How internationally educated nurses are finding a career pathway at Sunnybrook

Amanpreet Kaur - registered nurse - completed her four-year nursing degree in India, which cost the equivalent of $12,000. However, her first job—at a private neurological hospital—paid only $100 a month.

“My father was a simple farmer and had only six acres of land. He took out a loan for me, so coming to Canada and making a career in nursing was the only option for me to pay my father back,” says Kaur. “Whenever I think of Sunnybrook, that actually brings up my emotional side because it was the first step on the ladder of my success.”

Kaur started at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as a registered practical nurse (RPN) in 2019 and then enrolled in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) program in 2022—and completed her final requirement to become a registered nurse (RN). In 2023, Sunnybrook “gave me a golden chance and sponsored me for the Critical Care Certificate Program.”

When she first arrived, she was anxious, nervous and excited all at the same time. “But I felt the supportive nature and environment of my colleagues and manager towards me and other new team members, which is the reason that I chose to stay with Sunnybrook,” she says.

To work as a nurse in Ontario, Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) must successfully meet requirements established by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The SPEP program—a partnership between the CNO, Ontario Health and CNO-approved organizations—offers applicants the option to complete a supervised practice experience in Ontario to demonstrate their current nursing competency, skills, and language proficiency.

“There are multiple steps to becoming registered in Ontario, and Sunnybrook offers employment that supports each step of this process,” says Kathryn Boyd, Sunnybrook’s SPEP mentor.

The SPEP program is one part of Sunnybrook’s IEN Career Pathway that supports IENs to resume careers in healthcare, continue using their skills and expertise, and transition into nursing positions. The pathway further helps IENs progress along a continuum from hospital roles into nursing roles by supporting cultural integration, language proficiency and skills development.

To support IENs along the Career Pathway, “Sunnybrook has a dedicated interprofessional team that actively seeks to minimize barriers for IENs by offering resources including education reimbursement, health assessment workshops, high-fidelity simulations focusing on skill development and team integration, and support to meet English language proficiency requirements,” says Kimberley Lawrence, advanced practice nurse, who oversees the pathway.

The pathway provides access to a variety of employment opportunities that support IENs to work as members of Sunnybrook’s healthcare team while moving towards nursing registration, including roles such as observers, patient service partners and clinical externs. There’s also ongoing access to dedicated mentorship, career coaching and shadow opportunities, as well as interview preparation and resume writing workshops.

Kaur now feels part of the Sunnybrook community, where she’s a member of a team that values her input. “Sunnybrook has a mentorship program for new nurses where mentors provide exceptional support to adapt in a new environment,” she says. The Sunnybrook grounds are also unique for a hospital setting; nurses can take their breaks outside in the greenery instead of in a concrete jungle, and there’s even a farmers’ market on Thursdays.

“For international nurses like me who came to Canada with big dreams,” says Kaur, “Sunnybrook can be a very good option for them to start their career because of the support they can get.”