The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said contract nursing expenses over the 2023-24 fiscal year (April to March) was $89.8M. Is the plan working? It depends on who you ask.
The central idea of the text is whether using travel nurses is a sustainable solution to Saskatchewan's nursing shortage.
While acknowledging that travel nurses provide a temporary fix and prevent healthcare system collapse, the text highlights concerns that relying on them sets a low bar for healthcare and fails to address the root causes of the shortage, such as:
* Burnout among existing nurses: The burden on current staff increases without addressing their concerns.
* Loss of experienced nurses: Mid- and late-career nurses are leaving the profession, while new graduates struggle to find stable positions.
Therefore, the text questions whether travel nurses are merely a "bandage fix" that postpones addressing the systemic issues within Saskatchewan's healthcare system.
The central idea of the text is whether using travel nurses is a sustainable solution to Saskatchewan's nursing shortage. While acknowledging that travel nurses provide a temporary fix and prevent healthcare system collapse, the text highlights concerns that relying on them sets a low bar for healthcare and fails to address the root causes of the shortage, such as: * Burnout among existing nurses: The burden on current staff increases without addressing their concerns. * Loss of experienced nurses: Mid- and late-career nurses are leaving the profession, while new graduates struggle to find stable positions. Therefore, the text questions whether travel nurses are merely a "bandage fix" that postpones addressing the systemic issues within Saskatchewan's healthcare system.
