In an effort to bolster the healthcare workforce, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reinstated recruitment and retention incentives for retired registered nurses and nurse practitioners. The initiative aims to attract retirees back into the workforce or support those already employed by Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
Eligible retired nurses and nurse practitioners who meet licensing requirements can receive reimbursements for license-related fees up to $500, provided they commit to a return in service of 390 hours annually.
This incentive will be available until March 31, 2025. The program, which saw nearly 230 retired nurses return to work in 2022, was originally introduced following a Nursing Think Tank aimed at addressing the challenges within the profession.
Signing bonuses
The government is also offering signing bonuses for specific nursing roles, particularly those in hard-to-fill positions or in locations with geographic challenges. Additional incentives are available for nurses working in long-term care and family care teams. Since April 2023, more than 520 nurses have been hired by NL Health Services.
“We made a commitment to help address the workplace challenges faced by our nursing community. Our incentives and signing bonuses are helping to alleviate the pressures in our province’s health care system, as we continue to improve health care delivery in the province,” said Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services.
Labour welcomes move
Yvette Coffey, President of the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador, expressed her support for the investment in the healthcare workforce.
“We are pleased to see this investment in those who are working within our publicly funded, publicly delivered health care system,” Coffey said.