Whereas registered nurses are in demand throughout British Columbia especially in the northern and rural regions of the province; And whereas the Provincial Health Services Authority PHSA provides for internationally educated nurses to obtain registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives BCCNM and the regional health authorities are using student nurses programs: Therefore, be it resolved that the UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to provide greater support to streamline the registration process for internationally educated nurses to the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, set up a financial support process, and bring together all stakeholders National Nursing Assessment Association, BC College of Nurses and Midwives, BC Nurses Union, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training to determine how to integrate internationally education nurses and employed student nurses to the workforce to address the nursing staffing crisis across the province.
Ministry of Health The Province of British Columbia is providing nine million dollars in financial support to Internationally Educated Nurses IENs who wish to work in British Columbia, through the provision of bursaries to offset costs associated with completing the application and assessment process and educational upgrading required to practice as a nurse in BC. The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives has also redesigned their IEN application process to enable a single joint application for multiple nursing designations. This simplified process will allow IEN assessment for competencies in three healthcare professions at once. This will increase the chance of an IEN being able to join the workforce more quickly in the role to which they are best suited, while knowing how to upskill if required to work at a higher level. BCCNM and the Province are committed to continue working on further streamlining of the registration process for internationally educated nurses and to establish processes and supports to facilitate the integration of IENs and employed student nurses into the workforce to address workforce needs, in collaboration with the BC Health Authorities. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills The Province of British Columbia is providing nine million dollars in financial support to Internationally Educated Nurses IENs who wish to work in British Columbia, through the provision of bursaries to offset costs associated with completing the application and assessment process and educational upgrading required to practice as a nurse in BC. The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives has also redesigned their IEN application process to enable a single joint application for multiple nursing designations. This simplified process will allow IEN assessment for competencies in three healthcare professions at once. This will increase the chance of an IEN being able to join the workforce more quickly in the role to which they are best suited, while knowing on how to upskill if required to work at a higher level. BCCNM and the Province are committed to continue working on further streamlining of the registration process for internationally educated nurses and to establish processes and supports to facilitate the integration of IENs and employed student nurses into the workforce to address workforce needs, in collaboration with the BC Health Authorities.