GOVERNMENT PROMISE OF 800 NEW NURSES TARGET MET

Eight hundred thirty new nurses are now working in Saskatchewan - fulfilling the provincial government's election commitment to hire 800 more registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses.

The majority of these nurses have been hired as part of the work under the partnership agreement between the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and the provincial government, signed in February 2008. Additional positions have been created by health regions.

Health Minister Don McMorris and SUN President Rosalee Longmoore reported today that health regions have employed 706 more RNs and RPNs as part of the work under the SUN/government partnership, achieving 88 per cent of the target set by the partnership. Through the leadership of health regions, an additional 124 positions have been created, above and beyond the original partnership targets, achieving a total of 830 new nurses providing health care for Saskatchewan people.

The first of its kind in Canada, the agreement sets out a framework for SUN and the ministry to work with health regions, using dedicated funding to hire 800 RNs and RPNs with annual targets set out for achieving this goal over four years.

"This great recruitment success fulfills our election commitment, and it goes a long way toward solving the nursing shortage in Saskatchewan," McMorris said. "Working together, our government and health regions are committed to addressing nurses' concerns, and we have worked closely with SUN to achieve our goals.

"While we celebrate these nurses joining our workforce, we still have more work to do in terms of filling vacancies targeted under the partnership agreement, particularly positions in rural communities."

There are still 327 vacancies as of June 30, 2010.

"The progress that has been made toward meeting the targets is an important step," Longmoore said. "However, the remaining vacancies indicate that further action is required to ensure adequate staffing levels for the consistent delivery of safe, patient-centred care.

"Given the looming retirement of many experienced and skilled nurses, we must continue to focus on recruiting new nurses into quality nursing practice environments as well as retaining the expert nurses we already have. We look forward to continuing the partnership and the opportunity to find innovative solutions to these challenges for patients and their families."

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

Rosalee Longmoore
Saskatchewan Union of Nurses
Regina
Phone: 306-539-6162