The two-year temporary market supplement for nurses has two components: a recruitment portion and a retention portion. It also includes funding for three nurse educator consultants at the Health and Social Services board level to provide education, mentoring and orientation to nurses. The three positions are placed at the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, the Dogrib Community Services Board and the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Board, but also provide services to the other boards.
As of December 31, 1999, $946,989 has been disbursed to 269 nurses as follows:
A total amount of $405,000 was budgeted for the employment and travel of the three nurse education consultants. These positions have only been filled recently and therefore no expenditures can be submitted at this point.
The remaining funds, $1.65 million, of the temporary market supplement will be used in the coming fiscal year.
The department and boards have not, and will not, retain any of the funding for administration or other uses during the two-year funding for the temporary market supplement.
Regarding the turnover of nurses, the department has data available for two years, 1998 and 1999. The turnover for each board is as follows:
In reviewing these numbers, it is important to note that the two boards with the highest turnover, Lutsel K'e and Deninu, each only have two nursing positions.