KAMLOOPS — Health Minister Terry Lake announced a major province-wide nursing hire this morning, as well as a recruitment drive funded in part by the BC Nurses Union.
Lake says about 300 nurses will be hired full time in Interior Health, but hundreds more across the province.
“1,643 new nurses by the end of March of this year, so [it’s] a very aggressive target and that will largely come from casual nursing positions that are currently being used, and looking to regularize, make full-time those positions,” said Lake.
Lake added the nurses will be hired around the full health care spectrum, though special attention will be paid to shortages in operating rooms and neo-natal units.
He notes the total cost in Interior Health will be about $3 million annually, coming from the health authority’s current budget.
“To nurses who are trying to provide safe patient care while working short in ERs and operating rooms and nurses who cope with overwhelming workloads, this agreement means that relief is on the way,” said Gayle Duteil, president of the BCNU.
“I urge nurses who are working casual and who want a permanent position to send an email today to: hireanurse@bcnu.org. BCNU is supporting the hiring process by providing a first point of contact for all qualified nurses.”
Recruitment targets are as follows:
