Healthy solutions

Healthy Solutions is a new column created in the spirit of the AARN Task Force on Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Nurses. Do you know about a project or adea that has improved patient care or helped to create a healthier environment for your nursing colleagues? Send your contributions to Healthy Solutions, Alberta RN, Alberta RA, (780) 452-3276 (fax), 11620-168 Street, Edmonton, AB, TSM 446 (mail) or earn@nurses.ab.ca (e-mail).

Health regions offer educational leaves and recruitment incentives for nurses

Two Alberta regional health authorities recently announced plans to retain and recruit registered nurses.

In November the Mistahia Regional Health Authority released details on an initiative that would see $100,000 spent on educational leaves for RNs, and another $50,000 to pay staff to relieve nurses attending courses.

Having an opportunity to participate in professional development activities was the number one priority identified by RNs in Mistahia. The region has asked nursing management to develop a plan to administer the new program.

The same month the Northern Lights Regional Health Authority unveiled a $1.1 million incentive program to fill vacant positions and reward health care workers. The program includes:

* A pro-rated payment offered to all employees of $200 per month or five per cent of earned hours, whichever is greater

* Up to $7,500 for local Keyano College nursing graduates to offset education expenses in return for a three-year service commitment

* Up to $ 10,000 in relocation assistance for new hires outside the region in return for a service commitment

Both northern health regions have struggled to solve problems of chronic staff shortages and unsatisfactory attempts to recruit and retain staff in the past year.

Making a healthy shift in work schedules

A common eight-hour nursing rotation that moves from a one-week day shift to night shift, one-week night shift to evening shift and one-week evening shift to day shift is the most unhealthy option for nurses and other shift workers, according to recent published research. (Norma Thurston, University of Calgary assistant professor, Sharon Tanguay, respiratory therapist, and Kristin Fraser, U of C assistant professor of medicine, Sleep and Shiftwork I and II, Canadian Nurse, October and November 2000).

A preferred eight-hour shift schedule would have a nurse work in a three-week rotation in a clockwise direction (day to evening, evening to night, night to day).

The research also recommends that rotations based on 12-hour shifts should have a nurse work two or a maximum of three night shifts with days off before a shift change to days.

The authors, who all practise at the Alberta Lung Association Sleep Centre in Calgary, recommend that night workers eat three meals a day, including a main meal before the main shift and a healthy meal or snack during the first half of their shift. Work areas and social areas should be brightly lit to promote alertness. Night shift workers should also be allowed to nap up to 20 minutes during a break in the first part of their shift to promote wakefulness.

Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Jan/Feb 2001
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