As N.L. nurses leave full-time jobs, province calls in costly private agencies

“Nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador are leaving the profession at a rapid rate, with more than 600 current vacancies and another 900 nurses able to retire. Byrne and another registered nurse are speaking publicly on why they believe the current system is no longer working.

The labour shortage in health care has left not only the province, but also the country, grappling with a dwindling number of nurses, leading to governments and health agencies to rely on a much more expensive option: travel nurses.

But the union that represents nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador says it is a dangerous precedent to set and will cost taxpayers more in the long run. Its leader is continuing to call for swift changes to mitigate disaster. “

Ariana Kelland · CBC News