Horizon Health Network has laid out a plan of action to address the nurse shortage in New Brunswick.
In a recent quarterly board meeting, Gail Lebel, Horizon’s chief human resource officer, provided a presentation on strategies to improve nursing recruitment and retention, highlighted by a focus on digital marketing and increasing the talent supply.
As of Nov. 10, the health network had hired 329 nurses, with a goal of 382 for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. However, 272 nurses have also left Horizon in the current fiscal year.
Projections showed most losses for the fiscal year will come through retirements and resignations for a combined 275 nurses.
Lebel outlined nursing recruitment strategies through four pillars: lead strategic workforce planning, grow talent supply, leverage employer brand, and enhance candidate experience.
This includes expanding digital sourcing for recruitment channels, increasing campus recruitment efforts, and focusing on the marketing and sales approach.
“There is no silver bullet, and things don’t happen overnight, but I really believe with a strong plan, timelines, and accountability, that we can move the needle,” Lebel told Horizon staff in the virtual meeting.
The shortage of nurses has forced temporary cuts to services in both the Horizon and Vitalité health networks.
Another area of focus in the presentation was the engagement strategy for nurses employed by Horizon. This included proper methods to listen to staff, improved scheduling flexibility, and an enhanced employee experience.
According to Lebel, items outlined in the strategy received support from Horizon nurses through a survey conducted by the network.
“Too often we say, and our government says, ‘we have a resilient crowd, and we need them to be a little more resilient’ that doesn’t cut it,” said Horizon’s interim president and CEO, Dr. John Dornan.
“We need to change our environment so that in light of COVID – COVID will be with us for a long time – we need to make an environment that is fruitful, respectful and allows for growth, opportunity, education.”
When asked about a timeline to achieve the items outlined in the strategies, Lebel said each initiative will have its own timeframe but the priorities should be done in 2022, though some will be ongoing projects.
