The provincial government and the Nurses Union have unveiled a plan to keep nurses who are already in the system and attract new ones to the fold.

Premier Furey, Health Minister Tom Osbourne and Yvette Coffey, President of the Registered Nurses’ Union, provided details at a news conference at Confederation Building.

A number of financial incentives have been unveiled, something for which the union has been calling.

The package will include retention bonuses, signing bonuses for casual registered nurses, double rate overtime for vacation period, reimbursement of license fees for retired RN’s and RN locum premium for select positions in Labrador-Grenfell Health.

Subsidiary supports include 24-7 mental health services, possible child care for employees who work outside the standard shift structure and bursaries for third-year students in Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Additionally, signing bonuses have been reinstated to attract experienced health professionals, targeting difficult-to-fill positions.

There are currently more than 600 vacancies in Newfoundland and Labrador.