Nursing Resource Team

Halton Healthcare Services’ Nursing Resource Team (NRT) celebrated its first Anniversary at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) in September 2008. Established in September 2007, the NRT is a creative spin on the traditional nursing staff pool of days gone by.  It provides HHS with flexibility to respond to staffing challenges with a consistently high quality level of nursing care, around the clock.
“The Nursing Resource Team is like a virtual care unit whose members are managed centrally and are systematically scheduled and deployed on a shift-by-shift basis to patient care units throughout the hospital. These nurses fill in for unexpected nursing absences and help units staff up during peak times when patient acuity or volumes suddenly increase,” explains Joan Jickling, HHS Manager of the Nursing Resource Team.

“The key difference between a traditional float pool and our modern team is that our NRT nurses are provided with an enhanced orientation to the areas they will be working in,” continues Ms. Jickling. “These nurses are hired on a full-time basis and report in for their assignment every day. They are available for deployment at the drop of a hat.”

The NRT originally started off with 15 nurses. Based on its success, this initiative was expanded and now serves all Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital inpatient units (with the exception of the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department). An NRT has been introduced at the Milton District Hospital and the Georgetown Hospital sites.

“Before NRT,  we were continually wrestling with nursing shortages throughout our hospital. We often had to turn to Agency Nurses, ask our nurses to work overtime or cope with short-staffed units. This stressed and already delicate system left our nurses frustrated and overworked,”explains Ms. Jickling. “Now we can prebook shifts where absences are known in advance and accommodate last minute absences with greater ease. This innovative human resource strategy helps us maximize our nursing staff, provides us with a significant cost-savings and has enhanced our ability to recruit and retain our nurses. More importantly, it always provides us with a consistent level of patient care.”

“The NRT has proven to be been a win-win situation from all perspectives. It allows us to make better use of our own nurses instead of relying on agency nurses,” notes Sylvia Rodgers, Chief Nursing Officer.  “Our nurses are experienced, well-educated and they are familiar with the organization and its culture of care. Ultimately, this means our patients get the highest quality of care possible continually throughout their hospital stay.”

Nursing Resource Team

"I started with the Nursing Resource Team (NRT) when it first launched at OTMH. I first heard about this new 'team' from a friend of mine who mentioned that the role of this team would be to help alleviate some of the staffing issues due to sick calls, extended time off, etc.

Being a new grad when I first started with the team, the idea of 'floating' from unit to unit scared me even after the 12-week orientation each NRT member receives. However, each unit was pretty receptive to any extra help, thus making the adjustment that much easier.

It has now been 2 years since I first joined. Although the NRT works off a master schedule, there is still a lot of flexibility in the shifts as we are a 'virtual unit.' We know which shifts we will be working ahead of time, but not necessarily the place. I enjoy not only the company of my NRT members, but also each individual staff member on the units that we encounter.

When asked by several staff members on the units if I'll ever be making one particular unit my home base, my simple reply is not quite yet. There are still many learning opportunities that only one can experience as an NRT member" stated Leslie Lau, member of the NRT.