There is currently a nursing shortage provincially, nationally and internationally, prompting provinces to explore various strategies to bolster their nursing workforce.

These strategies encompass expediting credentialing procedures and implementing incentives for Internationally Educated Registered Nurses (IENs).

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has set ambitious goals for the recruitment of experienced IENs, with plans to bring in up to 1000 such professionals over the next two years.

A significant emphasis is placed on deploying these IENs in rural areas where their skills and expertise are in high demand.

To achieve this, AHS has developed innovative recruitment, transition, and integration strategies that prioritize community engagement and support.

Crucially, forming strong partnerships with rural communities will be pivotal, not only in the recruitment but also in the longterm retention of these valuable IENs.