Internationally educated nurses are vital to Canada’s health system — but support gaps remain
Dr. Edward Cruz is pictured at the Faculty of Nursing, where his research includes advancing the integration and success of Internationally Educated Nurses within Canada’s healthcare system. (GAM MACASAET/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
As Canada faces ongoing health-care worker shortages, internationally educated nurses (IENs) are increasingly relied upon to fill critical roles.
Research by Dr. Edward Cruz, a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Windsor, suggests many of these nurses continue to encounter systemic barriers that limit their ability to fully integrate into the workforce — even as they are actively recruited to meet demand.