Drive under way to fill 500 posts in nursing homes

MOST private and voluntary nursing homes say they have one or more vacant posts for nurses.

In a bid to fill an estimated 500 available nursing posts, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) launched a national recruitment drive yesterday.

An survey by the group, conducted over the summer, reveals that up to 1,364 nursing posts would be created in the next 12 months.

The survey shows that six out of 10 nursing homes had one or more vacant nursing positions, with 448 posts immediately available.

And seven out of 10 said they would be in a position to offer jobs for nurses in the next 12 months.

One quarter said they might be able to offer such employment and just 4% said they would not be in a position to do so.

Almost 70% said they had difficulty filling nursing vacancies in the past, while almost one third did not.

The private and voluntary nursing home sector cares for almost 21,000 residents and provides more than 65% of all long-term care beds in the country.

In a bid to encourage nurses to work in a nursing home, NHI has launched a brochure on skill requirements, the work involved, career opportunities and pay.

NHI chief executive Tadhg Daly said nursing graduates were finding their employment prospects greatly diminished. Some were choosing to move overseas, while experienced nurses were being forced into early retirement.

“We want nurses to be aware nursing homes are offering challenging and rewarding employment opportunities in their own local communities,” he said.

Mr Daly said the brochure also dealt with negative perceptions nurses have of nursing homes and advises them of the high levels of skill and application such environments demanded.