The Nursing Situation in Hamilton: Recruitment & Retention

Abstract

<p> The issue of "nursing shortages" is not new, as it is often discussed by both the media and nursing journals. The emphasis of this research paper is to establish the presence or absence of a nursing shortage in Hamilton. The primary concern is to present strategies for recruitment and retention that have been implemented by area nursing employers. This survey's attention was focused on the registered nurse population in hospital and community clinical areas. </p> <p> The majority of those interviewed, with one exception, believed that Hamilton was not experiencing a nursing shortage at this time, especially when statistics are compared with those of Toronto. Many suggestions were put forth regarding recruitment strategies. Among them have been the establishment of the Hamilton Recruitment Group. Co-operative programs for high-school students have been limited to a small number, but this strategy has had some success. Strategies for retention of nursing staff include education opportunities, changes in work schedules and improvements in communication consisting of involvement in policy decisions. </p>