Thinking outside the box has yielded great results in efforts to recruit Registered Nurses (RNs), according to Jorge VanSlyke, President and CEO, Blanche River Health (BRH).

“Like hospitals across Canada, the chronic shortage of clinicians has tested our ability to recruit and retain health care providers, such as RNs,” she said. “Our Human Resources department challenged themselves to attract internationally trained nurses to our area, and as a result, four of the seven new RNs hired since July, 2023 were trained abroad.”

According to Debra Schenk, Manager, Human Resources at BRH, leveraging programs for internationally trained professionals was key to tapping into the international labour market.

“If employers want to stand out, they need to understand and deliver what future employees value most,” she said. “For many internationally trained medical professionals, that means experiencing a smooth immigration process.”

BRH Human Resources Generalist Lisa Poeta leveraged two government programs to support the hospital’s efforts.

“The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program gives employers the green light to hire internationally trained workers, while the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), provides immigration support to those who move from abroad to work in participating Canadian communities,” she said.    

Anju Devassy worked as a Registered Nurse in India for five years before deciding to join her extended family in Canada.

After arriving on a student Visa in 2020, she secured a job as a Personal Support Worker with the goal of continuing her career as a Registered Nurse. Blanche River Health provided her with the opportunity to complete the College of Nurses of Ontario’s 140-hour Supervised Practice Experience Program, a requirement in order to become eligible to practice nursing in Ontario. 

“The supervised practice I received at Blanche River Health was much appreciated and helped me transition to documentation standards commonly used in Ontario,” said Devassy, who accepted a position as a Registered Nurse in July, 2023. Her husband and daughter have joined her in Kirkland Lake. “I also appreciate the support I have received from the BRH Human Resource team to help me transition to life in Canada.” 

The RNIP program is now supporting her family’s efforts to secure permanent residency.  

In the past two months, three more foreign-trained RNs joined Blanche River Health, including Oge Okafor from Nigeria and Surbhi from India.  

Okafor participated in the RNIP, and she is grateful for the support she received. 

“I hold a Masters degree in Nursing, backed by five years of experience,” she said. “I obtained my Ontario nursing license from the Philippines, and needed a temporary work Visa to get my career started in Canada. I’m grateful for the RNIP program, which not only helped fast-track my temporary work Visa, they are still supporting me as I work through my application for permanent residency.” 

Upon arrival to their new homes, Blanche River Health offers support from settling in, making connections with community supports, and obtaining a Social Insurance number, to opening Canadian bank accounts and making sure they are prepared for Canadian winters. 

“I was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to China and then Canada” said VanSlyke. “I understand how daunting it can be to start over in a new climate, with new food, new entities to register with, and few familiar faces to help me navigate everything.”

She also recognizes that supporting newcomers helps root their families in the community, which is essential in retaining the talent the hospital attracts. 

To this end, the Human Resources team at BRH has partnered with local multi-cultural groups that foster connections with other newcomers and provides annual memberships so new employees can tap into cultural and social events. The team also partners with local Chambers of Commerce to leverage programming and tap into local resources while providing in-depth onboarding packages with information and resources on local services and amenities.

According to VanSlyke, this personal touch, coupled with government programs that remove barriers to recruiting internationally trained health care professionals, can have a positive impact on addressing chronic shortages of clinicians, as evidenced by Blanche River Health’s recent successes. 

“While we applaud and fully support the various programs to support local health care professionals, demand outpaces the supply right now, and tapping into the international market is another great way help fill that need,” she added. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in employment at Blanche River Health, please contact us at careers@blancheriverhealth.ca or (705) 567-5251 Ext. 3204.  For further details about our job opportunities, please visit our website www.blancheriverhealth.ca

Photo:  Registered Nurse Oge Okafor (left) and Human Resources Generalist Lisa Poeta at the Aidie Creek Blanche River Health Fall Fun Day, a staff appreciation event sponsored by Blanche River Health.