At least one nurse recently recruited to the Sackville Memorial Hospital has instead accepted a position at another Horizon facility, and the reason is a lack of places to live in Sackville.
Horizon Health declined an interview request, but Moncton and Sackville hospital director Christa Wheeler-Thorne confirmed the news in an emailed statement this week.
“We are aware one of our recent nursing hires was unable to accept a position in Sackville, citing a lack of available housing, and has since accepted a position at one of our other facilities,” writes Wheeler-Thorne. “A combination of low housing inventory and record high real estate prices are creating significant challenges across New Brunswick.”
Wheeler-Thorne says Horizon is, “continuing to work with community stakeholders in the Sackville area to identify potential housing opportunities that might be available for health care workers.”
Another new recruit who first spoke to CHMA in March has also been unable find local housing. Justine Graham says that despite efforts from local people helping her search, she was in the end unable to find a suitable place for her and her partner. But she has opted to keep her position at Sackville Memorial Hospital and make the daily commute from Moncton. Graham will start her position in June as a newly graduated RN. She has worked previously at Sackville Memorial as an LPN before signing up for UNB’s bridging program, which allows LPNs a shorter path to becoming an RN.
The Sackville hospital closed its acute care beds and dramatically reduced emergency room hours in response to a persistent nursing shortage. To help remedy the situation, Horizon hired former hospital chief Nancy Parker to head up recruitment and retention of nurses at the hospital. In addition, a group of local volunteers known as the Rural Health Action Group have been working to help ensure the future of hospital services in Sackville.
Wheeler-Thorne says Horizon remains committed to the same goal. “Our recruitment efforts are continuing unabated and we are fully committed to building on some of our recent successes in Sackville,” she writes.
