Professional Development

Government of Nunavut Ongoing Training and Educational Opportunities:

• We offer many certification trainings and educational opportunities available to nursing and Nurse Practitioner staff free of charge
• We offer regular expert rounds and in-services on specialized topics (i.e. Pediatric Sexual Assault; Addictions Treatment; Primary Care; Obstetric; etc.)
• We offer clinical skill development for positions that are working within an extended/advanced scope of practice (including Community Health Nurses; Public Health Nurses; and Nurse Practitioners).
  
  • This training is provided regularly throughout the year and is facilitated by an expert instructor and include a combination of online and in person training followed by a preceptor integration period.
• We offer many other courses – see the GN Training Calendar

Professional Development Initiative and Available Funding:

The Collective Agreement, ratified in June 2008 between the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Employees Union, provides annual allocations of funds to assist nurses with expenses associated with professional development.

The Government of Nunavut will provide from $3,000 to $6,330 per year to each full time/indeterminate nurse and $1500 per year to eligible part-time, job share and casual nurses to help cover professional development expenses. The range for full time/indeterminate nurses reflects the variable costs of travel from communities if funds are needed to travel to attend conferences or workshops outside the territory.

Students of Inuit or other Indigenous ancestries who are pursuing accredited health studies can apply for a bursary and scholarship awards.

Funds can also be used to cover the cost of distance learning and online courses. All Nunavut communities now have access to High-Speed Internet. Increasing numbers of Nunavut residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to access professional development programs online.

In addition, the Government of Nunavut offers a Return of Service program with one year of tuition paid in exchange for one year of full-time service (up to 4 years). Current GN nurses are eligible to apply for this program.