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About 400 former nurses who recently left the profession are giving a hand to their former colleagues on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, or are about to.

The government said 400 special authorizations were being given Monday afternoon.

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Some are already working in hospitals and clinics in several regions of Quebec, and others will be added as authorizations are given.

Health Minister Danielle McCann issued a decree on March 15 to allow nurses who left the profession less than five years ago and are under 70 years old to go back to work. The Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec must ensure the nurses still have the proper competences to do the work before issuing the authorization.

The nurses will not rejoin the order, but will be subject to the same ethics obligations and regulations.

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