TORONTO, July 25,
2024 /CNW/ - New data from the Canadian
Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reveals worsening nursing
workforce trends in Ontario. The
province now needs 26,000 additional registered nurses (RN) just to
catch up to the RN-to-population ratio in the rest of Canada – a profound gap that has widened by
three per cent since 2022. The Registered Nurses' Association of
Ontario (RNAO) stresses that
urgent action is required to retain and recruit more RNs and keep
people living in Ontario
healthier.
For the ninth consecutive year, Ontario has had the worst RN-to-population
ratio in Canada, and it's getting
worse despite recent provincial investments in health care. While
the number of nurses in agencies, private clinics and non-bedside
roles is increasing, shortages persist in hospitals, community
health and long-term care (LTC) sectors. "We need more RNs across
all sectors working full-time at full scope, providing direct care
to Ontarians," says RNAO President NP Lhamo Dolkar. "Without a
turnaround in hospitals, community health and LTC, nurses will
continue to explore other options within or outside the profession,
worsening the crisis."
In LTC, the RN-to-population ratio remained stable in 2023,
suggesting that a key RNAO recommendation implemented by the
government – legislated direct care minimums – is having some
effect. Still, the province's RN per capita ratio remains
critically low compared to the rest of Canada. RNAO advocates for greater investments
and an enforced minimum of four hours of direct care per patient to
enhance LTC conditions.
While the growth of nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ontario is reassuring, much more is required
to address the crisis in primary care. Approximately 2.5 million
Ontarians lack access to a primary care provider, with an expected
increase to 4.4 million by 2026. "NPs are crucial to resolving the
primary care crisis and play key roles in LTC and other sectors,"
Dolkar emphasizes. "Much larger investments in NP education,
recruitment and retention as well as NP-led clinics are
required."
"Nurses continue to work tirelessly," says RNAO CEO Dr.
Doris Grinspun. "We must implement
the recommendations in our Nursing Career Pathways
report and in our 2024 provincial pre-budget submission."
These recommendations include full-time employment, increased
compensation and harmonization upwards to address pay disparities,
enhanced mentorship, professional development, and safe workloads.
Ontario must also increase
baccalaureate nursing student enrolments by 10 per cent annually
for the next five years and create a Return to Nursing Now program
to reintegrate RNs and NPs into the workforce.
"It's crucial the government focus on both retention and
recruitment simultaneously," adds Grinspun. "We are committed to
work with all levels of government to find sustainable solutions
that retain and attract nurses to our profession."
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association
representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing
students in Ontario. Since 1925,
RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence
in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the
health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the
public we serve. For more information about RNAO,
visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly
Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario