Province, nurses union, determine nurse-to-patient ratios in multiple hospital settings

The BC Government and BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) have established nurse-to-patient ratios for the majority of hospital settings.

Additionally, the province says a new recruitment strategy, along with expanded education opportunities and supports for nurses, will enable the implementation of these ratios.

Some of these include ratios in emergency rooms, neo-natal intensive care units, post-anaesthesia care units, maternity units, operating rooms, and alternative level of care areas.

The implementation of these new ratios will start this fall, and planning is underway to establish ratios in long-term care, assisted living, and other health-authority-operated community settings.

The full suite of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will be implemented over a four-year period, with a target of hiring more than 8,000 nurses.

“Nurses are essential to the health-care system, and we have worked diligently to address deficiencies in their workplace and improve retention,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“Earlier this year, we became the first province in Canada to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios and have made significant progress. Now, with ratios for the majority of hospital settings agreed upon with the BCNU, we have a firm commitment to work together to deliver ratios over the next four years, fortified by new recruitment programs for workplaces that benefit both nurses and patients.”

The BC Government has previously marked $300 million to build out the nursing workplace with actions and initiatives such as:

• Launching an international recruitment campaign targeting internationally educated nurses;
• Offering recruitment incentives of as much as $25,000 for accepting positions in high-need areas;
• Expanding the province’s public travel nurses program, to reduce reliance on agency nursing and overtime;
• $100 million allocated from the 2023-24 minimum nurse-to-patient ratio budget to support retention and professional development for nurses, focusing on emergency departments in year 1;
• The BCNU and province will work together to create resources to implement flexible scheduling as part of establishing collaborative and healthy workplaces.