The Registered Nurses’ Union says incentives to keep and recruit staff are as much about hope as they are about money.
The so-called suite of perks includes signing bonuses to entice casuals to go full-time, and retention bonuses in exchange for one-year commitments.
Extra supports for child care and mental health are also on the table, along with a locum premium and double-rate overtime during vacation periods.
The ideas came out of a think tank back in April focusing on first-hand experiences in the field.
But nurses’ union president Yvette Coffey says the incentives are as important as the positive message they send.
She says they’re about providing hope that the government is committed to improvements for nurses, other health professionals and the patients they care for.
Many of the incentives are only available until the end of October, when their success will be evaluated.
The latest numbers show 615 nursing vacancies in the province, with another 900 eligible to retire over the next two years.
Nurses’ union president Yvette Coffey, Premier Andrew Furey and Health Minister Tom Osborne announce financial incentives and employee supports to help address work challenges and stabilize the system. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/Xd6f2d7osW
— Brian Callahan (@briancallahan67) August 2, 2022
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties concur with Coffey that the incentives are a good step forward. But they’re also wary of such short-term measures to fix longer-term issues.
Tory Health critic Paul Dinn says Band-Aid solutions are good if they stick, but no one will know for sure until November if there’s been any progress.
NDP critic, and Paul Dinn’s brother, Jim, had a similar take. He says he’s hoping government is interested in more than just Band-Aid solutions and is looking toward bigger fixes to resolve the crisis.
In mid-July, the government announced incentives, with Premier Andrew Furey noting that sometimes Band-Aids are needed to stop the bleed before moving forward.