Prince Edward Island's new nursing recruitment and retention strategy is now beginning to produce positive results.
Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem advised today that, since the new $6 million strategy was introduced six months ago, 27 new permanent nursing positions have been created, and 31 new nurses have been recruited to the province since January 2000.
The minister advised that most of the new positions are being filled by nurses who are cross-trained to work in several areas of care. "The new float positions are providing us with the flexibility we need to staff areas of greatest need," he said. "While they are also giving us more flexibility in scheduling weekend and holiday shifts, we are still challenged to fill temporary leaves such as maternity and sick leaves. We are exploring options to help meet the need for more temporary and casual nurses, and we hope to have some solutions in place soon."
Several other initiatives are meeting with initial success to meet longer term needs for nurses in the province.
A new Student Summer Employment Program was introduced this summer to recruit more nursing graduates in the province. As a result, 28 Bachelor of Nursing students were employed in Island health facilities for an 8 to 12-week period.
"This program has had several benefits," said the minister. "It provides the students with opportunities to practice their clinical skills, and to become more familiar with various areas of nursing. Staff are also very supportive of the program, because it enables them to introduce the students to their workplaces, to mentor the students, and to reinforce their own skills."
In addition to the Summer Student Employment Program, 140 PEI high school graduates had the opportunity to work in health facilities this summer through the Health Care Futures Program. "This program met with tremendous response once again this year," said Minister Ballem. "The students enjoy helping others and learning about health care careers, and staff and patients really enjoy having the young people with them." The program was expanded this year to include 20 positions in private sector facilities.
At least 18 Bachelor Degree in Nursing students have been accepted to date into the new Student Sponsorship Program. These students will receive up to $2400 per year to assist with their tuition costs, and in return they commit to work with the sponsoring health region for one year following graduation. "It was the students who advised us that to keep new graduates in the province, we should offer them help with tuition costs and summer employment," said the minister.
"We are optimistic that the strategies are working as a result of a comprehensive incentive package, concerted recruitment efforts, and our very dedicated front line nurses who continue to give us their best in these challenging times."
To date, about $30,000 has been allocated through the strategy for relocation expenses incurred by new nurses moving to PEI. There are now five people enrolled in the ANPEI Refresher Program who will be eligible to have their tuition costs reimbursed.