International nurse recruitment initiative brings diverse backgrounds and training to Covenant Health sites
When Keren Balagot first arrived at St. Mary’s Hospital, a Covenant Health facility in Camrose, she wasn’t sure what to expect after working in Qatar as a registered nurse for eight years. She was pleasantly surprised by how supportively the hospital and community welcomed her, her husband and their two sons.
“Here I find it really open, and the people are friendly,” Keren says. “My heart is full of gratitude. I’m so grateful for this opportunity for my family.”
Keren came to St. Mary’s Hospital as part of Covenant Health’s international nurse recruitment initiative. The initiative began at the end of 2022, in partnership with Alberta Health Services, to build nursing capacity at both rural and urban Covenant Health sites based on site-specific needs and skillsets. It is one of many programs across Canada that are streamlining the path for internationally educated nurses to enter the workforce here. Nurses are required to pass licensing and language exams before being eligible to start the immigration process. Covenant Health has made offers to over 40 overseas nurses, and Keren is the first internationally educated nurse to arrive with her family. Four more nurses are scheduled to arrive by February 2026.
Stacey Brewster, site administrator at St. Mary’s Hospital, is excited to be the first in the organization to welcome an internationally educated nurse.
“I am absolutely thrilled, especially to be the first one in a rural site and to have Keren come to us,” says Stacey. “I’m excited to expand our workforce with people with diverse backgrounds but especially from out of the country because there is so much talent out there. I truly am grateful for the investment in this initiative. This is not just a way of carrying Covenant Health forward but of carrying St. Mary's forward.”
Covenant Health is also recruiting domestic internationally educated nurses. These are nurses who have been through the immigration process and are already living in Canada. They may have experienced difficulties in practicing here due to licensing delays, unfamiliar systems or limited Canadian experience.
“Recruiting internationally educated nurses who are already here should allow for quicker placements at Covenant Health sites where they are needed most,” says Bonnie Bazlik, the internationally educated nurse professional practice lead at Covenant Health.
"Recruiting internationally educated nurses is not a stopgap solution. It is an essential part of the future of health care. These nurses will provide immense value due to their diverse backgrounds and training."
Bonnie Bazlik
Internationally educated nurse professional practice lead, Covenant Health
The key benefits of bringing internationally educated nurses to rural and urban settings are their varied clinical experiences, ability to bridge cultural and language gaps with patients and long-term commitment to investing in the communities and organizations that give them a chance to practice their calling, says Bonnie.