Volunteer Opportunities

Regulatory committees play an important role in fulfilling NSCN’s purpose of regulating the nursing profession to protect and serve the public interest in Nova Scotia. NSCN’s eight committees function at arm’s length from NSCN’s day-to-day work and include volunteer nurses and members of the public who make objective decisions related to the registration and licensing, practice and conduct of nurses and education program approval in Nova Scotia.

Overview

We are looking for LPNs, RNs, NPs, and members of the Public to fill vacancies for both NSCN’s First Instance and Adjudicative Committees.

• The First Instance Committees hear matters relating to complaints, registration and licensing, and fitness to practise.
• The Adjudicative Committees hold public hearings for matters relating to professional misconduct, registration and licensing review, and reinstatement applications.

Committees hear matters in a panel of at least three members where decisions are made with the best interests of the public at the forefront.

We encourage you take time to carefully read the information about NSCN’s committees and each of the committee’s Terms of Reference on our website. This will help you understand the various committees and their mandates as established by the Nursing Act. Please remember to click on the individual committee names to see an overview of their work and the Competency Profile for Regulatory Committee Members is located in Appendix “A” of each of the committees’ Terms of Reference. The Competency Profiles outlines the values, attributes, lived experiences, perspectives, knowledge and skills of members we believe support sound decision-making in the public interest and enhance the work of the committees.

Development Opportunity

Serving on NSCN’s committee gives members a chance to volunteer in a capacity to further the publics’ interests and meet other NSCN members with various backgrounds, knowledge, and experiences. Our committee members are provided with several training opportunities throughout the year to support their learning and further their professional and personal growth. Previous committee training sessions have focused on procedural fairness principles, culturally sensitive decision-making, and regulatory best practices, among other topics.

As a new committee member, NSCN will provide you with a structured orientation program to support and guide you in your role prior to participating in a matter.

Committee Member Expectations

Committee members serve three-year terms with an opportunity to be reappointed for additional terms depending on the need. The number and length of committee meetings in a year varies. On average, committee members should be prepared to attend four (4) to six (6) committee meetings a year with 1 - 3 hours spent preparing in advance of each meeting. This level of commitment is important to effectively carry out the role of a committee member.

Committee members may be required to review extensive information within set timelines to assist with analysis of the matter. These materials are shared electronically through a secure file sharing page which members must be able to access. Committees receive support from NSCN staff and sometimes external legal counsel to navigate the information, clarify or confirm the relevant legislative provisions, and ensure members have all the information they need to make their decision.

Committee Member Renumeration

To recognize committee 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. Committee members may also claim reimbursement for any expenses incurred in connection with their committee responsibilities, such as travel, transportation, accommodation, parking, or meals, in accordance with the Board’s policies.  

Who Can Apply

• We invite you, as a member of the Public or an NSCN registrant, to submit an expression of interest so we can begin a conversation with you about joining and serving on a regulatory committee. Applicants are assessed based on NSCN Competency Profile for Regulatory Committee Members starting at page 4 of the following link. For registrant applicants, you must hold a practising licence with NSCN for appointment to the Committee.

As we seek to diversify our committees, we especially welcome 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.

If you are unsure you meet the competencies outlined with the profile, we would encourage you to still submit an application. We seek to remove barriers to participation. NSCN is prepared to support and train applicants to become effective committee members who demonstrate a willingness to learn and commitment to NSCN’s purpose and values.

Application Process

Individuals are asked to complete the application form linked below to join NSCN’s First Instance or Adjudicative committees. Our recruitment process will run from February 14, 2025 to March 21, 2025. Applications received during this period will be considered for terms beginning June 1, 2025 with selection of committee members taking place between mid-March to end of April 2025. Selected applicants must be available to attend the orientation training scheduled for May 2025.

The application may take up to 60 minutes to complete and contains a number of sections including applicant information, eligibility criteria, professional and personal experience, competencies, and other information that helps us understand how you demonstrate the knowledge and skills required and why you wish to serve on a regulatory committee.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 21 at 11:59 p.m. AT.

For any questions about the application process, committees, or if you require accommodation during the application process, please contact board@nscn.ca or phone, 902-444-NSCN (6726) or 1-833-267-NSCN (6726) and ask for the Governance Team.

Apply Today