The program has two primary objectives: First, to establish a comprehensive preceptorship that provides Indian nursing students from MAHE with hands-on experience in Fredericton’s healthcare environment; and second, to create a dual degree pathway that enables these students to practice nursing in both India and New Brunswick
Canada’s New Brunswick has initiated a groundbreaking program aimed at addressing its nursing shortage by recruiting skilled nurses from India. The University of New Brunswick and the provincial government have taken the first step in this program by welcoming a select group of nine nursing students and two faculty members from India’s Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). These participants are engaging in a two-week stay, during which they will immerse themselves in the clinical and cultural aspects of nursing in the province.
The program has two primary objectives: First, to establish a comprehensive preceptorship that provides Indian nursing students from MAHE with hands-on experience in Fredericton’s healthcare environment; and second, to create a dual degree pathway that enables these students to practice nursing in both India and New Brunswick. By achieving these goals, the province seeks to bridge the nursing shortage gap while also ensuring that foreign-trained nurses are able to utilize their full skill set without encountering de-skilling issues.
The participating Indian nursing students are gaining invaluable insights into the differences between healthcare systems in India and New Brunswick. For instance, they’ve noted that in India, nurses often perform a wide range of tasks for patients, while in New Brunswick, nursing roles are more systematically divided, promoting effective patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Michelle Christien, a nursing student from MAHE, expressed her admiration for the structured approach to nursing in New Brunswick and highlighted the calm and peaceful atmosphere of Fredericton. She shared her interest in returning to the city to work in the future.
Tathagata Konar, another student from India, is already appreciating the benefits of observing nurses in action in New Brunswick. He noticed that the nurses here have more time to spend with patients compared to their counterparts in India, who often face heavy workloads.
The successful implementation of this innovative program is expected to significantly contribute to addressing the nursing shortage in New Brunswick while offering valuable opportunities for nursing students from India to broaden their horizons and make a positive impact on patient care
The dual degree program not only aims to attract Indian nurses to New Brunswick but also aims to respect and utilize their existing knowledge and expertise. This program is expected to bring 100 registered nurses from India to the province between 2025 and 2029, thereby alleviating a significant portion of the nursing shortage issue.
Lorna Butler, the Dean of Nursing at UNB, emphasized that the program’s goal is to ensure both the preservation of nursing knowledge and the support of the healthcare workforce. She stressed the need to avoid de-skilling, a common issue faced by foreign-trained nurses when their qualifications are not fully utilized.
It’s important to clarify that the program does not intend to take away nursing resources from India. The recruitment of nurses is planned within a framework that ensures an equivalent number of nurses continue to graduate in India.
Judith Noronha, the Dean of Nursing at MAHE, emphasized that the dual degree program offers a unique curriculum that combines the nursing education of both India and New Brunswick. Students in the program undergo a combination of teachings from both institutions, enabling them to acquire competencies required by both countries.
Nursing students in India interested in the program must fulfill specific criteria, including completing Grade 12 with core subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and English, and securing a place on the merit list of the Manipal entrance test. The successful implementation of this innovative program is expected to significantly contribute to addressing the nursing shortage in New Brunswick while offering valuable opportunities for nursing students from India to broaden their horizons and make a positive impact on patient care.
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