Health manpower planning in Newfoundland

Croft, Anne Lorraine Condon (1984) Health manpower planning in Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (24MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

An increasing emphasis is being placed on health manpower planning both nationally and internationally as governments, employers, and professional associations jointly attempt to provide a better and more cost effective health care delivery system,. This thesis (a) presents a synopsis of the major methodological approaches to estimating health manpower supply and requirements, (b) provides a summary of health manpower planning activities within the Province of Newfoundland, and (c) estimates the current and future supply and requirements for nursing manpower in Newfoundland over a five-year planning time frame. -- The findings of the research with regards to the provincial nurse manpower situation are that current supply meets current requirements and that projected supply would exceed projected demand given the methodological approaches to supply and requirements that are utilized in the thesis. While the findings also suggest that there may be a surplus of nurses at the end of the planning time frame, the author is not prepared to state definitely that such will be the case due to the changing labour force participation rates of women and the trend towards part-time employment by nurses. The author stresses also in this regard that the supply and requirements estimates derived in any study are, in large part, determined by the planning methodology chosen. -- The major conclusions to be drawn from the thesis are (a) while several formal approaches to health manpower planning exist, not all of them will be applicable in all settings due to factors such as the non-availability of data and limited financial, time and human resources; (b) health manpower planning is a very imprecise and hazard prone activity; and (c) there is a need for increased flexibility in health manpower policy and decision making. The thesis concludes with the caution that mechanistic techniques are not a substitute for insight and the recommendation that the use of expert opinion and professional judgement continue to be incorporated with any future manpower planning activities that take place within the Province.

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