Emigration
Nicole van Doornik, an RN who returned
to Canada from Texas, dis-cusses her experience in the
U.S.
|
Video:
Personal Stories from Ontario RNs
RNAO shares the stories of three RNs who went
to find work in the U.S., only to return to Canada. View
our video to find out what brought these nurses back.
View the video: Dial-up
or High
Speed
(Requires Windows
Media Player) |
|
Dramatic fluctuations in employment opportunities, driven by funding
cuts and short-sighted policy initiatives, led many RNs to leave
the province, the country and even the profession over the past
decade. By 1998, Ontario ranked last in the country in the ratio
of nurses per population.
In 1999, the Ontario government committed to funding 12,000 new,
permanent nursing positions (registered nurse and registered practical
nurse) before the end of 2000. This commitment followed recommendations
made by the nursing community in the report Good
Nursing Good Health [PDF - 304 KB].
Where did RNs go?
By CNO estimates in 2001, of 5,407 Ontario registered nurses living
outside of Canada, 4,650 are living in the United States and 757
registered nurses are living elsewhere or abroad.
Why did Ontario RNs leave?
In the 2001 study, Earning
their Return: When & Why Ontario RNs Left Canada and What Will
Bring Them Back, RNAO found that a large majority (62.7per cent)
cited the major factors that influenced their decision to leave
Canada were:
- Downsizing
- Lack of employment opportunities
- Lack of full-time employment
Other factors that nurses cited were:
- Family or personal issues (28%)
- Pay and benefits (13.2%)
- Travel/weather (8.8%)
- Workload/working conditions (7.6%)
- Cost of living (3.8%)
- Not being valued by the health care system (3.0%)
The very strong showing for the downsizing and lack of job opportunities
is remarkable, given that these were “top-of-mind” factors.
In other words, those responding were not choosing from a list of
factors already created; these responses came without any prompting.
This outcome is consistent with stories RNAO has been hearing from
its members.
Would Ontario RNs come back?
This is perhaps the most stunning result of the survey. Fully 78.3%
of respondents (823) would consider returning to Ontario. Only 213
(20.3%) say that they would not return.
What would bring them back?
Of the several reasons given by the responding RNs, two key factors
stand out:
- 688 (65.5%) would be encouraged to return by the availability
of full-time work
- 697 (66.3%) mention relocation expenses in the same context
A further 152 (14.5%) gave the nod to the availability of part-time
work. These respondents frequently mentioned family issues, which
suggests that they are struggling to juggle career and family obligations.
Respondents listed a variety of other top-of-mind factors:
- Wages/bonuses (337 - 32.1%)
- Job security (120 - 11.4%)
- Education/training support (97 - 9.2%)
- Scheduling (74 - 7.0%)
- Availability of specific positions or locations (146 - 13.9%)
- Workload/work conditions (62 - 5.9%)
- Family considerations (160 - 15.2%)
- Respect for the profession (23 - 2.2%)
- Taxes (18 - 1.7%)
Policy Implications
The response to the survey was overwhelming and gratifying. Nurses
told us that they had been reluctant to leave Ontario. They said
that if we treated our current nurses with the respect and consideration
that professionals are due, we would not only retain our existing
nursing workforce, but we would start to provide the stability that
would attract Ontario nurses back to the province.
There is considerable interest in returning to nursing in Ontario.
However, the conditions and terms of employment will have to change
in order to lure back nurses who have moved away. Nurses want secure
employment. It is also clear that the great majority of nurses want
full-time positions. Yet, in Ontario, less than half of all nursing
jobs are full-time. This is simply unsustainable. No other profession
would ever accept this situation!
Back
to Recruitment and Retention
Back to Strengthening
Nursing
Back to RNAO Knowledge Depot
home
Page conted adapted fom Earning
their Return: When & Why Ontario RNs Left Canada and What Will
Bring Them Back
Referencing
this page? |
