UPEI nursing graduates have many options in 2021

This year has brought grim health news on many fronts, but it is a great time to be finishing nursing school.

Gone are the days of having to leave Prince Edward Island to find full-time work. New graduates say they feel like they have their pick of jobs and Health PEI says it's doing what it can to keep them here.

Janelle Sobey, whowent back to school after working as licensed practical nurse for many years, is graduating from the UPEI Faculty of Nursing witha Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May.

"It's a really good time to come out as a graduate because there are so many opportunities for work," she said."The need is greater than I think it ever has been."

Sobeysigned up for an incentive program with the province which gives $5,000 each to nurses when they commit to working for Health PEI for two years. She's also impressed with the organization'smentorship programs, which pairs up older staff and new hirees.

The combination worked for her: Sobeyis looking forward to starting her "dream job," after accepting a position in the intensive care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

Most UPEI grads have gotten offers

"This year it seems we've all had really good success in finding jobs," said Michael MacKinnon, another new nursing grad from UPEI."I'm pretty sure 90 per centof our class has had job offers so far."

He hasbeen interested in the medical field since he was a kid, and has a number of family members who are nurses.

MacKinnonalso took advantage of the provincial incentive program, and will start work at the QEH's Unit 1, his first choice for a workplace.

"Obviously that $5,000 signing bonus is a really good way to kickstart to help pay off some student loans," he said, adding that it feels pretty good to be in demand right from the start.

"I feel pretty excited to go into this career because I know there's no dead end," he said.

Some do choose to leave

Graduating student Taylor Gavin has decided to work in Halifax, although he did have an attractive job offer in P.E.I.

He's dating someone in Nova Scotia and they want to be in the same province.

"Right now, especially with COVID-19, there are so many jobs everywhere Canada, U.S. wherever you want to go," he said.

"The opportunities are endless."

Gavin said he's noticed more incentives seem to be available if you work at a rural hospital;you might even get some help with your student loan debt.

Wages can be an added reason to work off-Island. Gavin believes P.E.I is competitive, but he'll be making 90 cents more an hour in Halifax.

He does hope to eventually be able to return to work as a nurse on P.E.I.

Interim dean expects many to stay

The interim dean of the Faculty of Nursing at UPEI said the school has seen an increased need for its graduating nurses both regionally and nationally.

Jo-Ann MacDonald said that even though new grads have more choices now, she expects a high number of them to stay on the Island.

"If you want a job on P.E.I., you're going to get a job on P.E.I.,"she said.

MacDonald said new grads know the workload can be high, soprograms like mentorshipsthat help new nurses can be an appealing part of a job offer.

'Lots of opportunities'

P.E.I's chief of nursing says the province has been focusing not just onrecruiting but also putting together programs that will help the provincial system retain nurses down the road.

"There's a number of new graduates that are being hired, upwards of 50 or so around now," Marion Dowlingtold CBC News in a recent interview.

Dowling said the province is still receivingapplications from graduates of registered nursing and licensed practical nursing programs which is good to see given the province's challenges with filling vacancies over the years.

She said there are lots of opportunitiesfor nursing graduates on Prince Edward Islandthese days, no matter what areas they would prefer to work in.

"We've been able to match the new grads with some of their preferences," she said.

"I think it is a really good time."

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