Areas facing acute shortage
Some areas are more affected by this shortage than others. These include Smithers, Upper Skeena, Prince Rupert, Nechako, Peace River North, Fort Nelson and Terrace. The main reasons behind this shortage is that the region offers numerous challenges in the form of bad weather, absence of amenities and lack of housing facilities. Administrative hurdles in the form of poor management discourage nurses to take up jobs in British Columbia.
Consequences of the shortage
Due to the current shortage of nurses, the pressure has increased on the existing personnel. Bellringer has warned that such shortage could lead to a situation of burnout, increase the risk of mistakes and affect patient safety. Nurses doing over-time consistently do not have the time to check on patients. This is a major hindrance in the treatment process.
Solution to the problem
It has been reported that despite a shortage of nurses, there are no registered nurse programs in BC to offer training. There is a growing need for a nursing institute in this region. Northern Health needs to collaborate with the local government to come up with affordable housing facilities for nurses.
Immigration programs are a good way to bring in dedicated and skilled nurses to fill up the gaps. The provincial nominee program has been of immense help in recruiting registered nurses last year.
Northern Health plans to launch a social media campaign and go through the existing database to recruit a higher number of nursing personnel this year. Steps like staff recognition programs and employee referral programs are being taken to meet the demand for nursing practitioners.
