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Wednesday March 28, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 `Lost generation' of nurses not anxious to leave U.S. B y H o w a rd M ozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF W hile Halton H ealthcare Services (HHS) is currently negotiating with one woman as a result of last month's "Bring Our Nurses Home" Job Fair in Houston, it's a wonder anyone is interested given the over whelming number of obstacles facing recruiters. A ccording to Cindy H awkswell, Patient Care Manager and Clinician for ICU, the HHS delegation was not only competing with other GTA hospitals, but also a strong American dollar, southern job security and lingering resent ment from nurses laid off in Ontario during the mid-1990's. In short, says HHS Nurse Recruiter Patricia Jappy-Loker, nurses are in the driver's seat and they know it. "Basically we get inter viewed," she said. At issue is the fact that essentially an entire generation of nurses left Ontario in the mid-1990s as a result of health care cuts, restructuring and downsizing. The shortages in specialty areas such as emer gency medicine, intensive care and critical care have already reached crisis proportions at many Toronto hospitals and now recruiters across the board are competing to attract the same trained nurses. Fortunately at HHS, which encompasses OTHS and Milton Layoffs, lack of job security, Social Contract left them bitter, resentful D istrict Hospital, the nurse vacancy rate hovers around 3% - a far cry from the 10% to 11% industry average. That doesn't mean HHS is out of the woods and to that end Jappy-Loker and Hawkswell were among the delegations from 35 Greater Toronto Area hospitals, who participated in the Houston job fair. Significant enticem ents include the live/work possibili ties of Oakville itself, HHS' progressive attitude and topnotch infrastructure, support for professional development and plenty of full-time jobs. In Houston, however, they encountered nurses who work perm anent shifts, get paid $125,000 Cdn. a year in some cases, enjoy a comfortable cost of living and even warm weath er. Hawkswell said she played up - among other things - the new one-year maternity leave in Canada, a good public edu cation system and the safety of the Oakville community. "There are three guns down there for every Texan and metal detectors in the hospitals," said Jappy-Loker, who found her self on the receiving end of recruitm ent pitches while in Houston. "It's a very different society." So well entrenched are the exiled nurses that some hospi tals often have all-Canadian shifts. Even the head recruiter at H ouston's St. Luke's Hospital is a Canadian. Not the least of the obstacles HHS encountered was the bad come home, but their lifestyles w on't allow them to come home," said Hawkswell. Still, says Jappy-Loker, the Houston hospitals must have been a little worried: as part of definitely not a waste. Hopefully, she said, the market ing seeds have been sown and nurses will eventually respond when they're good and ready. "They're in no hurry. They have 20 jobs waiting for them," said Hawkswell, who explained it's not a matter of whether qualified nurses will find posi tions, but where. "But at least the message is getting out." A closer look, though, reveals the recruitment issue is anything but a clear-cut tug of war between Canada and the United States. HHS is vying for both new and existing person nel with hospitals within the GTA and across Canada. Hospitals must also compete for nurses with private health `They asked Can you guarantee me that in seven years there will be a job for m e?' In good conscience I can't say yes." -Cindy Hawkswell, OTMH taste left in nurses' mouths their damage control they orga from the Social Contract in the nized their own job fair only early 1990's and the massive two days after the Canadian layoffs under the Harris gov sponsored event. About 250 nurses attended ernment which forced them some with seven years' experi the first event and although ence - to leave Canada. After only about 20 were recruited by 35 GTA hospitals, having the rug pulled out from the under them once, the nurses Hawkswell feels the effort was aren't in a rush to return. "They asked 'C an you guar antee me that in seven years there will be a job for me?' " said Hawkswell. "In good con science I can't say yes." There is also the fear that a change in government could de-stabilize healthcare further, a fact which make nurses even more reluctant to come home. "Healthcare in Ontario is a path that is fairly unknown," said Hawkswell. Then there's the U.S. dollar, a factor which underscores, every conversation with prospective recruits. "Many nurses there want to care agencies, insurance com panies, pharm aceutical firms and more. "Twenty-five percent is recruiting, 75% is retention," said Jappy-Loker. v Nurses also change assign ments within the same hospital, further taxing administration time and resources to ensure that every unit is appropriately staffed - all the while shielding patients from the pressures being exerted behind the scenes. Also added to the mix, explained Hawkswell, is the hard sell of nursing itself at a time when contem porary women have a multitude of careers open to them. "It's a rewarding career, but we have to get out and sell it," said Jappy-Loker. Paper eggs raise funds for Easter Seals An egg-citing fundraiser has hatched across Ontario in time for Easter -- the Easter Seal Society's Paper Eggs campaign. Until April 15, shoppers can purchase a paper egg for $2 at participating Ontario retailers in support of children and young adults with physi cal disabilities. Local Sobeys, Longo's, Wal-Mart and Pet Valu stores will take part. Shoppers can purchase a paper egg, sign it and then have it displayed in the participating store's window. "The cost of having a child with a physical disability can be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 a year," said Easter Seal Society presi dent and CEO Charlotte Gibson. "You'd be amazed at how far your twoonie will go," promised Gibson. The Paper Eggs campaign was launched last year and raised more than $100,000 through 500 Ontario retailers. This year, the Paper Eggs campaign is going Canada-wide. The Easter Seal Society has been helping chil dren and young adults with physicial disabilities since 1922. Today, more than 8,000 families rely on the Society to purchase expensive equipment needed for mobility and communication, to send kids to summer camp, to provide access to information and resources, and to invest dollars in research and prevention. The Largest Selection at the Guaranteed Lowest Prices! Earn bonus points toward free products everytime you shop. Expert Club Repairs · Free Custm Club Fitting · "Try Before You Buy" Top Dollar on Trade-Ins · Computerized Swing Analysis OAKVILLE OAKVILLE - HALTON Inter 30 | V/SA Oakville Town Centre (905) 338-9210 *ln-stock items only. uni (f a s t e r C h a m p a g n e B r u n c h Join us at Hampton's Restaurant located in the Quality Hotel & Suites for Easter Brunch Sunday April 15th. An elaborate buffet extravaganza with the Easter Bunny to take the kids on an Easter egg hunt and after let them enjoy our activity area where they can color and play. P R IN G S p rin g is th e tim e to let loose. And sw ing d a n ce is th e p e rfe ct w ay to have fun an d sta y fit. Call th e d a n ce p ro fe ssio n a ls a t F re d A staire D an ce S tu d ios. T h ey 'll sh o w you h o w to p u t sw ing in y o u r step this sp ring. Buffet Includes: Carvery of Ham & Prime Rib · Scrambled Eggs · Bacon & Sausage Pancakes · Tossed & Caesar Salad · Seafood Salads Smoked Salmon Platters · Assortment of Fine World Cheeses Pasta of the Day · Homestyle Potatoes · Fresh Garden Vegetables Home Baked Breads · Muffins, Croissants, Danishes French Pastries, Tortes, Cakes, Pies · Glass of Chilled Mimosa, Coffee or Tea $18.99 per person Children 12 and under half price Children under 5 eat free We will be offering two seatings for our brunch. The 10:30 A.M. Brunch will be available until 12:30 P.M. A 1:30 P.M. Brunch will be available until 3:30 P.M. P lease call 8 4 7 -6 6 6 7 e x te n s io n 1 1 0 2 to b o o k y o u r re s e rv a tio n . The regular breakfast menu will not be served this day. S p r in g S p e c ia l 5 h o u r s f o r $25° L e a r n w ith o r w ith o u t a p a r tn e r " L i m i t e d t o fir s t 3 5 c a lle r s H A M P T O N 'S R estau ran t & Pub O p e n fo r B r e a k fa st, L u n c h & D in n e r 7 5 4 B r o n te B d . (inside the Q u a lity H o te l) 2 2 5 L a k e sh o r e B o a d E a st, 2nd F loor D o w n t o w n O a k v il le Last Chance! 1 block west of Trafalgar Rd. (Entrance from both Lakeshore Road and parking lot off Church Street) 8 4 7 -1 5 6 6 w w w .fr e d a sta ir e .c o m ' N e w a d u lt s t u d e n t s o n ly . 8 4 2 -3 7 9 7 RED S m R E J ) D A N C E S T U D IO S 3 T E A C H IN G O P P O R T U N IT IE S OPEN HOUSE Saturday, M arch 31s t 10am - 1pm · Looking for a part time or full time high school position during the day? · Interested in teaching after school or in the summer in order to supplement your income? · Want to share in a more personalized teaching environment? Saturday, M arch 31, & April 7 ,8 :3 0 a.m .-1:00 p.m. AT THE CLUBHOUSE 2 3 1 0 B r id g e R d . (b etw een 3rd Line & B ronte Rd.) RATES J u n io r /S t u d e n t A d u lt C o u p le F a m ily ...$ 4 0 ...$ 8 0 ...$ 1 2 5 ...$ 1 4 0 Chisholm Centre is your answer! W To learn m ore a b o u t teaching at Chisholm visit our E m p lo y m e n t O p e n H o u s e W e E n c o u ra g e N e w M e m b e r s SEARS CORRECTION For our 8-Page HARDWARE SALE FLYER (Sale Dates March 19 - April S. 2001) (V034V101) PAGE 5 - Save $30.00 on 37-Piece Moulding S e t-A d should read 27-Piece Moulding Head Set. For our 44-Page THE SALE/HOME SALE COUNTDOWN (Sale Dates March 26 April 1, 2 0 0 1 )(C035F501) PAGE 25A - Craftsman 14.4 V, 3/8" Drill and Trim Saw Kit. - Illustration is incorrect, Trim Saw Kit should be 14.4 V, not 18.0 V. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this m ay have caused o u r customers. Active membership, ladder, leagues, lessons, Sunday Socials, % excellent teaching pro. % (f (T ISZmb&P F o r m o re in fo rm a tio n , call Lynn K irk: 8 4 7 -7 8 3 8 V ern a D alg leish : 8 2 5 -4 1 8 8 ® " A C h is h o lm C e n t r e 1484 Cornwall Road at Maplegrove, Oakville L6J 7W5 Telephone (905) 844-3240 W ebsite: www.chisholm centre.com *