The Trajectory of Agency-Employed Nurses in Ontario, Canada : A Longitudinal Analysis (2011-2021)

In Canada, reports of nursing staff shortages, job vacancies and the use of private agency nurses, especially in hospitals, have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Media reports suggest the pandemic exacerbated nursing shortages among other issues, and nurses are leaving their traditional positions to work at such agencies. Public spending on agency nurses has increased appreciably. Using 2011 to 2021 regulatory college data on all registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) in the province of Ontario, Canada, we investigated trends in the count and share of nurses working for employment agencies. We also examined the rate at which previously non-agency employed nurses transition to employment in at least one agency job. We found the prevalence of RNs and RPNs reporting agency employment was relatively stable from 2011 to 2019, and decreased slightly in 2020 and 2021. However, there was a small increase in transitions from non-agency employment to working at an agency job. We also found the mean hours of practice in all jobs reported by agency and non-agency nurses increased during the pandemic. Based on these findings, an increase in hours and/or prices for agency nurses may explain the increase in public funding for agency nurses, but it was not driven by an increasing share of nurses working for employment agencies. To fully understand employment agency activity, policymakers may need to monitor hours of work and hourly costs rather than only costs. Further research is required to investigate any long-term effects the pandemic may have had on agency-employment.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:25

Enthalten in:

Policy, politics & nursing practice - 25(2024), 2 vom: 11. Apr., Seite 70-82

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Drost, Alyssa [VerfasserIn]
Ben-Ahmed, Houssem Eddine [VerfasserIn]
Sweetman, Arthur [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Agency nurses
COVID-19 pandemic
Employment
Journal Article
Registered nurses

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 09.04.2024

Date Revised 11.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1177/15271544241240489

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370468058