JOB GUARANTEE AND MENTORSHIP TO KEEP AND ATTRACT NURSES

Released on June 19, 2008

Saskatchewan is increasing its efforts to keep and attract nurses for the province, as part of the government's commitment to health workforce retention and recruitment.

Health Minister Don McMorris today announced $7.4 million in funding to guarantee new graduates with a position to work full-time alongside experienced nurses, thereby enabling them to transition into a permanent position. This job guarantee is coupled with a $5 million provincial nursing mentorship program.

"We are committed to exploring every opportunity to fill an existing 600 registered nurse vacancies and to hire an additional 200 registered nurses within our first term of office," McMorris said. "Young nursing graduates have shown strong interest and support for this job guarantee and mentorship program, and we want to get them involved - and working in the health care system - as soon as possible."

Under this program, all new Saskatchewan registered nurse and registered psychiatric nurse graduates are guaranteed full-time positions over and above established nursing spots to work alongside experienced nurses. This enables graduates to transition into a permanent position with the necessary practical experience.

In addition to supporting new graduates, the program will benefit experienced nurses. Nurses acting as mentors will have their normal workloads reduced to allow them time to work with new graduates. By lightening mentors' workload, the program will encourage experienced nurses to delay retirement and stay in the workforce longer.

The provincial mentorship program is modelled on a pilot program currently operating in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.

This program is one of a number of initiatives aimed at keeping and attracting nurses. Recent initiatives include the recruitment of nearly 300 nurses from the Philippines who are expected to begin working in Saskatchewan health facilities by this summer. The government has also committed $400,000 for the orientation of these nurses to smooth their transition into Saskatchewan's health care system.

The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and McMorris also signed a partnership earlier this year committing to work together to solve Saskatchewan's shortage of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. The government has committed $60 million to support this work. As well, nurses will soon vote on a new collective agreement that supports the SUN/government partnership, addresses recruitment and retention and achieves wage competitiveness with Alberta. For instance, through the agreement, government commits to not abolish positions. In addition, Saskatchewan is historic in the way the contract recognizes long-serving nurses and uses the strongest professional standards language in the country.

To further support nursing student retention, the Minister recently sent a letter to every third- and fourth-year nursing student in the province, asking them to work here. "I want every nursing student to know on a personal level that we value them and want them to choose to live and work in Saskatchewan."

One hundred forty seven nursing students graduated this spring. According to an exit survey of graduates from the Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan, 96.6 per cent of graduates expect to work in Saskatchewan for their first job, based on job offers.

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For more information, contact:

Joan Petrie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: jpetrie@health.gov.sk.ca