Financial incentives announced to help retain nurse practitioners
Based on geographic location in Newfoundland and Labrador, range from $20K-$40K
The provincial government announced Friday recruitment incentives for nurse practitioners who commit to work within a family care team in the province.
A news release states the incentives are based on geographic location and range from $20,000 to $40,000 for nurse practitioners (including new graduates, existing employees and retired employees) who commit to work within a family care team for a one-year return in service, with an option to extend the incentive for a second year.
With this new incentive, nurse practitioners who accept employment within a family care team may be eligible for an additional incentive of $10,000 with a commitment to complete advanced airway management training and provide coverage in a Category B emergency department. This incentive is also renewable after one year.
“We are pleased to see government demonstrating an acknowledgment of the vital role nurse practitioners play in our health-care system,” Yvette Coffey, president of Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador, said in the release.
“These incentives are much needed as part of a larger retention strategy, so we can foster an environment where registered nurses and nurse practitioners want to continue living and working in this province. We hope this incentive program will help address some of the challenges that our members are experiencing in areas where there is no primary health care, especially rural and remote regions.”
Family care teams are multi-disciplinary teams that include family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists and other allied health professionals. More than 29,700 residents are currently receiving care from one of the existing teams.
There are nine family care teams in various stages of implementation throughout the province, with five fully operational in the southeast Avalon, St. John's and Stephenville.
Teams currently under development are located in Coast of Bays, Conception Bay North, Happy Valley Goose Bay and the Northern Peninsula.
Based on a needs assessment and available resources to support the team model, 10 more teams have been announced for development in 2023-24 in the following areas: Bonavista, Brookfield/centreville area, Clarenville, Conception Bay North, Deer Lake-white Bay, Gander, Grand Falls-windsor, Labrador West, Port aux Basques and St. John’s.
The release states that upon full implementation, these new family care teams will provide access to primary care for up to 80,000 people.