Nurses represent the largest share of health workers, with over 28 million worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020), yet Canada is struggling to retain and meet the labour demand due to a nationwide shortage. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, Polytechnics Canada connected with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to discuss their session Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s IENnovative Approach: Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada, highlighting their efforts to prepare internationally trained nurses for positions in Canada.

Christa MacLean, Dean of the School of Nursing and the School of Health Sciences, and Monica Gretchen, Academic Chair of the School of Nursing, recently shared how Saskatchewan Polytechnic is responding to their province’s demand for nurses.

Polytechnics Canada: What led to the development of this program?

Christa MacLean: The recruitment of internationally educated nurses (IEN) is a key deliverable of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Health and Human Resources Action Plan to help address the province’s extreme nursing shortage. Stakeholders asked Sask Polytech to develop a condensed bridging program for IENs to allow them to successfully transition into the Saskatchewan healthcare system.

The Saskatchewan recruitment initiative involves the following core partners:

• Ministries of Advanced Education, Health and Immigration and Career Training
• Saskatchewan Health Authority
• Philippine Recruitment Agency
• College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan
• College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Saskatchewan
• National Nursing Assessment Service
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Nursing

Sask Polytech’s vision and organizational goals prioritize inclusivity, accessibility and the development of engaged learners. By aligning these principles, the institution provides course delivery modes that meet the needs of a diverse group of learners, ensuring fair access to education. The Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada program was condensed to just 14 weeks (from a 9-month bridging program), making it accessible for learners while still in their home country. This program allows time for settlement on arrival, provides on-campus labs and practice education experiences in the Saskatchewan health care system, all while ensuring graduates meet the entry-level competencies for registered nurses in Saskatchewan.

PC: How has condensing your institution’s registered nurse bridging program to just 14 weeks affected the
program and its participants?

Monica Gretchen: This was a substantial change for Sask Polytech and the healthcare system, as well as the regulatory body, the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan. It benefited learners by significantly accelerating the pathway for IENs to integrate into the Saskatchewan healthcare system, allowing them to obtain essential knowledge and practical skills in a much shorter time. This condensed format has made the program more accessible and cost-effective for sponsors and participants, reducing barriers to entry and enabling a larger pool of individuals to pursue a career as a registered nurse in Saskatchewan. The intensive nature of the program fosters rapid skill acquisition and adaptation, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of their roles in the healthcare sector.

PC: Nursing shortages are a national challenge. Have you had interest from other parts of the country looking to replicate what you’re doing or hire your graduates away from Saskatchewan?

CM: We have received significant interest from other provinces and post-secondary institutions from across the country, seeking to understand Saskatchewan’s successful process with intersectoral partners for a streamlined pathway and successful transition for IENs into our healthcare system. We take pride in our efforts to mitigate nursing shortages in Saskatchewan. That said, our commitment extends beyond provincial borders. We are open to sharing our strategies with other provinces and post-secondary institutions within Canada. The IENs from the Philippines in this program all have permanent positions within the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

PC: Do you foresee using a similar model for other professional occupations experiencing critical shortages? What advice would you give to others looking to bridge foreign workers to the Canadian job market?

MG: A similar model could work well for other internationally educated health care professionals. The key to success lies in establishing partnerships with relevant stakeholders to design tailored bridging programs that effectively address the specific requirements of each profession here in Canada – bridging the gaps between knowledge and skills gained in the home country to those needed in Canada. Collaboration, cultural sensitivity and adaptability are all important when building a transition program. Building strong partnerships with provincial ministries, educational institutions, regulatory bodies, employers and community organizations is essential for developing a comprehensive and sustainable solution. Offering additional support services for the learners such as language training, cultural connections and mentorship enhances the success and integration of foreign workers into the Canadian workforce.