Northern Health has recently taken on 877 new staff members at locations across Northern BC.
With 20 per cent of baseline positions unfilled and with a 31 per cent increase in workplace demand since 2020 over the last year, these new additions will help fill gaps in staffing and improve care for patients, Northern Health says in a statement to The Citizen.
Of the 877, 254 of these new staff are registered nurses, with 124 of these new registered nurses being new grads from across BC.
In addition, the Employed Student Nurse Program has brought 176 new staff members including psychiatric nurses to Northern Health
Northern Health stated that the benefits of hiring new graduates include consolidating skills, stabilizing the workforce, enhancing transition support and Increasing workplace retention.
Some of the new staff have been hired through Northern Health programs including the International Educated Health Care Professional Program, which has hired 22 new workers, and the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive (RRRI). Initiated by the province in March, RRRI offers $30,000 to eligible new staff in return for two years of service. This program has led to 209 hires across Northern Health.
Northern Health currently employs 10,362 people, with 3,239 of those people working in Prince George.
