Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover advised today that a major nursing recruitment campaign will begin this week to enhance front line health care services across the province.
Funding for the campaign to fill 60 new Registered Nurse, Licensed Nursing Assistant, and Resident Care Worker positions is being provided through the $10 million Health Stabilization Fund announced in the April 6 provincial budget.
Minister Dover advised that the campaign has three objectives.
"First, we are meeting our commitment to Islanders to enhance front line services by adding new positions at the front line of health care where they are most needed," she said, "Secondly, we are working to stabilize health services by relieving pressure on our front line staff. And finally, we are taking proactive steps to strengthen and renew our health care workforce," said Minister Dover.
The campaign will include three phases. Phase one will begin this week with the posting of new positions within the health system, in accordance with the collective agreements. The resulting vacancies will be filled over the summer. The remaining positions will be advertised externally during phase three to meet requirements for specialty and casual positions.
The campaign is expected to be completed this fall. New positions will begin in September to prevent interference with vacations and summer scheduling periods.
Minister Dover said it is expected that some senior nurses may want to move to part-time positions, thereby freeing up more full-time positions for new nurses.
"This has several advantages," said the minister, "First, it provides interested senior nurses with opportunities to take more time for themselves while continuing to earn pensionable benefits. And at the same time, it enables staff members to move from part-time or casual positions into full-time ones."
The minister advised that 70 new positions have been identified by the five health regions to address core staffing priorities, while distributing the funds in a fair and equitable manner across the health system.
"It is expected that 18 new full-time positions and 40 new part-time positions will be created. In addition, 12 replacement positions will also be required to provide for replacement needs such as sick leave and vacation time," said Minister Dover.
The minister advised that the nursing recruitment campaign is one of several strategies being implemented by the province as part of its new Health Care Futures initiative.
"Through the new Health Care Futures health force renewal plan, we will be implementing multiple strategies to recruit and retain health care employees to ensure that we can continue to provide Islanders with quality health services in future as our labour force changes," said the minister.
Through the new Health Care Futures Summer Student Initiative, more than 90 students will be employed in the health system this summer to provide young people interested in a career in health care with exposure to the health care field.