The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance needs to hire more full-time nurses and it has secured some government money to sweeten the pot.
Chatham-Kent’s hospital group needs to hire more full-time nurses so has secured some government money to sweeten the pot.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance now has funding for 20 positions under the Community Commitment Program for Nurses, which is open to registered nurses, registered practical nurses and nurse practitioners, said Meredith Whitehead, vice-president of transformation and the chief nursing executive.
She said the program, which provides a $25,000 grant in exchange for a two-year employment commitment, is geared to both recent nursing graduates and those who have not worked as a nurse in Ontario in the past six months.
Whitehead said those who qualify have to begin their employment between now and March 31, 2024. She added successful candidates receive the $25,000 incentive in incremental quarterly payments.
The health alliance initially only received funding for two positions through the program before the local allotment was increased to 20, Whitehead said.
“This is a huge opportunity for us. Now, we just need to find those folks that want to come work for us,” Whitehead said.
Whitehead said the health alliance has four positions through the program posted on the Health Force Ontario portal at www.healthforceontario.ca/ccpn. Those interested can also contact Ontario Health at [email protected].
The health alliance has other programs geared to new graduates, including a tuition reimbursement program.
She added the hospital is also fortunate to have had funding for the Enhanced External program, through Ontario Health, extended to March 2023.
Whitehead said there are 70 slots available through the program for medical, nursing, respiratory therapy, paramedic, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students.
“This has been an excellent program,” she said, adding there has consistently been 50 to 60 students participating.
“This really helps students work in different capacities. . . to be an adjunct part of the team, caring for patients,” Whitehead said.
While there are incentives available, she said an issue being faced across the health-care sector is “a limited resources pool.”
“I think it’s about where people want to work,” she said. “Acute care isn’t for everybody.”
COVID-19 also continues to be a factor in attracting nurses, Whitehead said.
“It’s been a long two years and health care has done their very best to work through a pandemic no one saw coming,” she said.
She said there is still a sense of, “What does our new normal look like? And we don’t know.”
However, Whitehead said government programs are pushing hospitals to ensure they’re able to create full-time positions.
“I think there’s always been a push to have more full time than part time in the nursing world. It’s not a new concept for us,” she said.
Whitehead noted the health alliance has “consolidated several part-time positions to make full-time positions” over the past year.