The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Some 40 health care staff vacancies within the NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority aren't having a negative impact on patient care, a spokesperson said Monday. Wanda Reader, executive director of human resources for the NRHA, said full and part-time staff "pull together" to ensure all the shifts are covered. "We have a great group of staff. Our staff are just doing their best to help us out," she said. The NRHA is currently trying to fill some 40 positions in Flin Flon, The Pas, Snow Lake and Sherridon. Of those positions, 29 are non-casual. "I think it is a significant shortage (of workers)," said Reader. "But it's consistent with what's going on across Manitoba and Canada. I don't think we're an anomaly." More than half of the total number of empty positions are for nurses Ñ RNs, LPNs and RPNs. "Nursing is really our most difficult group at this point," said Reader. "But we have been meeting with some successes in recruiting our nurses as of late." The health care system in Flin Flon has fared well considering the vacancies, with just six of the non-casual positions vacant in the community. The jobs consist of four RN positions at the Flin Flon General Hospital, one at the Northern Lights Manor and one for regional home care. "We are happy with the success in Flin Flon we've had with filling our vacancies," said Reader. In contrast, The Pas has 23 non-casual openings, all but three of which are at The Pas Health Complex. Reader said that a number of health care staff in Flin Flon are originally from the community and are eager to work in their hometown. In The Pas, however, there has been a much greater shift of people, she said. In trying to fill empty positions, the NRHA not only contends with a shortage of nationwide health care workers, but also the often challenging task of attracting professionals to the North. Reader said the health authority promotes positive lifestyle aspects of the North, including recreational opportunities, the wilderness and safe communities, when trying to recruit workers. As an added incentive, nurses who work in in the NOR-MAN Region are paid five per cent more than their counterparts in the south, she said. "That's just another thing we can promote, and I'm sure it at least comes into the equation when people are considering a nursing position with us," said Reader.
