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March 17, 2005
BCNU making progress on nursing policy issues
Some health authorities are converting overtime hours into new full-time RN positions
BCNU is making progress with the health authorities and HEABC on some of the nursing issues that were the subject of the policy discussions during the 2004 round of provincial bargaining. Discussions to implement various policy initiatives are ongoing in every health authority across the province as well as Providence Health Care involving BCNU regional chairs, servicing coordinators, worksite stewards and members.
Converting Overtime into Regular Positions
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
- Vancouver General Hospital will convert overtime hours on the thoracic unit into five regular full-time positions
- UBC Hospital will convert overtime hours on Purdy 3 (extended care) into four regular full-time RN vacation relief positions
- Minoru Pavillion in Richmond will convert overtime hours into new regular part-time day, evening and night RN float positions to help with workload
- Vancouver Mental Health Emergency Services will add one regular full-time position to its baseline staffing
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Interior Health Authority
- East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook has added an afternoon shift in the OR, and will establish a dedicated PAR staff of five regular full-time positions by the end of March to replace work previously done by OR nurses on overtime
- Invermere Hospital deleted an excluded nursing manager and added three regular RN positions, including one DC2 position, to its baseline staffing
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Fraser Health Authority
- The FHA has committed to increase baseline staffing to safe levels on Med/Surg units
- The creation of break relief, vacation relief and float pool positions are being discussed
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Northern Health Authority
- NHA will maintain their practice of over-hiring all new graduates, employing them into regular full-time positions whether vacancies or not
- NHA is currently reviewing where additional baseline staffing will occur
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Responsive Shift Scheduling
Campbell River Hospital is launching a pilot project on responsive shift scheduling.
The shift scheduling secretariat, which was established following last summer’s policy discussions, is reviewing some software to help offer shift scheduling options more responsive to nurses’ needs. BCNU is involved with the Health Ministry’s Nursing Directorate in providing training next month on responsive shift schedules to union members and managers who are skilled at doing rotations.
Phased Retirement/Employment of New Grads
As a pilot project, Vancouver Coastal is dropping the eligibility age for phased retirement to 57, because interest in the program by senior full-time nurses beyond the age of 60 has been limited.
New Policy Initiatives
As a result of the second round of provincial policy discussions at the end of January, BCNU is engaged with HEABC and health authorities on two additional topics - the duty to accommodate process for nurses seeking a return to work from illness or injury, and skill mix ratios in long term care. More information will be available on these topics as discussions proceed.
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