The British Columbia government and B.C. Nurses Union are working together to create more than 1,600 nursing positions across the province.
Health Minister Terry Lake says the government, union and Health Employers Association of B.C. want to create 1,643 regular nursing positions by March 31.
Union president Gayle Duteil says the announcement means help is on the way for nurses coping with overwhelming workloads.
The Fraser, Interior and Island health authorities are each hiring the largest numbers of nurses at 400, 300 and 290 respectively.
Fraser Health president Michael Marchbank says the positions will provide even greater levels of care for patients.
