The remote nature of the work is one of the biggest challenges to recruiting and retaining nurses in northern Manitoba communities, Ottawa says.
“While nursing stations in Manitoba are operated and staffed in a way that is consistent with other regions across Canada, Manitoba has a large number of remote and/or isolated nursing stations, which creates additional staffing challenges, such as requiring nurses to live away from their families and personal networks for periods of time,” Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Carolane Gratton wrote in an emailed statement.
“The role delivered by these health professionals is also very comprehensive and complex and requires significant experience and training. As a result, it is more difficult for many nursing stations and health stations to maintain the number of people they need.”
The federal department operates 21 nursing stations on First Nations in Manitoba. Some have had to close temporarily on operate on an emergencies-only basis because they don’t have enough staff. At least one private agency is offering Manitoba registered nurses up to $100 an hour to work in northern stations, the Free Press reported Tuesday.
Indigenous Services Canada isn’t considering permanently closing any of the 21 nursing stations in Manitoba, Gratton said, but is looking at long-term recruitment strategies and at redeploying other health professionals, such as paramedics, during peak times.
“Longer-term actions include actively recruiting qualified and experienced nurses to practise in First Nations communities throughout Manitoba, an ongoing national recruitment strategy, incentives to increase Indigenous Services Canada’s nursing complement and expanding our mentorship and preceptorship programs to support the development of new nurses,” Gratton said, adding the department is working with First Nations leaders to find solutions to the national shortage.
“Following the lead of First Nations communities, we will find solutions that ensure they have the care they need, when they need it.”
katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
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