Registered Nursing Graduates
February 22, 2010
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nurses in this province are a critical part of our health care system. If I’m in the hospital, I want an RN to assess me properly, identify what my nursing care needs are, get me healthy, and get me home. Nurses who are currently in school are coming to me with their concerns over having a job in Alberta when they graduate. My question is to the minister of health. How many nurses are graduating this spring, and what percentage will have a job here in Alberta?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I expect several hundred are probably graduating. I don’t have the exact number, but I’m sure we can find it for her. On average I think about 70 per cent, that I last heard, of our Alberta graduating nurses were finding employment with Alberta Health and Wellness or with Alberta Health Servicesor some related function that we’re responsible for. There are other jobs for nurses such as in private facilities and such as in laboratories and so on.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In August of 2009 Alberta Health Services hired only 40 per cent of the registered nurses who graduated that month. British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have benefited from Alberta nurses leaving Alberta to find work. My question is to the same minister.
What is this minister doing to ensure that nurses who are graduating can find work here in our province?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m in fact meeting with the United Nurses of Alberta. I’ve met with them already once, maybe twice, and we’re meeting again on Wednesday to address this very issue. I’ve also met with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, CARNA, and addressed the same issue with them. I’ve met with the health sciences folks, who look after the training aspects to a large degree, or at least the program development. I’m doing everything I can to speak and meet with nurses and find out what some of their ideas and solutions are as well.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the announcement last week to address wait times in surgery and the shortage of home care, can the minister of health tell us if a long-term health plan will also include more home care for patients when they leave the hospital?
Mr. Zwozdesky: I believe that is the plan, Mr. Speaker. Home care is a critical part of the way that we help deliver services and extended services and follow-up services to Albertans in need. Without home care a lot of our folks would not be back at their jobs as fast as they would be, they wouldn’t be back on their two feet, as the expression goes, as quickly as we would like them to be, and a lot of general improvements otherwise would not be occurring. But we are confident that they are now, and I’m quite sure that home services will be increased in the next tranche.
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