The Nursing Directorate

Nursing Strategies

BC's Nursing Strategy for 2004/05

• Introduction
• Recruitment
• Retention
• Education
• Special Projects

Introduction

Since August 2001, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Advanced Education have announced $59 million in nursing strategies to support the recruitment, retention and education of Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in BC. For the 2004/05 nursing strategy, the Ministry of Health provided $3.5 million to build on successful initiatives introduced since 2001. These strategies were consistent with the recommendations of the 2002 Canadian Nursing Advisory Committee report and were developed with input from the Nursing Advisory Committee of BC, the Chief Nursing Officers and the Ministry of Advanced Education.

Recruitment

• 120 nurses funded

Implementation of Nurse Practitioners
This funding was used to plan for implementation of the role of the nurse practitioner in the health care system as established by Bill 62, Health Professions Amendment Act, 2003 (passed October 23, 2003). For more information, see Nurse Practitioner.

Retention

Implementation of Canadian Nursing Advisory Committee (CNAC) Recommendations
This funding was used to facilitate projects that flowed from the BC identified CNAC priorities. A multi-stakeholder CNAC committee was initiated in January 2004 to develop a selection process to identify projects that will supported BC's priorities. For details of projects funded by the Nursing Directorate in 2004/05 see: CNAC Projects Funded in 2004/05.

Specialty Geriatric Workshops
Since 2002, this internationally recognized strategy has educated more than 2,000 nurses. Funding was allocated to provide specialty geriatric workshops given by clinical nurse specialists (CNS). CNSs shared information on how to care for acutely ill older adults, expand outreach efforts and maintain web-based learning networks.

Nursing Practice Council Fund
Funding to each of the six health authorities enhanced current Nursing Practice Councils in their role to support nurses to practice safe, competent, ethical care in a complex health environment.

Mentorship/Preceptorship Programs
Funding supported the health authorities in preparing new nurse mentors/preceptors to engage in mentorship/preceptorship activities with student nurses, new graduates and nurses transferring to new practice areas.

• 914 nurses participated in acute care mentorship and preceptorship programs

Mentorship/Preceptorship - Mental Health
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to build capacity in the area of mental health nursing by supporting the development and delivery of mentorship/preceptorship activities for nurses working in mental health settings in the community, acute care and residential care facilities.

• 27 nurses participated in Mental Health mentorship and preceptorship programs

Mentorship/Preceptorship - Community
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to build capacity in the area of community nursing. The initiatives focused on issues related to public health, disease prevention, health promotion and home care by supporting nurses in mentorship/preceptorship activities.

• 105 nurses participated in Community Health mentorship and preceptorship programs

Mentorship/Preceptorship - Long-Term Care
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to build capacity among nurses working in the area of long-term care by supporting the development and delivery of mentorship/preceptorship activities for nurses in that setting.

• 138 nurses participated in Long-Term Care mentorship and preceptorship programs

Retired Nurse Mentorship Study
Funding was used to examine the issues and professional implications of utilizing retired nurses who wish to practice. Recommendations will be made on how these nurses can be supported to continue in the workforce.

Nursing Leadership Project
Funding was directed towards increasing the supply of nurse leaders and implementing a program for collaborative nursing leadership.

Education

Continuing and Specialty Education Initiatives
Funding will be distributed to the health authorities to support nurses in skill upgrading and/or specialty certification in areas of need across all practice settings.

• Since 2001, over 10,000 nurses have benefited

Community Health Nursing Initiatives
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to support the development and delivery of continuing and specialty education initiatives for nurses in public health, disease prevention, health promotion and home care settings.

• 496 nurses benefited from Community Health continuing and specialty education in 2004/2005

Mental Health Nursing Initiatives - ($30,000/health authority)
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to support the development and delivery of continuing and specialty education initiatives for nurses working in mental health settings in community, acute care and residential care facilities.

• 498 nurses benefited from Mental Health continuing and specialty education in 2004/2005

Long-Term Care Nursing Initiatives - ($30,000/health authority)
Funding was provided to each of the health authorities to support the development and delivery of continuing and specialty education initiatives for nurses working in long term care.

• 509 nurses benefited from Long-Term Care continuing and specialty education in 2004/2005

Upgrades for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
Funding supported LPNs in completion of their pharmacology and physical assessment modules to enable them to practice at full scope. For more current information, see: 2006/07 LPN Upgrading Fund.

• 575 nurses funded

Special Projects

Nursing Knowledge Enhancement Fund
Funding from the Nursing Knowledge Enhancement Fund was used to develop proposals and support research projects on staff ratios and care delivery models.

Nursing Coalition
The Nursing Coalition includes representatives from the Nursing Education Council of BC, Health Care Leaders Association of BC, and the Registered Nurses Association. This funding supported activities aimed at addressing entry level nursing education issues, i.e. attrition, clinical placements.