GLOBAL NURSE

July - September
2019

ENGLAND

Government removes ‘unnecessary’ extra language test for overseas nurses

Overseas nurses and midwives will now only need to pass one English language test instead of two as part of moves to make it quicker and simpler for much-needed health professionals to come and work in the UK.

The government said the decision to change the rules would help streamline the application process for clinicians and ensure hospitals, GP practices and nursing homes could recruit the staff they needed more quickly.

The move comes after the government said it would need to ramp up international recruitment of nurses in order to address widespread vacancies.

Boosting international recruitment is a key strand of the Interim NHS People Plan in England.

The Home Office stressed nurses and others who wished to settle in the UK would still need to demonstrate they could speak good English and their language skills would be tested if they applied for citizenship.

It said it would work closely with regulatory bodies and the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure “the highest standards of testing are maintained”.

News Source: Nursing Times

PHILIPPINES

Germany facilitates Filipino nurses’ recruitment

The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), in close cooperation with Germany’s embassy in Manila and in honor of the German Federal Ministry of Health’s Parliamentary State Secretary’s visit to the Philippines, organized a roundtable related to the recruitment of Philippine nurses to the European country.

To cover the growing shortage of health-care professionals, the German government, in cooperation, with its private sector, has been recruiting qualified nurses from countries outside the European Union, such as the Philippines.

The immigration of Philippine nurses to Germany has shown positive impacts in both societies, and has created more opportunities in the market. However, the German embassy revealed the recruiting process still encounters several challenges. One is the necessary level of language skills; another, the recognition of foreign nursing studies in Germany.

News Source: Business Mirror

60%

of WHO Member States have less
than 40 nursing & midwifery personnel
per 10,000 population

Source: World Health Organization

22.4%

of the nursing & midwifery workforce
in the UK was born outside the
UK

Source: Royal College of Nursing

29%

increase in the number of nurses
in South Africa, over a period of
10 years

Source: South African Nursing Council

CANADA

The CNA and the CHPCNG release a joint statement on Health Canada’s Action Plan on Palliative Care

Health Canada has released its Action Plan on Palliative Care. The five-year plan tackles issues that were uncovered through the development of the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act that was passed by Parliament in 2017.

Claire Betker, president of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), and Julia Johnston, president of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Nurses Group (CHPCNG), released the following joint statement on the action plan:

"The federal government has an important leadership role to play in this area and must increase investments in palliative care across Canada. We strongly support investments in technology-enabled virtual care beyond hospital walls, including the scale-up and spread of existing technologies in homes and communities," said Betker.

"We believe palliative care is a basic human right for all Canadians no matter where they live or where they choose to access care. The federal government must ensure family caregivers are able to care for their loved ones without undue financial hardship and with the supports they require," said Johnston.

Nurses are the largest group of health-care providers in Canada and play an essential role in developing and implementing a palliative approach to care. CNA and the CHPCNG look forward to working with all key partners to expand upon and implement the federal government’s action plan.

News Source: Canadian Nurses Association

ZIMBABWE

Nurse recruitment goes digital

Government has introduced an electronic recruiting policy for aspiring nurses, starting with this year’s September intake to ensure accountability and clamp down on corruption.

Director of Nursing Services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mrs. Cynthia Chasokela said the digital recruitment policy was the brainchild of the Health Ministry and Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

"We partnered with Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in coming up with the new system which will see people downloading forms from our website and filling in before they resend for consideration.

The interviews will be done by a panel of experts before successful candidates are advised through their e-mails. This is a positive way for the profession as we endeavor to curb corrupt practices and also move along with modern trends in this ever diversifying profession,” said Mrs. Chasokela. She said all nursing schools countrywide will recruit students using that platform.

News Source: The Herald

INDIA

India has adequate number of healthcare professionals

India has an adequate number of healthcare professionals, albeit their distribution is uneven between rural and urban India and across different states, a recent study has found. The research was carried out by the Indian Institute of Public Health and is based on the data collected from the registry institutions and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), a statement released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The data from the NSSO suggests that there are an estimated 29 doctors per 10,000 people in India, while the data collected from the registry institution estimates the figure to be as high as 38. Both the figures are more than the World Health Organisation’s minimum threshold of 22.8, the statement noted.

The study also reports an overall disparity in the density of doctors and nurses across the country, stemming from the fact that their numbers are more in states like Kerala and the Union Territories than in larger states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar.

Additionally, only 23 per cent of the health workers work in the rural areas where nearly 71 per cent of the country’s population lives, the study suggested.

News Source: Hindustan Times

70%

of male nurses think stereotypes
are their biggest challenge.”

Source: Nursebuff

4 million

RNs in China at the end of 2018,
rising to 3 nurses per 1,000 people

Source: The National Health Commission China

255,000

nurses needed
in Mexico

Source: World Health Organization

AUSTRALIA

Changes to assessment of internationally qualified nurses and midwives

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is moving to an outcomes-based assessment model for some internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs).

Currently, IQNMs who hold qualifications which are relevant but not substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to Australian nursing and midwifery qualifications (and who meet NMBA mandatory registration standards) are referred to bridging programs.

From 1 October 2019, these IQNM applicants will be offered the choice of being referred to a bridging program or to the NMBA outcomes-based assessment (OBA). The OBA will commence in January 2020

From January 2020, all IQNMs with relevant but not substantially equivalent qualifications will be referred to the OBA.

About the OBA

The OBA consists of two parts: a multiple-choice exam, followed by an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE). Applicants will need to pass the multiple-choice exam before being able to undertake the OSCE.

News source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

USA

Retirements increase nursing shortage

Nurses make up the largest portion of medical professionals, but for decades there has been a shortage.

They’re a vital component of nearly all doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes and more. But as the demand for nurses continues to increase the workforce hasn’t been able to keep up leading to a talent gap.

A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources found the demand for RNs outpaces the number of people entering the field.

The shortage has become worse as the older generations reach retirement age and not enough people have entered the workforce to fill their positions. In 2017, the Journal of Nursing Regulation published a study by Dr. Peter Buerhaus that projected 1 million RNs will retire by 2030. At the same time, America’s population is getting older, increasing the demand for nurses to help care for them.

News source: Sandusky Register

Testimonials from INSCOL Alumni

I remember the first time I stumbled upon INSCOL through Facebook advertisements. I got skeptical at first, knowing that they don't charge a processing fee. I wouldn’t have done it if I had not had the chance to meet their staff in Philippines. The process was explained to me systematically and comprehensively. Thank you very much for the help! Wouldn’t have done it without you.

Fel Antoinette Elmido
Philippines
Palliative Care Multidiscipline
Niagara College, Canada
Sep’19 Intake

I heard about INSCOL from a friend who went to Canada through INSCOL. INSCOL has assisted me in every step of the application process. I am forever grateful to INSCOL for offering me this opportunity to better my career as a nurse.

Magdaline Milanoi Nameyok
Kenya
Palliative Care Multidiscipline
Niagara College, Canada
Sep’19 Intake

My journey with INSCOL began with hopes and now my dreams have come true. I am grateful to INSCOL, my family and to God, who helped me through it all. I highly suggest all Internationally Educated Nurses to contact INSCOL.

Jasmeen Kaur
India
Community Mental Health
Niagara College, Canada
Sep’19 Intake

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Chandigarh Traffic Police Trained on CPR & AED Skills for World Heart Day

INSCOL organized a free CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) workshop at Traffic and Security Lines Chandigarh Police in Sector 29, Chandigarh. Aimed at creating awareness and training police officials with life saving techniques, the workshop witnessed around 51 participants.

Considering that, police officials are often the first on scene, they were trained on methods of initiating basic yet essential life-saving skills. The objective of this free workshop conducted by INSCOL was to contribute to the motto of serving, protecting and saving lives.