MPP Monique Smith takes time to talk with local nurses during National Nursing Week.
As part of the celebration of National Nursing Week, MPP Monique Smith announced the McGuinty government is improving access to critical care services by investing $40,000 in specialised training for more nurses at the North Bay General Hospital.
Smith says there is an increased demand for critical care services because of our growing and ageing population.
NBGH will decide how the funds will be used; however a portion of the investment will be directed for a new critical care nursing e-learning program.
Smith also indicated that the province understands that stresses that the profession is feeling and that the government is creating 12-hunded new nursing positions in the long-term care sector, which translates into a minimum of six new positions in the North Bay area.
Local nurse and RNOA spokesperson Sue Lebeau applauds the move.
Full details of the announcement are contained in the news release below.
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The McGuinty government is improving access to critical care services for Ontarians by investing $40,000 in specialized training for more nurses at the North Bay General Hospital, Nipissing MPP Monique Smith announced today.
“We’re facing an increasing demand for critical care services because of our growing and ageing population,” Smith said. “Our government is responding by ensuring more nurses are trained at the North Bay General Hospital to provide this highly specialized type of care which involves caring for patients who are seriously injured or critically ill, and a greater use of technology and specialized equipment.”
The government is investing $7 million to increase the critical care training opportunities available to nurses in the province. This includes:
$4.5 million for 61 hospital corporations to assist with the costs of ensuring that more than 270 critical care nurses meet the new provincial critical care nursing standards $2.5 million for a new critical care nursing e-learning program. This will be operated in partnership with Durham College, to make critical care training more accessible to nurses who may not be able to attend traditional college programs due to distance and/or work or family responsibilities. Through this innovative program, nurses will take part in lectures via the Internet and participate in hands-on training at simulation lab centres.
This funding is part of the government’s $90 million critical care strategy, which is improving access to quality, integrated critical care services across the province.
As well, the McGuinty government is fulfilling its commitment to create 8,000 new nursing positions in Ontario by adding 1,200 new full-time Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) positions in the long-term care sector, including a minimum of 6 new positions here in Nipissing, said MPP Monique Smith.
“Together with our health care partners, we’re working to turn the nursing profession around,” said Smith. “Nurses are the heart of our health care system and creating these new positions and providing this additional training will greatly benefit the patients who rely on their great work everyday.” …/2 -2- Minister of Health and Long-term Care, George Smitherman, recently announced that the government will invest $57.7M in annual funding to create the 1,200 positions and ensure at least one new RPN position in every one of 628 long-term care homes in Ontario. This initiative means that since coming into office, the McGuinty government has created 8,000 new nursing jobs in the province.
Making Ontario an employer of choice through investments that improve opportunities and work life for nurses and other health care professionals is a key goal of the province’s health human resources strategy. The HealthForceOntario strategy is aimed at ensuring that Ontario has the right supply and mix of health care professionals.
The McGuinty government has launched several initiatives designed to ensure that Ontario families continue to receive the best possible nursing care. These include:
- Guaranteeing that every nursing graduate gets offered a full-time job, beginning in 2007
- Enhancing the work environments for nurses through better supplies and equipment, and more educational and professional career opportunities
- Keeping late career nurses in the profession while utilizing their skills and experience to benefit the health care system
- Purchasing modern hospital equipment – such as patient lifts, electric beds and safety alarms – to improve patient safety and working conditions for nurses.
Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.
