There is no magic bullet to solve the problem of nursing shortages in communities across Nunavut, said Arviat North - Whale Cove MLA John Main last week in Arviat.

Main, speaking to Arviat nurses being terribly overworked due to a shortage of staff and a nasty flu bug on the go, said the staffing and capacity issues at the Arviat health centre are nothing new.
He said the shortage is concerning for local residents and in terms of how it can impact the workforce at the health centre.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 extremely concerning to see that these capacity issues keep coming up, and it certainly doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 help for health-centre staff to have to go and work in an environment like that every day,SA国际影视传媒� said Main.
Nunavut communities are not alone in their effort to recruit more nurses.
Communities across Canada have recruitment teams put together to focus on having incentive packages appealing enough to recruit and retain doctors and nurses.
Main said Nunavut has to realize itSA国际影视传媒檚 not the only province or territory looking for medical professionals, and it has to find ways to compete with the packages being offered by other locales.
He said Nunavut has to become number one in putting time and energy into its recruiting efforts.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have to hire people who want to be here and who are a good fit for the reality of life in Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淥nce people get on the ground here in our communities, we need to make sure we have everything in place thatSA国际影视传媒檚 needed to retain them, and that goes to making sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e not overworked, making sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e made to feel welcome and that their housing is adequate.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 been some talk of opening up job sharing for people who are semi-retired so, from my perspective, there is a lot that can be done in terms of further developing our workforce.
SA国际影视传媒淩etention is a huge issue and the Department of Health canSA国际影视传媒檛 solve it on its own. It has to be a larger, multi-pronged initiative that involves community members and different agencies such as those tasked with providing housing.SA国际影视传媒�
Main said the staffing issues are impacting health-care delivery on an ongoing basis.
He said people across Nunavut are feeling a huge amount of frustration over health care right now, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 particularly true in his constituencies of Arviat and Whale Cove.
SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to see people suffering because we canSA国际影视传媒檛 solve these staffing issues.
SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to see elders and infants SA国际影视传媒� the most vulnerable members of our society SA国际影视传媒� going without proper health-care delivery.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need to really focus on moving the dial on this problem in a good direction and the vision I have, for the next few years going forward, is if we can make a dent in this and get things going in the right direction, then it will become easier to keep it that way.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now weSA国际影视传媒檙e in this downward cycle where nurses being overworked and not having great working conditions impacts our recruitment and retention, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge issue for Arviat, Whale Cove and communities across Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒�
Main said recruiting nurses and other medical professionals from within has to be part of the solution to the problem.
He said Nunavut has to invest more into developing its workforce and that has to include opportunities for Inuit to receive the training in their own communities.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not sure if a nursing degree has ever been offered in a Nunavut community other than Iqaluit but, when it comes to teaching positions, for example, itSA国际影视传媒檚 being done regularly now across Nunavut where degree programs are offered in the community.
SA国际影视传媒淣ursing is a four-year program and if itSA国际影视传媒檚 offered closer to home SA国际影视传媒� especially for Inuit with families SA国际影视传媒� that can make a big difference when youSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to catch up on your workforce development.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 no magic bullet for this problem because itSA国际影视传媒檚 such a multi-pronged and complex issue that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been battling for such a long time.SA国际影视传媒�
Main points to a tuberculosis-screening initiative a few months back in Whale Cove as an example of an initiative where resources were committed to a project which will have a lasting positive impact on the health of the people living in that community.
He said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the direction Nunavut has to come from in attacking the issue of nurse staffing in the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need to look at it in terms of an investment SA国际影视传媒� where can we invest in terms of making a difference and having a positive impact? Is it housing? Recruitment?
SA国际影视传媒淭he Department of Health has been doing some good work and is trying to move things forward, but we need a concentrated effort involving all our resources to make positive inroads with our efforts.SA国际影视传媒�