SUN/GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP MEETING TO ADDRESS NURSE SHORTAGE

This Monday marks a significant point in the recently signed Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and government partnership agreement, as parties meet face-to-face for the first time. Facilitated by Dr. Marlene Smadu, the partners will begin work to solve Saskatchewan's shortage of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses.

The agreement sets out a framework for SUN and the Ministry to work with health regions, using dedicated funding to hire 800 registered nurses with annual targets set out for achieving this goal over the next four years.

Dr. Smadu will help develop a more comprehensive action plan to carry out the strategy and to refine the initiatives. The collaboration will include representatives from SUN, health regions, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organization and Ministry of Health officials.

"By working together, I am confident we will do a great deal to address the shortage of nurses in Saskatchewan," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "Nursing vacancies have been climbing for years and it's time to take serious steps to deal with this crisis. It's time for specific hiring targets, and incentives and financial support to health regions to meet those targets."

Dr. Smadu is associate dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan and currently serves as president of the Canadian Nurses Association and co-chair of the Provincial Nursing Committee. She has also served as Assistant Deputy Minister and principal nursing advisor at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

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For more information, contact:

Andrew Dinsmore
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083