IENs prioritized in Ontario — will B.C. do the same?

BCCPA advocacy on internationally educated nurse immigration pathways referenced in Vancouver Sun column

The earth moved this week after an announcement by the Ontario provincial government that they would fast track the deployment of internationally educated nurses (IENs) into hospitals and long-term care homes as a measure to address labour shortages and staff burnout. In a collaboration with Ontario Health (OH) and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) support to work as part of a team under the supervision of a regulated health care provider, such as a registered nurse or doctor.

According to CNO, this partnership provides an opportunity for applicants, currently going through the registration process to become nurses, to participate in a work experience to help complete their evidence of practice and language proficiency registration requirements. This week’s news was received positively by the Ontario Long-Term Care Association.

BCCPA is working with multiple organizations in an effort to end complex and costly barriers that prevent IENs from getting credentials recognized here in order to work in healthcare.

Vancouver Sun columnist Daphne Bramham wrote this week that B.C. must catch up with Ontario’s efforts. She cites BCCPA directly in her piece and outlines the long list of roadblocks IENs face in Canada.

To learn more about the complicated pathway faced by internationally trained nurses in Canada, be sure to watch this recently released BCCPA video.