Pembroke Regional Hospital working to address staffing shortages

The Pembroke Regional Hospital (PRH) is working to address staffing shortages.

Vice-President of Clinical and Support Services, Beth Brownlee says the work going on behind the scenes to ensure appropriate staffing is in place each day is unprecedented.

Brownlee says PRH has integrated Health Care Aides who are supporting clinical operations on the Rehabilitation, Acute Mental Health and Intensive Care units.

The hospital in Pembroke has also added Unit Support Workers to the Medical program to assist with non-clinical duties and welcomed an International Nursing Graduate to the Rehabilitation program.

Other pilot initiatives underway to help support staffing and optimal patient care include Physician Assistants supporting the hospitalist team, increased Respiratory Therapy support in the ICU and the addition of Advance Care Paramedics in the Emergency Department.

The hospital acknowledges while these trials are helping decrease the number of unfilled shifts, alone they aren’t enough to guarantee a long-term solution to the staffing crisis.

The PRH says they are working towards a number of long-term recruitment and retention strategies.

Human Resources Director Brent McIntyre said the hospital is expanding its recruitment efforts by taking full advantage of social media channels and traditional methods such as in-person job fairs. They are also connecting with clinical educators in nursing to ensure that students are fully aware of career opportunities at PRH.

(written by: Rudy Kadlec)