Manitoba works with CRNM to get more internationally educated nurses

#Manitoba, #CRNM; #InternationallyEducatedNurses; #Covid19Fight; #BPIEN
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Manitoba/Canadian-Media: Manitoba's Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen and Manitoba's Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler announced today, that work is in progress by the Manitoba government through its 'Bridging Pathway for Internationally Educated Nurses (BPIEN) program with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) to expedite the registration of up to 39 internationally educated nurses so they may enter the workforce. 

The Bridging Pathway for Internationally Educated Nurses. Image credit: rrc.com

“Nurses are critical in our fight against COVID-19. Finding a way to safely allow these internationally educated nurses to enter into the nursing profession right now will address some of the strain our health-care system is facing,” said Friesen. “With today’s announcement, we are strengthening Manitoba’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Employment opportunities are provided to nurses upon registration to BPIEN program at Red River College. However, a group of up to 39 nurses that successfully completed BPIEN has not been able to register with the CRNM due to testing delays caused by COVID-19.

Friesen's negotiation with CRNM to allow this group of nurses to practice either as graduate nurses or on a temporary full registration, will facilitate qualified, internationally educated nurses eligible to be placed on the graduate nurse registration, even if they have not written and passed the national nursing exam (NCLEX-RN), or if they have not written the language test or have an expired language test score.

Due to the unavailability of the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses, one of the final steps in the licensing process, owing to COVID-19 public health orders, once available, the nurses will need to complete the test in order to gain full licensure.

Those internationally trained nurses who have written the NCLEX-RN and passed an English language test but whose score time-expired, will be eligible to be placed on a temporary full registration.

Last week all 39 internationally educated nurses were contacted by CRNM to follow through with their registration process at the college, which allowed 15 of those nurses were registered, received offers of employment and are working in their profession.

“Newcomers have always been an essential part of Manitoba’s workforce,” said Eichler. “Highly skilled, internationally educated professionals are able to respond to our labor market needs and begin protecting Manitobans.”