Securing child-care arrangements poses a significant obstacle for Nova Scotia parents, especially those with demanding and irregular work schedules. According to registered nurse Allie Feltmate, balancing work and childcare responsibilities is a top source of stress for many. Feltmate, a mother of two residing in Bedford, N.S., transitioned from direct patient care to a mentoring role due to the challenges of managing rotating shifts while raising children.
In her current position, Feltmate faces long workdays and occasional weekend shifts, prompting her to seek scheduling accommodations to accommodate her children’s drop-off times at a home daycare that opens at 8 a.m. Daycare providers in Nova Scotia set their operational hours, typically offering services on weekdays from 7 a.m. to late afternoon or early evening.
Feltmate highlighted instances where colleagues had to reduce their work hours to part-time or casual positions to address childcare needs, resulting in fewer available healthcare professionals. Similarly, Jessica Arenburg-Crouse, a cook at the Annapolis Community Health Centre and a single mother of two, faces constraints in her work hours due to the lack of suitable before- and after-school care options for her children.
Nova Scotia’s child-care landscape has evolved since 2021, following a provincial agreement aimed at reducing costs and expanding childcare spaces. Notably, the Health Park Early Learning Centre in Sydney initiated a pilot project in 2024 to provide overnight and extended child care services for healthcare workers’ children. The government plans to evaluate the pilot project’s effectiveness before potential expansion to other locations.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is exploring various childcare options, including home-based services, to cater to families needing non-traditional care hours. While the viability of expanding such programs statewide remains uncertain, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union president Janet Hazelton advocates for innovative solutions to support nurses, healthcare professionals, and shift workers effectively.
Hazelton emphasized the importance of flexible and accessible childcare in attracting and retaining younger nurses in Nova Scotia. She suggested exploring the incorporation of daycares within long-term care facilities or hospitals to enhance support for parents in the healthcare sector. Both Feltmate and Arenburg-Crouse echoed the sentiment that such initiatives would significantly benefit healthcare workers with childcare responsibilities.