Manitoba Government Moves to End Nurse Overtime Amid Staffing Crisis

The Manitoba government is advancing a plan to eliminate mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, despite facing a significant nursing shortage in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Currently, the region has a vacancy rate of approximately 30 percent, with 650 vacant nursing positions reported as of last month.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara stated that the government is confident in its ability to implement this plan. He emphasized that there are sufficient nurses within the healthcare system to support this initiative, citing ongoing recruitment efforts, including attracting nurses from the United States and internationally educated professionals. “We’ve got the nurses in the health-care system to do this, and we’re going to keep hiring as many nurses as possible,” Asagwara remarked.

The nursing shortage is particularly pronounced across various roles, with licensed practical nurses making up 353 of the vacancies and registered nurses accounting for 273. Additionally, there are 11 nurse practitioner vacancies and 13 registered practical nurse vacancies. Prairie Mountain Health employs approximately 2,174 nursing positions, highlighting the magnitude of the staffing challenge.

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of ending mandatory overtime without sufficient staffing levels. “I think it’s a positive move … but I feel as if, right now, we do not have enough nurses to actually make that happen,” Jackson stated. She highlighted that many nurses may feel compelled to work extra hours to help their colleagues, despite not being officially mandated to do so.

The issue of overtime is significant as many nurses are already stretched thin, often working extended shifts. Jackson noted that nurses could find themselves working consecutive shifts, which raises concerns about both their well-being and the quality of patient care.

Since April 2024, the Manitoba government has reported hiring 481 net new nurses, and the NDP government claims to have added 3,400 net new healthcare workers since taking office two years ago. In a recent throne speech, the government also proposed measures to legislate staff-to-patient ratios in priority areas, improve patient safety through a charter, and introduce digital health cards.

While Jackson supports the focus on patient safety, she argues that the government must first address staffing shortages. “I don’t see us being successful in providing safe patient care for every Manitoban until every vacancy is full,” she said, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to ensure adequate nurse-to-patient ratios.

Jackson pointed out that issues such as violence against nurses and persistent vacancies affect healthcare across Manitoba, not just in Prairie Mountain. She noted that certain areas, like Dauphin, are experiencing particularly high vacancy rates.

In the absence of provincewide nurse-to-patient ratio legislation, patients could be at risk, according to Jackson. “Every patient in Manitoba deserves to be cared for by a nurse who’s working under a minimum nurse-patient ratio system,” she emphasized, advocating for a structured approach to ensure safe, quality care.

As part of her commitment to improving nurse staffing levels, Jackson is involved in a committee preparing recommendations to be submitted to the province early next year. This initiative aims to establish guidelines for safe nurse-to-patient ratios across various healthcare units.

The government’s decision to proceed with ending mandatory overtime comes amid ongoing debates regarding staffing levels and patient safety in Manitoba’s healthcare system. The situation continues to evolve, with the focus now shifting to how effectively the province can address these pressing challenges while ensuring quality care for all patients.