Formal nursing recruitment campaign
believed to be among the largest
of its kind for a community hospital

December 2, 2008 - Brampton, ON: William Osler Health Centre has successfully recruited more than 200 registered nurses in less than 200 days in what is believed to be one of the largest formal nursing recruitment programs of its kind ever undertaken by a community hospital in Ontario.

On May 27 of this year, in response to the growing need for professional nursing staff at both of its hospitals – Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General – William Osler Health Centre (Osler) launched the 200 Nurses in 200 Days Campaign as a way to generate interest in immediate nursing opportunities.

The campaign, which reached its goal earlier in November, has now exceeded its target – 207 nurses have been hired through this aggressive recruitment effort.

"The campaign's success is not only great news for our patients, it has allowed us to rely less on agency nursing staff and help reduce the costs associated with overtime hours, both of which can have significant financial impacts on a hospital's fiscal position," says Ken White, Supervisor.

Brampton resident and recent nursing grad Christina Calvano is a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Brampton Civic Hospital. Christina was one of the first 15 nurses hired through the campaign.

"This is the place for me," says Christina. "Here, I will gain the knowledge I need as I move forward in my career and get a chance to help the people in my community at a time where they are the most vulnerable."

When Osler announced the recruitment campaign, registered nurse Priya Raphel applied for a full-time nursing position on the Rehabilitation Unit at Etobicoke General Hospital. She has since become the 200th nurse to be hired in the campaign.

"The idea of staff being able to refer people they know to work at the hospital is a great way to recruit people you would like to work with," says Priya, who was referred to Osler by a friend, also a nurse, who works at Brampton Civic Hospital. "Knowing someone who works here was a great way to get a glimpse into what kind of place it is to work and what the staff are like."

Osler plans to continue its nursing recruitment efforts beyond this particular campaign, which ends December 5. In fact, recruitment for nurses is an ongoing priority for Osler's hospitals where the need for nurses continues to grow, especially in Emergency, Intensive Care (ICU) and Mental Health.

"The competition for nurses in Ontario has never been stronger," says Lori Diduch, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development and Communications. "Nurses now have many more options and can be more selective in choosing which hospitals they want to work for. We're very happy with the result that this campaign has created for Osler and, ultimately, for our patients."

For more information on nursing and other career opportunities available at Brampton Civic Hospital or Etobicoke General Hospital, please visit www.williamoslerhc.on.ca.

FACTS

·  William Osler Health Centre employs more than 4,100 staff between its two sites – Brampton Civic Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital. Just over half are nurses.

·  Of the 207 nurses recruited through the campaign, 166 were hired for Brampton Civic Hospital and 41 were hired for Etobicoke General Hospital.

·  The campaign officially reached its goal on November 17.

·  Earlier in November, Osler was one of just a handful of hospitals in Ontario to be awarded with the 2008 Healthy Hospital Innovator's Award from the Ontario Hospital Association. The award acknowledges hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to creating and sustaining a healthy workplace through creative and innovative occupational health and safety and human resources practices.