Saskatchewan has seen some improvement in nursing retention, according to a report by a Quebec-based think tank, but challenges remain in recruiting and keeping nurses in the profession. “People are leaving because they’re exhausted. In my 44 years, I’ve never seen it so bad,” said Sandee Michalchuk, a licensed practical nurse who works in acute care medicine in Yorkton. Michalchuk said the demands on nurses have increased over the course of her career. “The acuity is a lot higher. The patient’s needs are higher, there’s an increase in mental health and addictions. So, we’re dealing with all of those types of things on the floor.” The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses has also raised concerns about the challenges nurses face at work. “Currently, nurses do not feel supported, they don’t feel valued, they don’t feel heard and we see that the nursing team is crumbling as a result of these systemic failures,” said Bryce Boynton, president of the union. A report from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) says nurses under the age of 35 are leaving the profession across Canada at an “alarming rate.” In Saskatchewan, 31 nurses left the profession for every 100 who entered in 2024, according to the report. That was an 18-per-cent decrease from the previous year, bringing the ratio to a level similar to 2014. “This is very positive, but if we look at it on a 10-year time frame, what we’re seeing is that we only got back now to where we were 10 years ago. So, there’s still a long ways that Saskatchewan has to go,” said Renaud Brossard, vice-president of communications at MEI. Compared with other provinces, Saskatchewan had the third-lowest ratio of nurses leaving the profession to those entering, tied with Ontario. Manitoba had the second-lowest ratio, while British Columbia had the lowest. Brossard said British Columbia saw the greatest improvement in the ratio over the past decade. “The way it turned around was by getting some extra flexibilities,” he said, pointing to changes in how overtime was assigned. In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the number of nurses licensed to practise in Saskatchewan has increased in recent years. “There are more nurses working in Saskatchewan now than ever before,” the statement read. The ministry said it is working to recruit, train and retain health-care workers through its Health Human Resource Action Plan and Patients First Health Care Plan. It also said safety for staff, patients and visitors remains a priority in health-care facilities. Michalchuk said improving retention will require better working conditions and adequate staffing. “Getting them to stay, it’s giving them safe patient staff ratios, adequate staff to do the work that we need to do,” she said.
