Northern Rockies provides update on Recruitment, Retention, Education and Training  Incentive program

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Multiple new healthcare workers are operating in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) thanks to its incentive program.

According to a report to council on April 8th, the NRRM’s revised Recruitment, Retention, Education and Training Incentive (RRETI) program has been a success so far in 2024. Three new recruits — two lab technicians and one registered nurse — came to the region during the first quarter.

The report also says three new hires with Northern Health — two more registered nurses and one more lab technician — are expected to apply, noting one additional applicant who doesn’t currently meet eligibility requirements.

The program is meant to entice healthcare workers to Fort Nelson by offering them welcome packages, financial incentives, and housing and transportation assistance.

It was implemented because of the many healthcare difficulties facing the community, including a long series of diversions at Fort Nelson General Hospital caused by staff shortages.

At a meeting in February, representatives from BC Emergency Health Services said Fort Nelson is in a unique situation since there are no other hospitals for hundreds of kilometres.

The April 8th report says $14,554 was provided to healthcare workers through the RRETI program between January 1st to March 31st of this year, including $4,500 in welcome packages.

Staff also noted that there have been contributions to the program from elsewhere in the community, citing a condo donated by North River Midstream and Fort Nelson First Nation in 2023 used to provide housing for a candidate.

The NRRM first adopted the RRETI program in September 2022. Late in 2023, after an assessment of its first year, it was revised to require recipients to participate in program evaluation exercises. 

So far, the program has provided $49,879 to healthcare professionals who were new to the community, newly trained or those in the community who pursued further education.

To view the full report, look below.