Funding from the Ontario authorities has helped the Chatham Kent Well being Alliance (CKHA) rent two nurses.
The group just lately acquired round $150,000 via the Scientific Scholar Program.
Meredith Whitehead, vice-president of transformation and Chief Nursing Govt with CKHA, mentioned this system goals to associate nursing graduates with senior nurses to assist them acquire priceless hands-on expertise.
“It is a wrestle while you’re a brand new grad making an attempt to do all of this stuff,” she added.
The 2 graduates might be moved from division to division to make sure they will study as a lot as attainable.
The 2 graduates have been working on the CKHA since October. This system funding will cowl the nurses salaries for one 12 months.
The brand new hires have helped the CKHA decrease its nurse emptiness charge. At the beginning of 2024, it was sitting at 10 per cent however has since lowered to round 4.7 per cent as of the top of October. The emptiness charge was as excessive as 15.9 per cent in 2022.
“[CKHA’s nurse retention] is the very best I’ve seen in my travels at varied hospitals throughout the nation,” mentioned Adam Topp, CKHA’s president and CEO.
CKHA’s general emptiness charge has dropped because the begin of the 12 months. It is at present at 3.51 per cent, as of October 31, after beforehand sitting at 8 per cent.
