B.C. offering bonuses of up to $30K to attract, retain nurses
The B.C. government is introducing a series of bonus programs in an effort to recruit new nurses to the province – with the highest incentives going to those willing to work in the north.
Nurses can receive $30,000 for agreeing to work a minimum of two years in northern parts of the province, or $20,000 for serving other rural and remote areas.
Even in major urban centres, nurses applying for vacancies deemed "difficult to fill" or "high need" could receive bonuses as high as $15,000.
The government is also offering $15,000 for nurses willing to commit two years to GoHealth BC, the province's travel nurse program.
Health Minister Adrian Dix unveiled the incentives at a news conference Friday, while also highlighting some of the government's other efforts to address nursing shortages in the province.
“You got to train more, we’re training more,” Dix said. “You got to have more pathways to internationally educated nurses, we’re doing that.”
Part of that effort is an expansion of the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive. Nurses can earn up to $8,000 a year if they agree to stay in one of 63 communities eligible for the program.
In addition, the government is preparing to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for a variety of health-care settings.
That includes one nurse to every four patients in adult medical and surgical units, a one-to-three ratio in palliative care, and a one-to-one ratio in intensive care.
While other jurisdictions such as Australia and California have already implemented the ratios, B.C. will be the first province in Canada to do so.
"Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios not only help patients and help nurses,” said Adriane Grear, president of the BC Nurses' Union. "But they help recruitment, retention and they will be a model that I believe will end up being followed across the country. What we are doing here is historic. What we’re doing here reflects what we believe about health-care workplaces.”
There are also new incentives for those training to join B.C.’s nursing ranks. That includes tuition credits of $2,000 per year for those pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing and Practical Nursing. Indigenous students in a BSN program will have the ability to get an additional $5,000 in tuition credits on top of that.
The recruitment, retention and training push will cost the province $237.6-million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.