N.B. government, UNB expand nursing programs as hospitals deal with 'critical staff shortages'
Speaking directly to a handful of nursing students, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard asked them to consider accepting a job in New Brunswick once they’ve graduated.
"I’m sure that you’re reading the news and many have some trepidation about what you may find when you enter the workforce," she said. "We want you to stay and most of all, we want your young faces and your new ideas in our hospitals making a difference in patient care."
There are 1300 vacant nursing positions across the province, and with 700 healthcare workers currently off because of COVID-19 – it’s caused a lot of pressure on frontline workers.
Shephard made the comments as the province announced $1.5 million for the University of New Brunswick to expand its master of nursing-nurse practitioner program from 10 seats to 20.
The school will also add a specialized training course on mental health for nursing undergrads.
"Students in our schools, the isolation that has occurred for the elderly and all facets of our lives – there have been challenges that are new," said Lorna Butler, Dean of Nursing at UNB’s Fredericton campus.
Paula Doucet, president of the N.B. Nurses Union, says anytime nursing programs are expanded is positive – but the healthcare system is experienced a severe shortage now.
"Here we are in the middle of the storm trying to find out way clear," she said. "Yes, this is something for the future. However, it will not alleviate the stressors of the workload that nurses are feeling right now on the frontlines. I’m just hoping that as we move into summer months that these nurses that have been holding our system together for more than the last two years, will actually have some time to recoup, rest and rejuvenate because this is what they desperately need right now is that break."
Horizon Health Network posted on social media that its Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton was "experiencing critical staff shortages" on Wednesday.
"Priority will be given to trauma & critical care patients. Patients with non-urgent medical issues may experience long wait-times," it said.
Shephard said there is ongoing work to try and alleviate the pressures, on the short term, but that it’s up to the Regional Health Authorities to make those decisions.
"The RHA's are tasked with making sure that they can move their resources around as they need to in order to fill those gaps. It doesn't mean it makes it easy. It means that right now we're, our frontline workers are challenged and they need our support," she said.
"It will be about making decisions about whether management is pulled into care and helping with those kinds of initiatives that help to resolve some of those short-term issues. But we know before COVID that we were challenged with our frontline workforce and our health resource workforce and so - while announcements like this today, while don't have an immediate impact, we can't not do them - we have to give nurses an opportunity to know that it's going to get better."
Horizon Health was unavailable to comment Thursday on the staffing situation.
The expansion of the nurse practitioner program will begin fall of 2023, while the new mental health training will start in September.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
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.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.