
The Chappell Family Building for Nursing and Population Health (Photo via Thompson Rivers University)
Officials at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops are welcoming the news from the province which is making it easier for internationally educated nurses to practice in the province.
Associate Dean with the School of Nursing, Tracy Hoot, says she’s dealt with her fair share of people trying hard to go through the proper channels to practice in B.C., but notes they become frustrated with the amount of time it can take to complete the process.
“I would say that the new strategy from the government to streamline the assessment process, so when a nurse comes into Canada and they have to be assessed for their competency, often times that’s a barrier for most nurses,” she said on the NL Morning News.
“So if they don’t do well on that assessment that’s going to complicate whether they make it into a program, like at TRU.”
Internationally trained nurses currently need to pass an English language test, competency assessments, provide document submissions to numerous organizations, and more before they can work as a nurse in B.C., a process which takes an average of about two years, with some waiting even longer.
“If they take the assessment the government is proposing, when they’re assessed they can be assessed at a health care aid, an LPN or an RN level. That means that this nurse can work as a care aid while they perhaps upgrade to become competent or more successful at the next assessment,” Hoot added.
Despite the difficulties some experience, Hoot says TRU has had success retraining internationally educated nurses. Last year, the Return to Registered Nurse program had over 80 graduates.
The President of the BC Nurses Union adds that the new supports will help the many nurses who are ready and willing to work, but unable to.
“Sadly, we know some who have had to give up their dreams of nursing in B.C. entirely because the process was either too costly, takes too long or is unnecessarily complicated,” Aman Grewal said.
“Nurses trained outside of Canada bring valuable experience, skills and knowledge to our healthcare system.”