skills and/or attributes as part of the application.
Five Reasons to Apply
- Unique way to participate in public protection
- Contribute to the vision and strategic direction of NSCN
- Opportunity to lead and positively impact the nursing profession
- Opportunity to use my competencies, skills and/or attributes
- Chance to learn more about self-regulation in the public’s interest
Starting the Application
Nurses are encouraged and eligible to apply if you are:
- In good standing with NSCN;
- Are able to contribute to the NSCN Board’s competencies, skills and attributes; and
- Hold a practising licence or a conditional licence with no conditions restricting you from serving on the Board.
Please see Section 2: Eligibility to be Nominated on the application form to ensure you meet the criteria outlined in By-Law 10C and additional criteria passed by the Board to be eligible to be nominated as an NSCN Board member.
The call for applications closed on March 31, 2025 at 1:00pm. The Nominating Committee will email you their decision by April 17, 2025, if you have been advanced for nomination. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
After Submitting the Application
After applications close on March 31, the Nominating Committee will review each application and advance for nomination the two candidates who best meets the competencies, skills and attributes. The Board will hold an election if additional eligible candidates wish to be considered.
The Nominating Committee was established by the Board to help facilitate the nomination and election of registrants to the Board. The committee must include the immediate past Chair, one public representative and one registrant of the current Board. In 2025, members of the Nominating Committee include Jason Reeves, Paulette Anderson, and Tricia Lane.
The Nominating Committee will email you their decision by April 17, 2025. Since all communication will occur by email, please include your preferred email on the application form.
April 17 - Nominating Committee will publish the names and profiles of the applicants being advanced for election with registrants by email and on the website.
May 1 - May 8 – Online election if there are more nominees than Board vacancies. Eligible registrants will be able to vote until 1:00 p.m. on May 8.
May 13 – 20– Online election if there is a tie vote between two or more nominees. Eligible registrants will be able to vote until 1:00 p.m. on May 20.
Application Form
The call for applications has now closed. The Nominating Committee will email you their decision by April 17, 2025, if you have been advanced for nomination. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Board member serves a three-year term, up to a maximum of two consecutive terms (six years), commencing June 1 immediately following the election. For example, if elected this year, new Board members’ terms will begin June 1, 2025.
Board members serve in a volunteer capacity. The Board meets for two consecutive days (or 16 hours) during each quarter (typically in February, April, September and early December). Board members are expected to spend time preparing in advance of each meeting (1-3 hours) and will be asked to participate on working groups as required. Meetings occur in-person at the NSCN office in Bedford or virtually.
Before deciding whether participation on NSCN’s Board is right for you, consider if you can commit to attending meetings, being prepared, being present, and contributing. This level of commitment is important to effectively carry out the role of a Board member. It is prudent to confirm your employer’s support of your participation.
To recognize Board members’ time and service to the public, they may claim an honorarium of $25 per hour up to a maximum of $200/day for meeting and preparation time. Board members may also claim reimbursement for any expenses incurred in connection with their board responsibilities, such as travel, transportation, accommodation, parking, or meals, in accordance with the Board’s policies.
Board members speak as one voice in setting the strategic direction of the organization. The Board debates and decides on matters of high-level policy and direction which are then implemented by NSCN’s CEO at an operational level. To learn more about the Board’s governance model, the principles can be found here.
The Board’s policies can be found here.
Please use current or previous examples from:
- Board experience;
- Work experience; and/or
- Volunteer experience,
This experience could be through nursing, or non-nursing, organizations.
Your personal statement should describe why you wish to serve on the NSCN Board. It should be a maximum of 50 words with full sentences required. This can duplicate information you have included in your cover letter, if you wish.
Here is a fictional example to assist you:
Hi, my name is John Smith, and I am an RN at the Emergency Department at the Dartmouth General Hospital. Through my 25 years of nursing experience practising within direct care, I have led change by working collaboratively within the healthcare system to improve outcomes for the public. I understand the importance of accountable and innovative decision-making to effectively address issues affecting the public. These competencies and skills will support the NSCN Board’s responsibilities in ensuring Nova Scotians receive safe, competent, ethical, and compassionate nursing care.
Please note: If you are advanced for election as an NSCN Board member, your personal statement will be used to introduce you to the voting registrants, including on the NSCN website, newsletter and electronic voting page. Please write your personal statement exactly as you would like it to appear, as it will be shared as written.
As a regulator, the Board governs using a competency-based model, which identifies the competencies, skills and attributes required on the Board. The Nominating Committee seeks candidates who possess these same competencies, skills and attributes in order to have a Board that is best able to represent the public interest. This is different from a traditional association model where Board members represent specific registrant groups, geographical areas or practice settings. Since all Board members are required to represent the public’s interest, this model incorporates best practice, reflects the Board’s accountability to the public, and recognizes that the Board functions best when there are individuals with diverse competencies, skills and attributes.
The call for applications has now closed. The Nominating Committee will email you their decision by April 17, 2025, if you have been advanced for nomination. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Along with the application form, registrants are required to submit:
- Cover Letter & Resume that describes how you meet the NSCN Board competencies and skills outlined in the Composition Matrix using examples from applicable work and/or volunteer experience.
- Board Composition Matrix Self-Assessment, which includes self-assessment of the competencies, skills and attributes that the NSCN Board, as a whole, seeks to encompass. Please note: this self-assessment is part of the application form linked above.
If you have any questions on submission requirements, please contact Marie-Claude Geddry at MarieClaude.Geddry@nscn.ca.