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CIHI report “Regulated Nurses: Canadian Trends 2004 to 2008” has encouraging news
Type: Media Releases
Email: jlockyer@arnnl.ca
Date Posted: Fri, Dec 18 2009
December 18, 2009
CIHI report “Regulated Nurses: Canadian Trends 2004 to 2008” has encouraging news for nursing in Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John’s, NL – The Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
(ARNNL) said today there is some encouraging news about nursing trends in Newfoundland and Labrador in light of the latest statistical analysis released by the Canadian Institute for Heath Information (CIHI).
“While we still have work to do, particularly in terms of health human resource planning and recruitment and retention strategies, there are some positive indicators in this latest report from CIHI,” said Jim Feltham, President of the ARNNL. “These indicators support the fact that recent initiatives introduced by government and supported by health care organizations throughout the province, are having a positive impact on the supply of nurses in the province.”
Feltham continued: “ARNNL is pleased to see Newfoundland and Labrador is higher than the national average in terms of full-time positions (74% provincially vs. 58% nationally). It is well known that offering full time positions is a strong recruitment and retention strategy that has a positive impact on keeping nurses in the province.”
Pegi Earle, Executive Director of the ARNNL, echoed Feltham’s sentiments. “The number of practicing RNs in the province increased by 150; up 2% from 2007, for a total of 5,724. It is good to see the supply steadily increasing as there is a shortage of nurses in the province. Although we still have numerous vacancies across the province, this will help ease the shortage.”
Earle also pointed out that Newfoundland and Labrador is also showing improvement in retaining a higher number of new graduates than in previous years.
“Although CIHI is reporting that 70% of new graduates remained in the province, these numbers are based on 2008 information. Recent ARNNL data show that we are now actually retaining closer to 78% of new graduates. This is encouraging, and while we are still losing a small portion of our graduates to Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia, these numbers are in decline. Again, more evidence that recent government recruitment and retention initiatives, as well as the positive outcome of recent contract negotiations, are helping to keep our home grown nurses here.”
However, both Earle and Feltham point out that even with this encouraging news, there is still cause for concern.
Earle said: “Our workforce, while one of the youngest in Canada at 43 (45 is the Canadian average), is aging and with one of the highest exit rates (retirement rates) in the country for nurses aged 60 (21%), we will need to work diligently to ensure we can replace these nurses.”
Earle also pointed out that challenges remain in terms of rural nursing in the province. “Of all the provinces, we have the highest percentage of RNs working in areas designated as rural and remote (7% and 25% respectively). Recruiting and retaining rural nurses is challenging, but necessary. We need to attract nurses to the rural areas in order to avoid repeating situations like the one that occurred in Port Saunders recently where seven acute beds had to be closed due to a shortage of RNs.”
“So, while there are certainly positive indicators contained in the CIHI information, there is still much to be done. This report reinforces the positive steps that have been taken to this point but also serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant if we are to maintain an adequate supply of RNs for the health care system.”
Key findings from the report are:
- The RN workforce increased from 5,574 in 2007 to 5,724 in 2008.
- In 2008, the proportion of the Newfoundland and Labrador workforce that was female continued to be high, with 95% of RNs being female.
- The percentage of RNs in full-time positions increased to 74% in 2008 from 71% in 2007. This meets National Best Practice Standards.
- In 2008, the average age of RNs was 43.
- In 2008, Newfoundland’s 68% of RNs worked most often in hospitals.
- In 2008, 25% of Newfoundland and Labrador RNs worked in areas with a remote designation while 7% worked in areas designated as rural. This is the highest number percentage of all of the provinces. The only areas with higher percentages were the Territories.
To see the full report please visit: www.cihi.ca
Media contact:
Janice Lockyer
Director of Communications
Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL)
Phone: 709.753.6198
Cell: 709.687-7243
E-Mail: jlockyer@arnnl.ca