WDMH receives provincial funding for new nursing initiative

The Winchester District Memorial Hospital has been selected to receive $21,574 to implement the Late Career Nurse Initiative (LCNI).

PHOTO CREDIT - WDMH

Winchester - Mar. 3, 2011 - The provincial government is helping the Winchester District Memorial Hospital retain experienced nurses in its workforce.

Local MPP Jim Brownell recently announced that the WDMH has been selected to receive $21,574 to implement the Late Career Nurse Initiative (LCNI). The LCNI will allow nurses 55 years of age and older to spend more of their work time in less physically demanding nursing roles.

The funding will help to retain late career nurses, provide a healthy work environment for nurses and allow them to transfer their knowledge to novice nurses, officials said.

Brownell said the funding will help to demonstrate the benefits of experience and teamwork.

"I am very pleased the WDMH has been granted this wonderful opportunity which will allow for experienced nurses to guide new nurses beginning their careers," added the MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

Lynn Hall, vice president, clinical services for the WDMH said the goal is to keep nurses in the workforce longer by providing alternative roles for a portion of their work time.

"We can all benefit from their experience," she said.

The WDMH is a 63-bed hospital comprised of 46 acute care and 17 complex continuing care beds. It is also a rural teaching hospital affiliated with 14 universities and colleges, including the University of Ottawa and St. Paul's University. Quality healthcare at the WDMH is supported by 150 physicians in fields of such as Paediatrics, Family Medicine, Geriatrics and Cardiology.