Province helps internationally trained nurses continue their careers

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/CAREforNurses.jpg” caption=”Pictured at today’s announcement in the McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences, from left, Mary Anne Chambers, minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Mohawk College president MaryLynn West-Moynes and McMaster President Peter George. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]A successful bridge training program which helps internationally trained nurses pass the registration exam required in order to practice in Ontario will open an office in Hamilton, Mary Anne
Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today at McMaster.

“By increasing the number of internationally trained individuals using their skills and experience in our health care system, we are protecting our people's health – our most precious resource,” Chambers said. “Opening a local office for this successful bridge training project is a boost for internationally trained nurses in Hamilton who want to access bridge training.”

“This is a positive step in fulfilling the government's commitment to
eliminating barriers that prevent internationally trained individuals from pursuing their chosen careers in Ontario,” said Marie Bountrogianni, minister of Citizenship and Immigration and MPP for Hamilton Mountain. “It is to everyone's advantage to do more to help new Canadians put their skills to work.”

Last week, the Ontario government announced a $2-million investment in the Creating Access to Regulated Employment (CARE) for Nurses bridge training project. Of this, $1.05 million will be used to open a local CARE office, helping to increase the number of internationally trained nurses available to work in the health care system in Hamilton-Wentworth.

CARE for Nurses was created to increase the supply of nurses in the acute and long-term care sectors and remove barriers that prevent internationally trained nurses from continuing their careers in our province.

Thanks to the CARE for Nurses project, more than 300 internationally
trained nurses are now practising in Ontario, and the pass rate for the licensing exam for project participants has more than doubled.

“Expanding our operations to Hamilton is another step to help us provide more opportunities to internationally trained nurses who want to work in our health care system,” said Dawn Sheppard, manager of the CARE for Nurses bridge training project.

“By eliminating barriers that prevent internationally trained individuals from pursuing their careers in our province, we are building the highly skilled population Ontario needs,” Chambers said.