As areas just like the Maritimes race to recruit foreign-trained nurses, the Worldwide Council of Nurses says there are various moral points to think about.

Howard Catton, the chief officer of the Worldwide Council of Nurses, mentioned even earlier than the pandemic, the world was brief by about 6 million nurses. That is solely gotten worse.

He says nations like Canada, the US, UK and Germany are main the way in which to recruit worldwide nurses.

“However usually if you take a look at the nations that they are recruiting from, these nations have fewer nurses per head of inhabitants than the nations which might be doing the recruiting,” Catton mentioned.

Nova Scotia has seen a surge of curiosity from foreign-trained nurses ever because the Nova Scotia School of Nursing relaxed licensing guidelines for seven nations the place the scope of observe is comparable. These nations embrace the Philippines, Nigeria, India and the UK and USA

Whereas the Philippines has lengthy produced extra nurses than it wants, and been a world’s high provider of nurses, Catton factors out how the nation lately declared it is brief by about 350,000 nurses.

He added that India has additionally equipped a number of nurses to the world however that nation has ambitions to extend entry for its personal individuals and desires about 4 million nurses to do this.

“Meaning there are actually some moral points and concerns right here in regards to the threat of hurt to the nations that you simply’re recruiting from,” Catton mentioned.

In a latest interview, Gail Tomblin Murphy, Nova Scotia Well being’s chief government nurse and vice-president of analysis, innovation and discovery, famous how Nova Scotia follows moral recruitment rules created by the World Well being Group.

Tomblin Murphy mentioned the NICHE program prioritizes internationally-educated nurses who’re already in Nova Scotia over worldwide recruitment, and it’s constructing partnerships exterior Nova Scotia to boost the worldwide nursing and healthcare workforce.

On the particular person stage, Tomblin Murphy identified how NSH shouldn’t be solely targeted on bringing employees right here, however ensuring employees have a spot to stay, a job, and assist.

“I really feel very strongly that what we’re doing is abiding by moral rules and Nova Scotia is a pacesetter in that regard,” mentioned Tomblin Murphy.

Delegations from Nova Scotia have been touring to India and the Philippines to construct partnerships.

“We are able to have college exchanges, the place schools from these nations India and the Philippines, come and do a few of the educating with us and in Nova Scotia, and that our Nova Scotia, as an example, college could make exchanges as effectively,” mentioned Tomblin Murphy .

Tara Sampalli, a senior director with Nova Scotia Well being, has been a part of the delegations which have gone to India and the Philippines. She notes the intention of the NICHE program is to assist individuals who’ve already made up their minds.

“For individuals who’ve already made the transition, they need to come. We need to make certain they don’t seem to be spending more cash attempting to make their method. However we are saying Nova Scotia desires you, we’ll assist you finish to finish,” mentioned Sampalli.

Catton says it is vital to think about the nation in addition to the person.

“Are the nations which might be main the recruitment effort, for instance, are they constructing nursing colleges? Are they offering well being schooling lecturers to go in for assist?” he mentioned.

“Are they offering any monetary compensation for the lack of these nurses and healthcare professionals as a result of it is the nations they’re recruiting from who’ve paid to teach these nurses.”

Catton believes there must be a shift by all nations to take a position extra in well being and ensure they’re educating sufficient individuals to fulfill their wants now and sooner or later.

Khalehla Perrault, a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Division of Well being and Wellness, mentioned the province understands it has a duty to the communities they recruit from, and doing so in an moral method is all the time entrance of thoughts.

“In lots of circumstances, these nurses are individuals who have recognized a possibility to discover exterior of their nation and we need to make certain Nova Scotia is the most effective place for them,” Perrault mentioned.

“In different circumstances akin to our recruitment efforts in Kenya, we’re giving individuals who want choices an vital alternative.”

Perrault added the Workplace of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment is working laborious to develop academic partnerships that can present mutually useful preparations via issues like college and pupil exchanges.