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. To learn more about the NSCN Board, please watch our introduction video here.
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.
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 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.