YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Bringing more nurses to B.C.
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In my community office, we hear from a lot of people who are concerned about having access to quality healthcare, whether for themselves, their children, or another family member. We have incredible health care practitioners here in British Columbia, but since the global pandemic, our healthcare system has been stretched.
Our government knows how important it is that British Columbians have the care they need, when they need it, and that’s why we’re taking steps to build a stronger, more resilient health care system.
Last week, we announced another step in this work. We’re making it easier for nurses who were educated in other countries to practice here in B.C. We’re covering the cost of application, assessment, and transition fees for internationally trained nurses. Previously, this would cost each nurse upwards of $3,700.
We’ve already begun work on streamlining the application process for internationally educated nurses, reducing this period from 3 years down to nine months. And we’re also making it easier for any nurse who took a break from the field to re-enter nursing, by covering the $300 application fee that is required to return to nursing. On top of that, those returning to the field will be eligible for up to $10,000 in bursaries to get the training they need to be back in our hospitals as soon as possible
