Canada

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of the innovative research approach called photovoice as an educational strategy to foster learning about and interest in rural locations and rural nursing as future practice settings. [from abstract]

This study examined the factors associated with a physician’s decision to leave a work location. We compared different generations of physicians to assess whether these factors have changed over generations. [from abstract]

The purpose of this review of nursing intervention literature was to document the comparative effects and costs of models of nursing intervention on patient outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, and on system outcomes, such as health resource use. This information will be used to provide suggestions about innovative, effective and efficient models of nursing intervention. [from summary]

Research reveals a close link between inappropriate nurse staffing levels and higher rates of unwanted outcomes for patients. This report highlights evidence-informed recommendations for improvements in patient outcomes through advancements in nurse staffing. [from summary]

The purpose of this study was to examine the approaches utilized by clinical nurse specialists to access and transfer research knowledge in their daily practice. [from author]

This brief discusses interprofessional education as an emerging theme in the education of health care professionals in response to issues such as patient safety and workforce shortages. [from abstract]

This article discusses the issues facing rural physicians, analyzes efforts to recruit and retain them, and outlines what it will require to increase their numbers.

This paper is a synthesis of research on recruitment and retention challenges for home support workers in Canada. [from author]

The ultimate goal of this project was to help policy and decision makers maintain and enhance the health of the nursing workforce by providing them with an overview of the information related to nurse health in Canada. [adapted from author]

As clinical experts, leaders and change agents, advanced practice nurses (APN) are recognized as an important human resource strategy for improving access to high-quality, cost-effective and sustainable models of healthcare. This report aims to develop a better understanding of the roles of APNs, the contexts in which they are currently being used, and the health system factors that influence the effective integration of advanced practice nursing in the Canadian healthcare system. [adapted from author]

The imperative to deliver the best care possible drives research on best practices in nursing. This study examines what it takes to spread a guideline or recommendation from one or two units or organizations to a system-wide innovation that benefits all patients and providers and the healthcare system as a whole; what cost drivers and increased benefits come with spreading a best practice; and what supports, sustains or gets in the way of spreading evidence-informed change. [adapted from summary]

The purpose of the study was to examine intimidation, harassment and/or discrimination as reported by Alberta family medicine graduates during their two-year residency program. [from abstract]

This study is an attempt to understand how aging affects physicians’ work, including staying in or leaving clinical practice, and the impact of this on health workforce planning. [adapted from author]

This article describes an innovative strategy to test a health human resource (HHR) planning and employment model to foster inter-organizational collaboration, knowledge transfer and exchange of nurses between an urban academic health science centre and a remote region in northern Ontario. [from introduction]

The objectives of this scoping exercise were to provide an overview of existing definitions and concepts of health human resources productivity; a summary of the important contributions in literature; an overview of the leading researchers/centres with expertise on this topic; and
gaps and priorities for further research. [adapted from summary]

The development of best practices to promote physician wellbeing at the individual and organisational levels is receiving increased attention. Few studies have documented how physicians perceive their wellbeing in these contexts. The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify and discuss the reported factors that hinder wellbeing, as well as the reported factors that would promote wellbeing among physicians. [from abstract]

This study focuses on the recruitment practices of Canada (a country with a long reliance on internationally trained HHR) and recruiters working for Canadian health authorities. [adapted from abstract]

The purpose of this project was to determine the feasibility of routine use of information from community pharmacy claims databases by regulatory authorities to screen the quality of care provided at community pharmacies. [from abstract]

This study focuses on the implementation and evaluation of the Forecasting Future Workforce Demand Tool. It was hypothesized that implementation of the tool would enable hospitals to enter historical workforce data to create one to five-year forecasts for proactive HHR planning and strategy development. [from summary]

The primary purpose of the Data for Improvement and Clinical Excellence Long-Term Care (LTC) project is to assess the effects of a quality improvement audit with feedback intervention delivered monthly over 13 months to healthcare workers in four LTC facilities. [adapted from abstract]

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a clinically relevant educational program to enhance the language proficiency and professionalism of international medical graduates in a Canadian context. [adapted from introduction]

This study explored sector specific components that contribute to positive work environments and job satisfaction for nurses working outside of the acute care sector. Specifically, this study examined the recruitment and retention initiatives being implemented by nursing employers in the community, public health and long-term care sectors in various geographic areas of Ontario. [from summary]

This document describes an approach to developing competencies that can guide interprofessional education and collaborative practice for all professions in a variety of contexts and is the first attempt to develop a Canadian model of interprofessional competencies that is applicable to all health professions. [from author]

This report presents the results of an evaluation of the Ontario provincial strategy for hiring new graduates, the Nursing Graduate Guarantee, for the year 2008-2009. [from summary]

This toolkit was designed for nurse employers across the province of Ontario to use as a resource in working toward the 70% full-time nurse commitment. It is a practical guide to assist Nurse Managers and Human Resource Staff in identifying staffing needs and creating organization-specific strategies to increase full-time employment for nurses. [from author]

The purpose of this report is to provide background information to support the development of guidelines for the integration of internationally educated health professionals into the Ontario workplace. [from summary]

The nursing service of a Quebec-based health and social services centre has developed an evidence-informed approach to capture knowledge from experienced nurses, and transfer it to new nursing staff. The project has increased the success rate of new nurse orientations and retention, and has reduced the reliance on supplemental nursing resources. [adapted from author]

This article details the results of a survey and environmental scan regarding educational opportunities available to future health care providers concerning the topic of intimate partner violence against women. [adapted from abstract]

The National Physician Database (NPDB) provides information on the demographic characteristics of Canadian physicians and their level of activity within the country's medical care system. It is used by governments, professional associations, consulting firms, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and the media for medical human resource planning and utilization analysis. [adapted from introduction]

This commentary outlines strategies the authors have found successful in aligning health education and training with local health needs in ways that demonstrate socially accountable outcomes for Vancouver Island, Canada. [adapted from abstract]