A dream come true

As a college student in the Philippines, Bryan Sanchez dreamed about working as a nurse in Canada. 

Today, he is fulfilling his dream working as a registered nurse in the Rehabilitation Program at Parkwood Institute. 

Thanks to the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) Program through the College of Nurses of Ontario, internationally educated nurses like Sanchez can use their experience, education and skills acquired from abroad to practice in Canada. The program helps them meet their evidence of practice and language proficiency requirements necessary to work as a nurse in Ontario.

For Sanchez, the journey to St. Joseph’s wasn’t an easy one.

He was a nurse for 10 years before arriving in Canada in 2019. To support his family, he worked as a welder for three years, but never gave up on his dream of returning to the profession he loved - nursing. While working as a welder, he submitted his credentials for review through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS). He then passed the necessary registration (NCLEX) exams and was introduced to the SPEP program. 

The SPEP program requires nurses to work under a preceptor for a minimum of 140 hours of supervised practice.  

Sanchez says his time with his preceptor was invaluable. It gave him the opportunity to ask questions and familiarize himself with the Canadian health care system which included new equipment and electronic health records.   

“St. Joseph’s is where I want to stay for as long as I can,” Sanchez says. “I found a home here and it helped me to regain my confidence, my skills and ability as a nurse. St. Joseph’s trusted me and gave me an opportunity to get back to doing what I love – taking care of people.” 

Sanchez is one of 27 applicants who have gone through SPEP program at St. Joseph’s since April 2022 with ten internationally trained nurses hired to full-time positions.  

“The internationally educated applicants we have hired are incredibly compassionate, caring, skilled and hard-working individuals,” says Carmen Marsh-Lansard, Manager of Professional Practice. “When they arrive in Canada, many of these nurses work in other fields to make ends meet, so it is exciting to be part of their journey back to nursing.” 

Marsh-Lansard explains the benefits of participating in the SPEP Program extends beyond St. Joseph’s. It gives current nurses at St. Joseph’s the opportunity to become preceptors and learn from other cultures. It is also an excellent recruitment tool for the organization to fill nursing vacancies and it enhances the hospital’s diversity to better reflect the patients and residents we serve. 

“Internationally educated nurses come with experience,” which Marsh-Lansard says is vital when hiring a nurse. 

Born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa, Blessing Eleleme is another success story. She took part in the SPEP Program and is now employed in the Veterans Care Program at Parkwood Institute as a registered practical nurse.  

She credits the program for helping her to integrate smoothly into the Canadian health care system. 

Eleleme moved to Canada in 2018 with a decade’s worth of nursing experience but was still nervous about adapting to a different health care system. 

“Nursing is a very rewarding career,” she says. “We shouldn’t come to Canada and feel scared or think we are not enough. We have a lot to offer and the nurses at Parkwood Institute have been very patient, accommodating and understanding when I ask questions about equipment or electronic health records.” 

When she first immigrated to Canada, Eleleme worked as a personal support worker in Hamilton to help adjust to the Canadian health care system.  

Although she says nursing is very complex, its core mission – to care for the sick, is universal and knows no boundaries.  

She praises the SPEP program for providing a seamless transition. When she was hired at St. Joseph’s in July 2023, she already felt connected having developed a rapport with staff and patients.   

Launched provincially in Jan. 2022, more than 3,300 internationally trained nurses have participated in the SPEP program and are now fully registered and practicing in Ontario.