Monday, May 09, 2011
More Front-Line Nursing Care For Ontarians
McGuinty Government Helps 10,000 Nurses Get Job Experience
Ontario is ensuring that families have greater access to front-line health care by supporting nurses throughout their careers.
Since 2007, more than 10,000 nurses have provided care to Ontario families through the Nursing Graduate Guarantee program. Through this initiative new nursing graduates are offered the opportunity to work full time in the province within six months of graduation.
These nurses receive additional hands on experience so that they can provide a broad range of services and better patient care in areas such as long-term care homes, hospitals and public health units. Ontario is the only province to offer this type of program which is helping keep nurses here at home.
Ontarians are also benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of nurses with many years of experience. The Late Career Nurse Initiative helps nurses 55 years and older stay working longer, through opportunities for less physically demanding work, such as mentoring other nurses and teaching patients.
Today's announcement kicks off Nursing Week which runs from May 9 - 15. Supporting Ontario nurses is part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.
QUOTES
"We support nurses throughout their careers to ensure that Ontario has access to high quality nursing care. We help nurses get a foothold into their profession with hands on experience through the Nursing Graduate Guarantee program, and we reach out to retain experienced nurses through the Late Career Nurse Initiative that refreshes their interest in their work by giving them new opportunities."
- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"Through the Nursing Graduate Guarantee, I was able to get a job at SickKids right after graduation. Gaining on-the-job experience and learning from seasoned paediatric nurses made my transition from nursing student to full-time nurse very smooth."
- Victoria Hunking, Registered Nurse, SickKids
"I have enjoyed taking part in the Late Career Nurse Initiative. After 35 years as a nurse at SickKids, I can continue to contribute to the field of nursing by using my experience to help guide the next generation of nurses through the early stages of their careers."
- Debbie Monck, Registered Nurse, SickKids
"We're extremely pleased with the investment the province is making in the nursing profession. These two programs demonstrate why Ontario is such a great place to launch and continue a career in nursing. The profession truly offers a world of possibilities."
- Doris Grinspun, Executive Director, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
"The McGuinty government's commitment to sustainable funding for the Late Career Nurse Initiative is a progressive step forward to assist with the retention of our experienced nurses. Programs to retain skilled and experienced nurses are key to ensuring a stable workforce to meet the care needs of our patients."
- Linda Haslam-Stroud, President, Ontario Nurses' Association.
QUICK FACTS
- Since 2003, the Ontario government has created over 11,000 nursing positions.
- More than half of last year's graduating class – more than 2,600 nursing graduates – participated in the NGG program.
- Since 2004, more than 15,200 experienced nurses have taken part in the Late Career Nurse Initiative.
- There are seven Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics currently operating in Ontario and 18 more that will open by the end of 2011/12.
- In March 2011, the government announced a proposal that would allow nurse practitioners to admit and discharge patients from hospital.
- The redeveloped Health Care Options web site is giving Ontarians a brand new way to access and learn about the many health care options – like Family Health Teams and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics – in their communities.
LEARN MORE
Read more about the Nursing Graduate Guarantee and the Late Career Nurse Initiative.
Backgrounder
Supporting Nurses Throughout Their Careers
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