More nurses are working in Manitoba now than ever before, says the provincial government.
The province says the number of nurses in Manitoba has reached an all-time high of 17,806.
Health Minister Sharon Blady credited investments in training, recruitment and retention.
Manitoba Health has released its annual Nursing Labour Market Supply report, which is intended to monitor and describe the current nursing workforce in Manitoba.
According to that report, the province’s 2011 commitment to hire 2,000 new nurses has been exceeded, Blady said.
As of 2014, data from the nursing colleges show 2,419 nurses are in practise, including the replacement of an estimated 1,731 nurses who retired and a net gain of 688 more nurses.
As part of the renewal of the collective agreement that was signed with the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) in 2014, work continues on ways to optimize patient care and support long-term sustainability within the health-care system, Blady said.
