Ontario regulatory colleges have 2 weeks to find ways to register foreign-trained nurses, doctors faster – CBC

Health minister has given organizations 2 weeks to figure out how to register more health workers

Aug 04, 2022

Ontario’s health minister has directed regulatory colleges for nurses and doctors to develop plans to more quickly register internationally educated professionals, a move nursing groups and critics say falls short of the premier’s promise to do everything in his power to address an emergency room staffing crisis.

Sylvia Jones sent directives Thursday to the College of Nurses of Ontario and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario directing them to make every effort to register those nurses and doctors “as expeditiously as possible” so they can practice in the province and provide reports in two weeks on how they will accomplish that.

The minister also directed the nursing college to develop supports for the internationally trained nurses — for example, to bring their skills to Ontario standards — to allow them to practice “in a timely way.”

Hospitals have been under strain in the province in recent weeks, with some emergency rooms forced to close for hours or days at a time due to staff shortages. More temporary closures are expected this weekend in Clinton, Ont., and St. Mary’s, Ont.

Ontario regulatory colleges have 2 weeks to find ways to register foreign-trained nurses, doctors faster – CBC

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