Commentary – Transition of Internationally Educated Nurses into Practice: What We Need to Do to Evolve as an Inclusive Profession over the Next Decade
Ruth Lee, Ruth Wojtiuk
Abstract
Confronted with a pandemic amid a nursing shortage and an aging and culturally diverse patient population, nursing leaders need to explore innovative ways to meet increasing human resource demands to ensure patient safety. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) are an untapped resource to sustain the nursing workforce and provide culturally appropriate care. Based on the authors' lived experience and knowledge in supporting IENs, this commentary highlights the challenges that threaten the integration of IENs into the Canadian nursing workforce. It also recommends practical strategies to address these challenges, guide innovative and sustainable change and unpack systemic barriers to achieve organizational diversity and equity.