Document

GLOBAL NURSE

April – June 2023

ENGLAND

Reality for overseas nurses in UK ‘completely different to image sold’

Internationally educated nurses are becoming a larger part of the UK health workforce each year – but a growing number are questioning their treatment after they arrive.

Marimouttou Coumarassamy, chair of the British Indian Nurses Association (BINA), told Nursing Times the main concern of Indian nurses, particularly in London, was the housing crisis.

When they first get to the UK, international nurses are usually provided with temporary accommodation between four and six weeks by their NHS trust. But, after that time, they must make their own housing arrangements. Mr. Coumarassamy explained that this was when things became difficult for nurses and their families.

“Already the cultural change of coming here will be a big shock to them,” he said. “And they’re having to prepare for their exams. Finding accommodation is one more stress.

Meanwhile, the difficulty of surviving on current NHS nurse pay rates amid the rising cost of living is an issue that has been highlighted in recent months by unions and nurses who were going on strike.

According to Mr. Coumarassamy, when being recruited, Indian nurses were told about the Band 5 Agenda for change salary of between £28,000 and £34,000, without being given any idea of what this wage can buy.

For a nurse coming from India, a country with a lower cost of living and lower average wages, Mr. Coumarassamy said not giving a full idea of the outgoing costs – particularly in London and the South East – was unfair.

Source: Nursing Times

INDIA

157 new government nursing colleges to come up
in India

In a major development in the medical education sector, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a plan to establish 157 new government nursing colleges across India. The decision has been taken to address the shortage of medical professionals in the country, particularly in the field of nursing.

The initiative aims to increase the number of nursing graduates by about 15,700 annually to mitigate the rural-urban and geographical gaps in the healthcare industry. The health minister outlined precise schedules for each stage of the project’s planning and implementation, with the aim of completing it in the next two years.

Currently, there are 5,324 nursing institutes in the country, but there are different levels of nursing education, with the most common being the general nursing education structure of 12+3 with an internship.

Source: India Today

9.4%

fall in enrollment in master's
nursing programs in the USA.

Source: American Association of Colleges of Nursing

30%

improvement in the density of nurses in
the South East Asia region since 2014.

Source: World Health Organization

98.8

thousand nurses were part of the Ontario
registered nursing workforce in 2021.

Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information

PHILIPPINES

Revamping Philippine nursing education: Marcos Jr’s office addresses Filipino nurses
exodus

Concerns about the rising exodus of Filipino nurses have reached the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) offering strategic plans to counter this issue. These plans, presented by CHEd Chairman J. Prospero de Vera 3rd, aim to enrich the nursing curriculum, diversify healthcare roles, boost the number of qualified nurse educators, and initiate innovative review formats to increase the number of licensed nurses.

De Vera disclosed, “The long-term action is that we have lifted the 10-year moratorium on the creation of new nursing programs.” He further revealed that 54 universities had displayed interest in opening new nursing programs. According to preliminary CHEd estimates, the new establishments could potentially influx 2,052 nursing students by the Academic Year 2027 to 2028.

Source: Thaiger

CANADA

CNO makes significant changes to registration regulation

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) shared a significant proposed change to nursing registration in Ontario.

"Nursing is a constantly evolving profession and we need to keep pace to ensure we can continue to register nurses who are safe to practice in this province. That’s why we are so proud to propose solutions to ensure that nurses from around the world can register in Ontario, if they can demonstrate the knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely,” says Silvie Crawford, CNO’s Executive Director and CEO.

During the next few months, CNO will draft regulations and engage nurses and other partners for input. CNO aims to bring these regulations to Council for approval in September 2023.

Source: College of Nurses of Ontario

NEW ZEALAND

Government hints at more help for medical students amid shortage

Funding to train more medical students and additional support for trainee

nurses may be on the way as New Zealand grapples with workforce shortage in its health system.

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall told that New Zealand couldn't keep relying on overseas healthcare workers to plug its staffing gaps. She acknowledged the costs of studying can be a "major barrier" for students completing their medical training "because it costs money to keep gas in your car so that you can go attend a woman giving birth as a midwifery student".

News Source: One News

74.6%

RN applicants in Ontario passed the
NCLEX-RN on the first attempt in 2021.

Source: College of Nurses of Ontario

13 million

million nurses needed to address the nursing
shortage across the world by 2030.

Source: World Health Organization

72%

of Singapore's pool of registered nurses
are permanent residents of Singapore.

Source: The Hindu

USA

Understanding Nursing Shortages in the U.S. for 2023

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the nation, with nearly 4.2 million registered nurses nationwide. Furthermore, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of RNs will grow another 6% from 2021 to 2031, with an average of 203,200 RN job openings every year during the decade.

Some national, state, and local entities are attempting to do something about the nursing shortage to prevent it from worsening and eventually reverse the course. On a national level, the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) issued a brief in June 2022, profiling various legislative approaches states could use to address the nursing shortage.

These approaches included adapting nursing scope of practice laws and offering preceptors financial incentives. State-level initiatives already underway address the shortage of RNs and the educators needed to train new nurses by examining various options to recruit and retain nurses. Besides changing the scope of practice laws and offering monetary incentives outlined by the NCSL, they’ve also explored loosening licensure requirements, such as adopting the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Source: Daily Nurse

Testimonials from INSCOL Alumni

“Thank you for helping me achieve my Canadian dream and gain international studies at one of the best schools in Canada”.

Michelle Legaspi Uy
Manila, Philippines
Nursing Leadership & Management
Seneca Polytechnic College, Canada
May’23 intake

“INSCOL is really a strong organization in facilitating admission for nursing disciplines”.

Mampi Kanyurura
Zimbabwe, Africa
Community Mental Health Multidiscipline
Niagara College, Canada
May’23 intake

“I appreciate the whole team of INSCOL for making my dream come true and getting me a chance to pursue my education in Canada”.

Pradap Kanagarajah
Sri Lanka
Nursing Leadership & Management
Seneca Polytechnic College, Canada
Jan’23 intake

Home of INSCOL

The success story of Satwinder, our alumna & an
accomplished Registered Nurse in Canada

Our alumna, Satwinder, once aspired to become a doctor. After high school, she spent a year trying her luck in MBBS but unfortunately did not secure admission at a government college. Instead, she got admission in a BDS program. Her parents suggested her to pursue nursing, assuring her it was a better option to work abroad, but she had not envisioned relocating.

Regardless, in 2013 Satwinder enrolled in a nursing program and pursued her graduation from the Army College of Nursing in Jalandhar, India, scoring 5th position in an all-India level college entrance exam. During the first two years, she was awarded scholarships as an army ward and was among the top 12 to receive the scholarships.

Overall, it was an enriching experience. As part of her graduation program, she trained at the military hospital in Jalandhar. Towards the end of her nursing program, INSCOL visited her college for a workshop, and that was the first time she heard of career progression opportunities abroad.

After graduating in 2017, Satwinder took the IELTS exam in February 2018 and convinced her parents to trust the INSCOL pathway for continuing nursing education in Canada. Her parents were not aware of INSCOL, but she had heard how they help nurses in Canada. Having no relatives in Canada to support her, she was determined to go with INSCOL. In the same year, circumstances led her to start working as an ICU nurse at Columbia Asia Hospital in Patiala, Punjab.

In 2019, Satwinder visited INSCOL to find out more information about the Nursing Leadership & Management program at Seneca Polytechnic College and the application process. Knowing that her IELTS exam result was going to expire in 2020, she applied for the January 2020 intake to avoid rewriting the exam.

Initially, the college commute was a breeze for her as INSCOL nurses had the exclusive shuttle service available for the first two months. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and things shut down, Satwinder faced financial hurdles. Job opportunities were scarce, making those crucial fees seem unattainable.

For the first four months, Satwinder was relying solely on her GIC, which could only take her so far. It was not until a friend referred her to a senior care home that things took a turn for the better. Finally, Satwinder found a job that she loved and found easy too.

She cared for a client who had dementia, went to online exercise classes with her, played games like bingo, and performed routine tasks. When she left her job and client, they showered her with appreciation and gifts. Her fantastic caregiving even earned her the coveted Caregiver of the Month award.

Home of INSCOL

The story of one nursing students journey toward fulfilling the RN eligibility is nothing short of inspiring! After completing the Nursing Leadership & Management program, Satwinder then went on to enroll in the Chronic Disease Management program at Seneca Polytechnic College, all while not missing a beat. With INSCOL's support, she was able to meet the eligibility criteria for RN licensure in Ontario by October 2021.

Satwinder had a dream of working in the Intensive Care Unit but lacked the certification required. She started working with Halton Healthcare in the Emergency Department at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, which luckily worked out in her favor due to her previous work experience in India. This not only provided her with growth opportunities but also made her feel fulfilled in her nursing career. While long-term care has its own benefits, working in the hospital setting provides more growth opportunities, according to her.

Having received an invitation to apply for her Canadian Permanent Residency in March 2023, Satwinder is hopeful that she will attain Permanent Residency in Canada this year. The INSCOL team aided her in the application process, making this opportunity a reality.

During the conversation, Satwinder mentioned that she still aspires to work in the Intensive Care Unit but believes that her current position in Emergency will be more beneficial for her career eventually. She expressed her plan to take a critical care course after obtaining permanent residency. Taking steps toward her future, she is already mapping out her course of action.

Satwinder's Advice for Aspiring Global Nurses Ready to Take the Leap

Nursing students need to stay determined, even when facing the challenging mind games of exams. The key is consistency, as they prepare with a clear mindset to crush the exam. Every student could succeed with focus and the elimination method. It is easy to falter because of family issues or financial issues, but cutting off distractions and focusing on the exam is vital for success. After passing, new nurses should opt for high-demand hospital positions, despite the challenges. Entering the hospital may feel daunting, but there is no better way to learn and grow as a nurse. If you excel in your role, the job is yours to keep. So do not be afraid to face the challenge head-on!

Home of INSCOL

Professor Ian Peate visited our facilities during the International Nurses Week

Renowned nursing expert and Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Nursing, Professor Ian Peate, OBE FRCN, recently embarked on a knowledge-packed journey in Punjab & Kerala in India during International Nurses Week.

Beginning with a workshop at our Chandigarh facility on Writing for Publication, Professor Peate then traveled to Amritsar, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kothamangalam, delivering enlightening workshops on Patient Safety & Leadership to passionate aspiring nurses at multiple institutions.

It was an invaluable opportunity for nurses to engage with and learn from Professor Peate's extensive expertise.

Convocation Ceremonies held at Seneca Polytechnic College & Niagara College in Canada

Ready to embark on their journey into the practical realm of life, INSCOL nurses graduated from Seneca Polytechnic College and Niagara College and achieved a significant milestone. Here is a snapshot of all the nursing students who bid farewell to their colleges with great enthusiasm and spirit.

Chandigarh +91-977-913-1308

Dubai +971-4557-2267

Kochi +91-812-994-4544

Manila +63 927-527-7835

Toronto +1-905-673-1234

Cebu +63-927-567-6603

www.inscol.com