Health PEI Nursing Strategy: 2017-2020

Nurses form the largest workforce within our health care system and, as such, play an instrumental role in defining the care and services provided to Islanders every day. There are almost 2000 nurses (registered nurses, nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses) employed by Health PEI.

The Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice has reported completion of Health PEI’s first Nursing Strategy. The vision for the 2017-2020 strategy was “Nurses Transforming Health Care” with four strategic pillars: Workforce Capacity; Engagement and Leadership; Professional Practice; and Innovation. The Chief of Nursing office led the work on the Nursing Strategy in collaboration with the Provincial Nursing Leadership Committee and the involvement of stakeholders from across the health system, unions, professional associations and nursing educational institutions. In 2020, the Provincial Nursing Strategy reached its conclusion.

Accomplishments included:

• The development of a revised New Graduate Incentive Program, an Experienced Nursing Incentive Program and incentive programs for New Graduate Nurse Practitioners and Experienced Nurse Practitioners.
• The establishment of a process to connect new graduate nurses (RN, LPN, NP) with French language testing to support the provision of services for our francophone population.
• The development of cultural education videos (12) for clinical staff to support their understanding of cultural beliefs when caring for a variety of patients and families from within Island communities.
• The development and release of online dementia education modules (4) to staff supporting the care provided to this patient population.
• Supported the removal of legislative/regulatory barriers that impacted NP full scope of practice.
• The integration of standardized measurable patient outcome assessments and documentation across acute care inpatient settings.
• The continued development of provincial policies to standardize nursing practices and processes.
• The development of a nursing leadership course for nurses across the province.
• The development of a Transition to Practice Program for new graduate nurses (RN and LPN) at Health PEI. The program aims to support nurses during their first year of practice; the current focus is on mentorship and continuing education. 

Preparation of a second nursing strategy for Health PEI will begin in the near future.