Internationally trained nurses learn about nursing in Canada through a unique graduate certificate program offered at Conestoga.
Enhanced Practice for Internationally Trained Nurses is a two-year graduate certificate program geared to experienced internationally educated nurses with a four-year bachelor's degree in nursing.
Enhanced Practice for Internationally Trained Nurses is a two-year graduate certificate program geared to experienced internationally educated nurses with a four-year bachelor's degree in nursing.
Supporting internationally trained nurses to work in Canada is key to addressing the severe nursing shortage due to the shortfall of domestic graduates and many nurses retiring or leaving the profession, compounded by burnout from the pandemic.
Ontario was short nearly 24,000 registered nurses per capita compared to the rest of Canada heading into the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 2023 report by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. Almost 70 per cent reported planning to leave their positions in the next five years, with 42 per cent intending to leave the profession entirely by retiring or finding work in another field.
To help address that desperate call for nurses in all healthcare sectors, Conestoga is expanding the program to more campuses and opening more spots for students.
“We’re growing in response to the need for nurses,” said Michelle Heyer, chair of seniors care in the School of Health & Life Sciences.
The program is currently offered at the Kitchener - Doon and Guelph campuses. Classes will begin at the Brantford campus in the winter term with construction underway to create learning labs, and the newly renovated Guelph campus that will officially open in January. The aim is to offer the program at the Milton - Steeles Avenue campus in the spring.
Intake has grown from 40 students to 200 across the various locations each term. The college is looking ahead to spring enrolment now.
The program’s appeal reaches far and wide, Heyer said. “We have students from all over the world.”
That diversity creates a tight-knit community among the newcomers, who get in-depth training to gain the essential nursing knowledge and skills required to practice in the Canadian healthcare system.
Students learn from experienced nursing faculty in active learning environments such as nursing labs and immersive simulation suites. The program is based on the College of Nurses of Ontario professional standards and entry to practice competencies for registered nurses.
Canadian nursing practices are learned through a variety of evaluation methodologies including scholarly writing, case studies, projects, presentations and simulated patient encounters. There’s also extensive hands-on clinical experience, including over 400 placement hours.
Given the extreme shortage of nurses in all healthcare settings and across the country, the possibilities are virtually endless when students complete the program.
“It’s going to offer newcomers a lot of opportunities,” Heyer said.
Conestoga’s School of Health & Life Sciences offers a range of credentials to assist in the goal of becoming a healthcare professional. From pre-health programs through to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and degrees, the school delivers the most up-to-date training provided by expert faculty and staff in state-of-the-art facilities.