#CaretoChat wrap up: Panel shares powerful tips on retaining employees

Seen above: Terry Lake (moderator) with panelists Kathy Nduwayo, John Bethel & Christine Sorensen

On October 20th, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) kicked off Care to Chat season 10 with Should I Stay or Should I Go? Tips for Employers to Retain Valued Team Members, discussing healthcare recruitment and retention. Moderated by BCCPA CEO Terry Lake, our panel included industry-leading experts like John Bethel (EY National Healthcare Leader), Christine Sorensen (Past President of BC Nurses’ Union), and Kathy Nduwayo (VP Operations at Park Place Seniors Living).

In light of the global healthcare workforce shortage, our panel discussed the high levels of stress and heavy workloads that healthcare workers continue to face. They discussed how COVID-19 pandemic has not only exposed the vulnerability of our healthcare system, but also exacerbated the many challenges that the healthcare workforce continues to face.

Various interventions to improve work environments and address health system drivers of burnout were explored. For example, on-boarding and continued support through mentoring would play a key role for setting up workers for success as they embark their journey in the healthcare system. In addition, employers should consider actively encourage the career path advancement for their employees. This would help place value in their potential and provide opportunities for growth within their role and within the organization. Frontline workers should also actively be included and engaged in key decision-making conversations and therefore make more meaningful changes on an organizational level.

Now in its 10th season @BCCareProviders' #CaretoChat speaker series has never failed to inspire. Today's talk on healthcare worker retention was on a whole new level. Thank you for your insights that our leaders need to know and take action on.

👏@csorensen4 @EYnews @TerryLake19 https://t.co/IcgA4zvLQJ

— Mike Klassen 麥嘉信 (@MikeKlassen) October 21, 2022

Empowering long-term care and tackling internalized ageism through placing more value in seniors care, as well as investing in current staff, were highlighted throughout the panel.