New Brunswick is hiring travelling and retired nurses to help cover vacation time during the summer.
The province is looking for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
“Our nurses work incredibly hard to ensure New Brunswickers get the care they need,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.
“After two years on the front lines of the pandemic, preceded by years of working short-staffed, these professionals need a break. We are asking our retired and travelling nursing community, who are able to return for a short period over the next few months, to help fill some gaps while we work on longer-term solutions.”
Since April 1, the Horizon Health Network has hired 11 retirees to provide support, along with about 180 nursing students. Meantime, the Vitalité Health Network has hired 200 nursing students.
Government says it will cover registration fees for retired nurses, adding that the regional health authorities will pay for accommodations and travel for those placed in other parts of the province.
“We recognize the challenges in our health-care system’s workforce, and there are many long-term efforts underway to improve the situation,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder.
“While we are making significant progress, it will take time to fully address these challenges. In the meantime, we need everyone rowing in the same direction to support our active nurses.”
New Brunswick says its efforts to address nursing shortages include introducing a nursing resource strategy, facilitating increased enrolment in bachelor of nursing programs and funding more seats in LPN-to-RN bridging programs.
It also includes creating a navigator unit for internationally educated nurses and increasing the recruitment of internationally educated nurses.
Those who can provide assistance over the summer months are asked to contact the regional health authorities directly.