Nurses' union president raises questions over N.L.'s recruitment blitz

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is claiming a small victory over its nursing recruitment efforts, but the president of the nurses' union is questioning the numbers.

The province claims it has recruited over 600 nurses since April 2023, with a net gain of 20. 

But Yvette Coffey, president of the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador, says there were 695 permanent nursing vacancies in April this year, and six months earlier there were 715.

"We signed a new collective agreement last August, and yet here we are with another 600 that have left the system," Coffey said. "Did they retire? Did they quit nursing altogether? Did they just resign and leave the province? Where have they gone?"

After touring the province and meeting with members, Coffey said the union is questioning the province.

She's also concerned that those eligible for permanent nursing positions in the province aren't all being hired. 

"The government keeps boasting about 93 per cent of new graduates getting hired this year," Coffey said. "When you break down the numbers, the majority of positions offered to our new graduates here in this province were temporary full-time positions or temporary part-time positions."

With international nursing recruitment efforts in place, Coffey worries there are nurses holding positions without being on the ground — potentially taking away permanent positions from local nurses.

"The majority of positions are being held for internationally educated nurses who are not yet here on the ground in Newfoundland and Labrador or they are here but require upgrading or more training before they can become a registered nurse," Coffey said.

She wants to see the province prioritize those who are in the province and ready to work.

"They should not be holding positions when we have people here ready, willing and able and educators willing to stay, step in right away and take a permanent position and fill those vacancies," she said.

Coffey said the union has members willing to take on permanent positions, but finding housing in rural areas is a challenge. Further, nurses on Newfoundland's west coast are finding it hard to secure time off.

"If you have people here willing to take positions, why aren't we bending over backwards to make sure that they have all the support in place and that they are actually offered that permanent position?" she said. "We're behind the eight ball here."

The union is calling on the government to be more transparent.

"They've hired 660 nurses, which they've clarified as not all registered nurses," said Coffey. 

"[They] did not break down the numbers that were recruited between registered nurses, nurse practitioners or licensed practical nurses."

In an email, a Health Department spokesperson told CBC News Health Minister John Hogan will speak with reporters on Thursday.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.