(CKOM News Staff)

By Lara Fominoff

Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association processing hundreds of inquiries about emergency licenses

Mar 26, 2020 | 3:41 PM

One week ago, the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association put out an urgent call to its eligible members – including retired nurses, non-practicing nurses, and grad nurses to register for emergency practicing licensure.

It was part of the association’s pandemic plan, to call them to the front lines if and when they were needed.

Since then, the SRNA has received hundreds of inquiries about qualifications from about 1,100 people on their list. In less than a week, more than a dozen of those emergency licenses have been issued, says Executive Director Cindy Smith.

“We have licensed 17. Sixteen of those are registered nurses and one is a nurse practitioner. Of the 1,100 that we have said are eligible on our register, 142 of those are retired nurses. So, the majority of the emergency licenses that we have issued to date are retired nurses.”

The vetting and approval process is being done manually to make it more streamlined for those who apply. If and when a person is approved, the emergency license is good for 90 days, with the potential for extension for an additional 90 days.

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The need will be assessed on a continual basis.

“We’re trying to make it easier,” says Smith. “They can just go on our website to first assess whether or not they’re eligible, because some might not know if they’re eligible, or call any of our staff.”

The list of nurses approved is updated daily on the association’s website.

While Smith says these are ‘unprecedented times,’ she says a similar measure was enacted by the SRNA during the H1N1 outbreak more than a decade ago.

“I do know that was the only other time in recent history that this (pandemic plan) has ever been used.”

Smith says she’s pleased with the response so far, and if anyone is unsure about their qualifications, they should go to the SRNA’s website for additional information.

“We’re hoping the word gets out…and if you’re eligible, we’ll get you licensed. We’re here and ready to assist the healthcare system.”