Dinn calls for job guarantee for nursing grads
- NL NDP
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Today, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (MHA, St. John’s Centre) called for a permanent, full-time job guarantee for new nursing graduates following revelations last week from the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador (RNUNL) that the majority of new grads are only being offered temporary positions.
“It’s absurd. We could hire three nurses for the price the Liberals are spending on one out-of-province contract nurse,” said Dinn. “We’ve got new grads who are ready to do their part and help with a clear staffing shortage and they’re being told there aren't enough full-time positions. It’s this kind of backwards thinking which has led to the healthcare crisis our province is facing.”
The executive director of the RNUNL revealed last week that despite the claims from the Liberal government that 93% of nursing grads had been given job offers, the majority had only been offered temporary jobs.
This latest news follows the Auditor General’s report revealing that travel agencies were receiving on average $404,000 per nurse – more than three times the salary of a public registered nurse ($118,000) – and that the Liberal government had spent over $241 million over the course of three years on travel nurses alone.
Dinn stressed the need to start recruitment efforts in year one of healthcare programs, guaranteeing full-time permanent jobs for graduates staying and working in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“We’ve got to act fast. We want our graduating students to stay and work here but it’s a competitive market,” said Dinn. “We need to focus on making sure our local nursing students get these jobs and that we’re treating our healthcare workers with the respect they deserve. That starts by hiring local nursing graduates, opening up more full-time positions and ending these ridiculous private contracts.”