Recruitment and Retention Initiatives Extended
With the provincial budget deficit now over $11 billion, and the government looking to find savings through a review of programs, money is increasingly tight in BC. But in recognition of the importance of tackling shortages affecting nurses, the Ministry of Health has agreed to extend initiatives launched last year to increase recruitment in rural communities and difficult-to-fill roles in urban centres.
The Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA) is pleased to report that, in recognition of ongoing nurse staffing shortages, the Ministry of Health has agreed to extend the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive (PRRI) and other staffing initiatives launched last year to increase recruitment of nurses and other health-care workers in rural communities and among professions facing acute shortages in urban centres.
These initiatives were made possible following the NBA’s negotiation of a provincial investment of $169.5 million in one-time funding initially available from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 and designed to help support the implementation of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. The extensions follow discussions between the health ministry and the NBA. These, along with the staffing incentives announced last September, which include $25,000 recruitment incentives for nurses who accept emergency department positions, will help ensure the continuing improvement of both patient care and working conditions for nurses across a range of critical hospital units.
The PRRI has been extended until June 30, 2025 and supports 74 communities. All nurses in these communities working regular positions are eligible to receive up to $2,000 per quarter (prorated to productive hours) to a maximum of $8,000 per year.
Other incentives will remain in effect unless the ministry provides 14 days' notice of any change or cessation. These include:
GoHealth BC signing bonuses to reduce reliance on nursing agencies. Some nurses are eligible to receive up to $15,000 in signing bonuses when taking a regular position with GoHealth BC, the province’s travel nursing program. This incentive focuses on net-new entrants to the health-care system to prevent churn and competition between employers.
Rural and remote communities signing bonuses for eligible nurses who sign a two-year return-of-service agreement to receive as much as $30,000 to fill high needs vacancies in the North and as much as $20,000 in other rural and remote areas.
Signing bonuses for difficult-to-fill vacancies in urban and metro communities for eligible nurses who sign a two-year return-of-service agreement. These nurses may receive as much as $15,000 to fill permanent positions in difficult-to-fill/high needs vacancies. Eligibility is focused new nurses and nurses returning to the health-care system.