Andrea Baumann Nursing Health Services Research Unit McMaster University Presented at Perspectives in Competency Assessment A Symposium by Touchstone Institute www.touchstoneinstitute.ca

1. INTEGRATING IEHPs INTO THE
WORKFORCE
Is there a role for workplace
assessment?
Andrea Baumann
Nursing Health Services Research Unit
McMaster University
Perspectives in Competency Assessment
MaRs Collaboration Centre, Toronto, Canada
February 5th
, 2015

2. PRESENTATION/
OUTLINE
• Canadian study on workforce assessment and
integration
• Integration of IENs into the workforce: an Ontario
model
• Bridge training programs
• Employment integration project
• Key messages
• Is there a role for workplace assessment?

3. CANADIAN STUDY/
WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT AND
INTEGRATION
Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science
•2011 study on workforce integration of IEHPs
• Medical laboratory science, physiotherapy,
occupational therapy, and medical
radiation technology
•Investigated the extent to which IEHPs who met
licensing/registration standards have become truly
integrated into the workforce
• Focus groups and online surveys with
IEHPs and Canadian trained health
professionals
• Interviews with employers

4. CANADIAN STUDY/
WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT AND
INTEGRATION
Study findings on workplace integration needs
•Greater need for clinical placements
• Difficulty securing work in field during assessment
licensing process
• Higher success finding job immediately after
becoming licensed.
•Desire for additional training education related to:
• Professional communication,
machine/technology use, working as a team,
structured mentoring, stress management,
understanding Canadian culture
•Desire access to peer support networks

5. CANADIAN STUDY/
WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT AND
INTEGRATION
Study findings on workplace integration needs
•Need for greater access to cultural sensitivity
workshops for Canadian employers and staff
•Need for best practices for hiring and integrating
IEHPs o be shared among employers
• Business case for hiring IEHPs
• Outline of work/internship placement models
• Interview tips
• Diversity training modules
• Mentorship program modules

6. INTEGRATION OF IENs INTO
WORKFORCE/
AN ONTARIO MODEL
Community Engagement Model for Internationally
Educated Nurses (IENs) and English as a
Second Language (ESL) Nurse Integration
•The Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (HHS) IEN
ESL nurse Integration Project aims to ensure that
IEN and ESL registered nurses and registered
practical nurses are integrated into the HHS
workforce
•Assists IEN/ESL nurses to acquire clinical and
communication skills

7. INTEGRATION OF IENs INTO
WORKFORCE/
AN ONTARIO MODEL
Community Collaboration Engagement Model
(CCEM)
•Enables HHS to access a range of external
resources
•Engages all stakeholders in helping IEN/ESL
nurses integrate into the workforce
Educational and Community Partners
•Mohawk College BIEN Program
•CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses
•Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)
•McMaster Nursing Health Services Research Unit

8. INTEGRATION OF IENs INTO
WORKFORCE/
AN ONTARIO MODEL
IEN ESL Integration Project: Interventions and
opportunities provided by project partners
•CARE Language Communication for IENs
•BIEN Mohawk College Learning Resource Centre
• Simulation laboratory, CELBAN testing
•HCCI Cultural Competency Awareness Workshop
•HHS Job Coaching/Mock Interviews
•CNO Learning Plan/HHS Policies and Procedures on the
internet
•SharePoint
•HHS Professional Workplace Experience/Integration
• Job shadowing, general nursing orientation,
use of e-Lab, workshop, lunch and learn
sessions.

9. INTEGRATION OF IEHPs INTO
WORKFORCE/
BRIDGE TRAINING PROGRAMS
College/University/Association Bridge Training
Programs for IEHPs work with employers/clinical
partners to enhance work readiness
•Provide preceptor program workshop for IEHPs and
preceptors
•Create work readiness buddy programs
•Assist with mock interviews, resume assistance
•Work with HR departments, professional educators, and
others at clinical sites to assist in integration

10. EMPLOYMENT INTEGRATION PROJECT/
INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED NURSES
Partnering with Employers (2014-2017): Increasing
IEN Employment in Healthcare Organizations
•Increase employment of IENs in Ontario by raising
awareness of qualified IEN pool of nurses currently
prepared and available for hire
•Assist employers and IEN new hires to achieve
successful integration by developing and delivering
orientation training strategies.
Funded by Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade
Funded by:

11. INTEGRATION OF IEHPs INTO
WORKFORCE/
KEY MESSAGES
• Partnerships & Engagement of relevant stakeholders
• Employers, community/settlement agencies,
bridge programs, educational institutions,
government.
• Workforce integration generically important for
employers
• Understanding workforce challenges (external and
internal stresses)
• Quality improvement component for programs
(evaluation framework)

12. INTEGRATION OF IEHPs INTO
WORKFORCE/
KEY MESSAGES
• Understanding Federal and Provincial Government
Initiatives
• HealthForceOntario (Ontario Ministry of
Health and Long-term care)
• Express Entry Program (Citizenship and
Immigration Canada)
• Communication and knowledge translation activities
(employer awareness of work ready, diverse pool of
IEHPs)
• Existing successful models adapted to different
sectors and professions

13. INTEGRATION OF IEHPs INTO
WORKFORCE/
CONCLUSIONS
Is there a role for workplace assessment?
It should fit into the assessment framework that is used
for employees depending on the setting.
Medicine self-assessment: random audits
Nursing self-assessment: employer evaluation
frameworks

14. INTEGRATION OF IEHPs INTO
WORKFORCE/
CONCLUSIONS
Is there a role for workplace assessment?
If there is assessment, there has to be structures within
the system to ensure success.
Integration requires community support, employer support
and access to government initiatives.

15. REFERENCES
Baumann, A., Hunsberger, M., Crea-Arsenio, M., & Idriss-Wheeler, D. (2012).
Series report 35. Employment integration of nursing graduates: Evaluation of a
provincial policy strategy nursing graduate guarantee 2011-2012. Hamilton, ON:
Nursing Health Services Research Unit, McMaster University
Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (2011). Assessing the
Workforce Integration of Internationally Educated Health Professionals. Report:
http://csmls.org/csmls/media/documents/publications/CSMLS-KS-
0001_WFI_Report_ENG.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2014). Online Data Query Tool. Available at:
http://www.cno.org /about/stats/dqt_disclaimer.htm
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care: HealthForceOntario (2013). Retrieved
from http://www.healthforceontario.ca/en/Home/Nurses/Training_|
_Practising_In_Ontario/Nursing_Strategy/Nursing_Career_OrIENtation/Program_O
verview April 2014.

16. THANK YOU/
CONTACT
Andrea Baumann, PhD
Scientific Director
Nursing Health Services Research Unit
McMaster University
Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning
MDCL 3500
(905) 525 9140 ext. 22581
Website: http://nhsru.com/
baumanna@mcmaster.ca