Better patient care, more nurses coming to B.C.

Patients will experience improved care and nurses will experience a stronger health-care system as the Province and BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) have now established nurse-to-patient ratios for the majority of hospital settings.

A new recruitment strategy, along with expanded education opportunities and supports for nurses, will enable the implementation of ratios and make B.C. a leader in Canada in terms of places to practise as a nurse.

“Nurses in B.C. do an incredible job taking care of us in our time of need – whether in the community, a hospital or in a care home,” said Premier David Eby. “Setting a minimum nurse staffing standard means more time to deliver the life-saving care. This is one of the actions we’re taking to recruit and retain nurses with better pay, safer working conditions and more training opportunities.”

New nurse-to-patient ratios have been determined for more hospital settings, such as in emergency departments, neo-natal intensive care units (NICU), post-anaesthesia care units (PACU), maternity units, operating rooms and alternative level of care areas. Implementation of these additional ratios will begin in fall 2024. Planning is underway to establish ratios in long-term care, assisted living and other health-authority-operated community settings. The full suite of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, including the ones announced in March 2024, will be implemented over a four-year period, with the target of hiring more than 8,000 nurses.