Letter to the Province: B.C. can do far more to encourage nursing as a profession alternative

Opinion: Different comparable components of the world are discovering options to the nursing scarcity by way of coaching incentives

Article content material

I’m a Canadian citizen and resident in B.C. of over 37 years. I immigrated in 1986 from Australia and labored as a registered nurse for over 35 years in each the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Well being areas in acute care and, extra these days, in house well being (now retired). I’ve witnessed many adjustments within the well being care system with governments coming and going with guarantees of elevated consideration to offering extra beds, extra house care, constructing new amenities however with no plan on learn how to employees them. The listing goes on.

Commercial 2

Article content material

Attainable options to staffing appear to proceed to circle round recruitment from elsewhere, both overseas or the province. Moreover the ethical dilemma this poses relating to depleting others of a lot wanted nurses, it’s a short-term answer.

Article content material

I perceive that the varied nursing associations take a look at fashions of nursing requirements in such international locations as Australia for comparative evaluation of our programs and practices, together with such vital points round staff-to-patient ratios.

I counsel our provincial authorities additionally seems on the new recruitment plan by the state authorities of Victoria in Australia, which now gives free coaching for undergraduates in nursing. The bundle additionally consists of fee for restricted numbers of specialty coaching in areas with shortages, resembling midwifery and nurse practitioners. The federal government incentive is estimated to help the recruitment and coaching of 17,000 nurses. I perceive that to obtain compensation, the nurses should comply with work for 2 years within the public well being care system upon completion of their course. Might B.C. not implement related incentives?

Commercial 3

Article content material

As regards to incentives, one of many biggest challenges I discovered when working was the shortage of inexpensive little one care near the hospital the place 6:45 a.m. drop off was even attainable. On-site little one care at hospitals has been talked about for too lengthy. What number of hospitals are offering this very a lot wanted bonus to encourage retention of employees and people getting back from maternity go away? Many hospitals in Australia provide this service.

It appears different comparable components of the world are discovering options to the nursing scarcity and creating situations to encourage a profession in nursing and to retain these already on that path.

Ingrid Wray labored as a registered nurse in B.C. for 30 years.

Letters to the editor needs to be despatched to [email protected].

Article content material

Feedback

Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a energetic however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Feedback might take as much as an hour for moderation earlier than showing on the location. We ask you to maintain your feedback related and respectful. Now we have enabled electronic mail notifications—you’ll now obtain an electronic mail in the event you obtain a reply to your remark, there may be an replace to a remark thread you comply with or if a person you comply with feedback. Go to our Neighborhood Tips for extra info and particulars on learn how to alter your electronic mail settings.

Be a part of the Dialog

Commercial 1


Posted

in

by