Ongoing Recruitment Efforts Lead to Increase of Local Nursing Talent

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services has been successful in its recruitment of local nursing talent following extensive ongoing recruitment efforts. This year, a record-high 93 per cent of the total 2024 graduates from local nursing schools have joined NL Health Services.

“We are pleased with the results of our recruitment efforts to date, and we will continue working diligently to encourage locally trained health-care professionals to stay and work in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Debbie Molloy, vice president responsible for human resources at NL Health Services.

To assist in the recruitment and retention of new graduates, NL Health Services has extended conditional job offers to students while still completing their academic program to provide them with job security. We also offered financial signing bonuses, improved compensation, bursaries and improved supports for work life balance. In addition, in September 2024 students enrolled in bachelor of nursing and licensed practical nursing programs will receive financial tuition supports.

For 2024 new graduate hires, 203 bachelor of nursing students, and 167 practical nursing students have accepted job offers and most have already started working across NL Health Services. We welcome and wish them success as they begin their careers within various zones of the provincial health authority.

“Locally trained nurses are familiar with local environments and processes having completed their clinical placements with NL Health Services, and often have strong local bonds with the communities in which they practice. They are essential for the long-term sustainability of the health-care system,” added Ms. Molloy.

NL Health Services is steadfast in its commitment to the recruitment and retention of local nurses throughout the province. We continue to:

• promote careers in health care among students and youth, particularly in rural and remote areas of NL;
• build partnerships with secondary and post-secondary institutions in NL to encourage local talent to stay in the province, including collaborating with schools to offer practical educational opportunities;
• foster relationships with secondary and post-secondary institutions in Canada to attract talent to NL Health Services;
• actively participate in career fairs and information sessions; and
• promote NL Health Services as an employer of choice.

In addition, international recruitment initiatives across all areas of the health-care spectrum are ongoing as a strategy to supplement the local talent pool in order to increase the number of health-care workers in the system to contribute to the quality of care and improved work life balance for our employees. These extensive and innovative recruitment activities will help sustain and modernize the delivery of health-care services for residents throughout the province.

NL Health Services has a number of opportunities for personal care attendants, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and others interested in working in health care. As a new organization, NL Health Services offers interesting and rewarding work in all areas of the province. Anyone interested in learning more, should visit our careers website for opportunities in all zones of the province.

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