Graduate Practical Nurse 2025-2026

Overview

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with specialized services offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, reflected in the hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our team provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions.

Locations include various sites and community-based locations throughout Nova Scotia. Permanent, assignments and casual relief opportunities are available. Union: Nursing.

Signing bonuses are available for rural placements, relocation assistance may be available, and there is a defined Return of Service Agreement.

About the Opportunity

Nova Scotia Health is hiring the next generation in nursing by recruiting graduate practical nurses who will be completing studies in the next 12 months. We will provide you with challenge and opportunity by entering the Nursing field.

The Graduate Practical Nurse will:

- Provide nursing care independently to patients with an established plan of care
- Apply nursing knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills consistent with educational preparation
- Be knowledgeable, skilled, and have the judgment needed to provide competent, evidence-based nursing practice, contributing to the efficient and effective functioning of the unit/program/specialty
- Be responsible for maintaining and continually enhancing competencies through ongoing professional development, including participation in education programs, research, and continuous quality activities
- Assess patient needs and provide nursing interventions within their scope of practice
- Be responsible and accountable for nursing practice and conduct as defined by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing and for ensuring that registration is current and valid

Nova Scotia Health also offers a New Nurse Mentorship Program to support undergraduate student nurses, newly-licensed registered nurses, practical nurses, and internationally educated nurses as they transition to practice.

Build your nursing career with Nova Scotia Health:

- Graduate of an accredited practical nursing program within the last 12 months or upcoming twelve months (September 2025 to August 2026), and eligible for licensing with the Nova Scotia College of Nurses
- Ability to work in a high-stress environment
- BLS Certificate (Active First Aid and CPR at Health Care Provider level)

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications. Include units/programs of your previous clinical placements to help match you with available units.

Every effort will be made to assign Graduate Practical Nurses to units of interest. Matching depends on position availability, unit capacity, and date of application.

Hours

- Various permanent, assignments (temporary) and casual relief (no guaranteed hours) opportunities
- Shifts include evenings, weekends, and holidays

Compensation and Benefits

- Graduate Practical Nurse (NSGEU) - $22.89 per hour
- Graduate Practical Nurse (NSNU) - $24.20 per hour
- Licensed Practical Nurse - Starting at $31.74 per hour after you provide proof of your active practicing license with the Nova Scotia College of Nurses
- Shift, weekend, and other premiums are provided on top of your hourly rate
- Competitive compensation – Nova Scotia Health offers one of the highest entry level hourly wages in Canada
- Extensive health and dental benefits
- Enrollment in the Provincial Pension Plan
- Variety of available shifts
- Continuous clinical education and support
- Opportunity for advancement within the organization

Once You/'ve Applied - Thank you for your interest in this position. A Recruiter will reach out to you to explore whether your qualifications and skills match an opportunity.

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.

If you have any questions or would like more information on our opportunities, programs, and communities, please contact us at studentrecruitment@nshealth.ca

Job Segment: Nursing, Public Health, Counseling, Graduate Nurse, Healthcare, Research

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