Alberta flooded with applications from international nurses as requirements eased – CBC
Regulator overhauled its process for foreign nurses last month
May 01, 2023
Holly Gumz misses the quiet moments by a patient’s bedside.
“To hold their hand and to be in a close proximity and to tell them that even if you don’t know the outcome, you’re there for them. It’s a really, really beautiful spot to be in as a nurse.”
Gumz, a critical care nurse from the United States, moved to Calgary in November. She recently landed her Alberta nursing permit, after a year of filing paperwork and applications.
“It is a bit disheartening when you’re at home kind of twiddling your thumbs. And you’re reading these articles … about staffing shortages and about wait-times in the ER and about patients who are suffering consequences due to a lack of bed availability.”
Long waits for international nurses wanting to work in this province have been the norm.
The process can take years and cost up to $4,000.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-international-nurses-applications-1.6825724
