Upcoming January/ February CARE Centre Events
CPR – Level HCP Health Care Provider
Certification Workshop Toronto
Download PDF HERE
Date: January 18, 2019
Time: 9:30 am to 2 pm (30-min. break)
Location: CARE Centre (Toronto Office) 128A Sterling Road
Instructor: Lisy John, a certified First Aid and CPR instructor through St. John
Ambulance, and a certified BLS instructor through Heart and Stroke Foundation
Basic Life Support or BLS is mandatory for all medical professions.
This session covers:
* High-quality CPR for adults, children and infants and its impact on survival
* Appropriate use of AED
* Choking relief for adults, children and infants
* Ventilation techniques
* Opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies
You will receive certification in C.P.R. – Level HCP
Fee: $60.00
Payment: Cash, MasterCard or Visa
Registration: “First come, first serve” basis only.
DEADLINE: Friday, January 11 at 4pm
Fees are non-refundable after January 11, 2018
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221. . Deadline to register January 18, 2019
CPR – Level HCP Health Care Provider
Certification Workshop Peel
Download PDF HERE
You will receive certification in C.P.R. – Level HCP
Date: January 25, 2019
Time: 9:30 am to 2 pm (30-min. break)
Location: CARE Centre (Peel office)
Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
5510 Mavis Road, Mississauga
Instructor: Lisy John, a certified First Aid and CPR instructor through St. John Ambulance, and a certified BLS instructor through Heart and Stroke Foundation
Fee: $60.00
Basic Life Support or BLS is mandatory for all medical professions.
This session covers:
* High-quality CPR for adults, children and infants and its impact on survival
* Appropriate use of AED
* Choking relief for adults, children and infants
* Ventilation techniques
* Opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies
You will receive certification in C.P.R. – Level HCP
Payment: Cash, MasterCard or Visa
DEADLINE: Friday, January 18 at 4pm Fees are non-refundable after January 18, 2018
Contact: Bradley to register at 416-226-2800 ext. 221
IENCAP /OSCE Preparation
Download PDF HERE
$550
In-class – 6 weeks starting from March 7 – 08:30 am – 5pm
Location: 128A Sterling Road, Toronto Suite 202
Deadline: February 26, 2019 at 4pm
CAS Workshop for IENs
Download PDF CAS Flyer January 2019 Toronto
Date & Time: February 1, 8, 15 – 2019; 9am – 2:30pm
Location: Toronto office – 128A Sterling rd, Suite 202
Registration Deadline: Tuesday January 22 at 3pm
Fee: $150 (Fees are non-refundable after January 22, 2019)
Contact: Bradley to register at 416-226-2800 ext. 221
Networking for Nurses
Download PDF HERE
Date & Time: February 15 2019; 10am – 12pm
Location: Online
Registration Deadline: Tuesday January 22 at 3pm
The traditional methods of managing the job search and moving ahead in an organization are becoming less applicable to today’s society. The most successful workers are those who understand how to leverage their skills and qualifications through effective networking. This free online workshop, will explore various networking tools, with a focus on LinkedIn’s capacity to boost your professional visibility.
Fee: Free!!
The workshop will be facilitated by:
Dr. Ruth Lee, Executive Director of Care and Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University
Mehrzad “Nicholas” Ghadiri, B.A. Expert Hurman Resources and eLearning Specialist
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221.
Networking for Nurses
Go-to-meeting Only – February 15, 10:00 am – 12 noon
The traditional methods of managing the job search and moving ahead in an organization are becoming less applicable to today’s society. The most successful workers are those who understand how to leverage their skills and qualifications through effective networking. This free online workshop, will explore various networking tools, with a focus on LinkedIn’s capacity to boost your professional visibility.
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221.
IEN Orientation
Download PDF HERE
Date & Time: February 1 2019; 10am – 12pm
Location: 7700 Hurontario Street, Unit 601, Suite 100 Brampton Ontario L6Y 4M3 st
To register please call: 905-457-4747 Ext. 3013 or email us: nic@tcet.com
ECG 1 and 2
$50
In-class only – February 1st – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Location: 5510 Mavis Road, Main Floor, Peace Corner Room, Mississauga
ECG – Electrocardiography is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats, as well as the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart, such as a pacemaker. This workshop will focus on the anatomy of the heart, the cardiac cycle, the correct lead placement for a 12-lead ECG, assessing an ECG tracing, Normal Sinus Rhythm, Atrial Arrhythmias, Ventricular arrhythmias, AV and Blocks, Bundle Branch Blocks, Injury/ Ischemia/ Infarcts.
NB: Clients are encouraged to register in the Observational Job Shadowing Program (OJS) if you are interested in extending the learning you received in class. The OJS placement will last 3 full shifts and will be offered in an acute setting. Please note that you will be exposed to all the nursing activities that happen during the shift. This will also be your chance to network and ask any questions you may have to the expert nurse.
A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion.
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221. . Deadline to register January 25, 2019
WoundCare 1 and 2
$50
In-class only – March 1st – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: 5510 Mavis Road, Main Floor, Peace Corner Room, Mississauga
By the end of this workshop you will be able to
*Identify and differentiate the different types of wounds :Pressure Ulcer, Skin Tears, Venus Leg Ulcer, Arterial Ulcer, Diabetic Foot Ulcer
*Describe the stages of wound healing
*Apply dressings and various wound products for different types of wounds
NB: Clients are encouraged to register in the Observational Job Shadowing Program (OJS) if you are interested in extending the learning you received in class. The OJS placement will last 3 full shifts and will be offered in an acute setting. Please note that you will be exposed to all the nursing activities that happen during the shift. This will also be your chance to network and ask any questions you may have to the expert nurse.
A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion.
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221. Deadline to register February 22nd , 2019
Developing and Launching Your Careers for RPNs
Free
In-class only and go-to-meeting – March 8th – 10:00 am – 12 noon
Location: 128A Sterling Road, Toronto Suite 202
RPNAO presents the Career Directions program that has been customized by professional development experts Gail Donner and Mary Wheeler as a guide for RPNs to use as they travel along their career journeys. It provides RPNs with an opportunity to review their career to date; learn strategies to assist in making future career decisions; and learn how to develop a career plan. Professional practice coordinator Norma Tomlin will provide an overview of this valuable program to help launch your nursing career path
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221.
ECG 1 and 2
$50
In-class only – April 12th – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: 128A Sterling Road, Toronto, Suite 202
ECG – Electrocardiography is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats, as well as the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart, such as a pacemaker. This workshop will focus on the anatomy of the heart, the cardiac cycle, the correct lead placement for a 12-lead ECG, assessing an ECG tracing, Normal Sinus Rhythm, Atrial Arrhythmias, Ventricular arrhythmias, AV and Blocks, Bundle Branch Blocks, Injury/ Ischemia/ Infarcts.
NB: Clients are encouraged to register in the Observational Job Shadowing Program (OJS) if you are interested in extending the learning you received in class. The OJS placement will last 3 full shifts and will be offered in an acute setting. Please note that you will be exposed to all the nursing activities that happen during the shift. This will also be your chance to network and ask any questions you may have to the expert nurse.
A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion.
Register Now: Be sure to contact your case manager before signing up. To register call Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221. Deadline to register April 5th, 2019
CELBAN PREPARATION AND ORIENTATION
Download PDF HERE
$495
In-class only – March 20th to May 15th (9 weeks) – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: 128A Sterling Road, Toronto, Suite 202
Register Now: If you are not a CARE Centre member or do not have a Case Manager , please contact l Bradley at 416-226-2800 x 221.
When registering, please make sure to correctly spell your first and last
names. Please also provide your preferred email address and
telephone number. You will receive your BLS card by email. If you have
HSF ID number, please do provide on registration.
If not, please go to web site -Create New Account-National
Resuscitation Portal-Heart and Stroke and create a new account and
provide the HSF ID number to Bradley.
CARE Centre’s IEN Connector Winter 2018
Dear Friends and Members of CARE Centre,
It’s that time of year when we reach out to our shared community in the cause of IENs to thank everyone for their continuing commitment. To our partners, thank you for your collaboration in preparing IENs for nursing career success. To our Pre-Arrival Supports and Services members, and to our CARE Centre member IENs, thank you for your passion for nursing in Canada and for working with our Case Managers to achieve your dreams. Please enjoy our winter edition of The IEN Connector. We wish everyone safe, relaxing and happy holidays, and wish you all the best in 2019!
From All of Us at CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses
2018 Joan Lesmond IENs of the Year
Left: Novlette Delisser-Francis; Right: An Na Ke
In the seventh edition of the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards, the selection committee once again had a field of highly deserving nominees to consider. This year’s winners are Registered Nurse Novlette Delisser-Francis, an IEN from Jamaica now working in acute care for Eastern Health in Newfoundland, and Registered Practical Nurse An Na Ke, an IEN originally from the Philippines who practiced nursing in Taiwan for many years, now working at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto. “I am truly humbled at receiving the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Award in the RN category,” said Delisser-Francis. “I was surprised that I was selected knowing that the other nominees are very much as capable as I am in such a noble profession. Nursing is my calling and my passion.”
“Winning the Joan Lesmond award is a huge recognition and a great honor for an IEN who struggled to fit in and be able to achieve professional goals in such a competitive environment,” said Ke. “Being an awardee makes me feel special and blessed. It motivates me to continue giving inspiration to my fellow IENs and to continue spreading love to my patients.”
“CARE Centre is grateful to all the members of the selection committee for their commitment to celebrating IENs in Ontario healthcare, especially the long-serving chair, Ella Ferris,” said Executive Director Ruth Lee. Along with Dr. Lee and last year’s winners Derrick Ntungwe and Gaynor Quieros, nursing leaders Doris Grinspun , Lesley Hirst, Shannon Holcomb, Pat Martin, Elaine Santa Mina, Annette Weere (substituting for Dianne Martin) and Lucia Yiu served on the 2018 committee.
PASS Participation Increases
The Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) team has prepared a half-year report for the funder, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and it has been a period of substantial enrollment and results. In the last six months, 195 IENs joined the online program on their journey to nursing in Canada. The majority of referrals to PASS come through the federal government’s overseas Prepare for Canada offices. The majority of clients are emigrating from The Philippines, followed by India and Nigeria. IENs from all over the world, from Mauritius to Macedonia, Nepal to Norway, are benefitting from PASS’ customized offerings. “It’s incredibly gratifying to be part of these nurses’ edification as they get ready to build a new life in Canada,” said Meghan Wankel. “Getting to know them as a case manager, I can attest to how much Canadian patients and families are going to benefit from their knowledge and skills when they return to their nursing careers.” The Canadian Nurses Association mentorship program is very popular with PASS member nurses. Featured in the photo are Jeannie Hare, an Alberta-based mentor who is a champion of rural nursing, and PASS mentee Oneikah Richards, a nurse from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who completed her PhD and was a nursing professor in St. Vincent. They are celebrating Richard’s new RN position in the far north of Alberta.
Learning from Leaders at CAMH
CARE Centre staff and member IENs recently had a tour of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, learning about the history of the institution and its storied buildings, and finding out about the significant expansion currently underway. A recognized world-leader in addictions and mental health care and research, CAMH also sets standards for workplace diversity and inclusion. Dr. Rani Srivastava, CAMH Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice, delivered a presentation to the tour group and CAMH staff members on Cultural Competency in the Healthcare Workplace. CAMH is one of CARE Centre’s Observational Job Shadowing Partners. Read more about the program in the next story!
OJS Partners Offer IENs Insight
One of CARE Centre’s cornerstone programs is Observational Job Shadowing (OJS), giving member IENs the chance to share several shifts with expert nurses in a variety of nursing settings. “For all of the studying and clinical practicing our nurses do, OJS is the real eye-opener for them,” said OJS Lead and Hamilton Case Manager Lourdes Vicente. “It’s invaluable for them to witness first-hand how the Canadian healthcare system works in real time.” CARE Centre’s OJS partners include acute and long-term care employers, as well as community nursing organizations. CARE Centre is grateful to partners such as Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that have supported numerous OJS placements. Pictured are Expert Nurse Tanya Rahim-Juttlah and member IEN Raya Balagtey at the Dorothy Macham Home site. Find out more about the OJS program and partners on our website at https://care4nurses.org/what-we-do/observational-job-shadowing/
CARE Centre’s New Brampton Location
CARE Centre has moved to a new location in Brampton very close to Main and Queen Streets. Our new location is at 12 Church Street East on the third floor inside the Fortis Law Practise building. CARE Centre also sees clients in Peel Region at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, 5510 Mavis Road, Mississauga. CARE Centre has two case managers serving IENs in the region: Grace Felix and Natolina Marius-Springer (pictured). To attend an information session at Brampton’s Centre for Education and Training or other locations, visit the events section of our website.
CARE Centre’s Holiday Hours
Please be advised that CARE Centre will be closed for the holiday period from Tuesday, December 25th through Tuesday, January 1st. We wish all our member nurses and colleagues the very best of the festive season and hope you have a safe and happy holiday with your family and friends. Join us in 2019 for a new slate of programs and workshops and the re-launch of our website with many new features. Happy New Year too!
We Have Moved in Brampton!
Effective immediately, CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses’ Brampton office will be operating at our new location:
12 Church Street East
3rd floor
Brampton, Ontario
L6V 1E9
CARE Centre also sees clients in Peel Region at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, 5510 Mavis Road, Mississauga, L5V 2X5. For more information call (416) 226 2800 ext. 221 or email info@care4nurses.org. You can check for upcoming information sessions in various locations by clicking on the Events tab. We’re looking forward to serving you at our new location in Brampton!
CARE Centre’s IEN Connector – Summer 2018
CARE Centre’s 2017 – 2018 Annual Report is Now Available
CARE Centre’s annual report includes the latest data on member IENs, highlights of the year and lots of smiling faces! In her Message from the Executive Director, Dr. Ruth Lee thanked the wider community supporting internationally educated nurses as CARE Centre’s partners: “We are grateful to all the organizations we work with and who provide opportunities to our member IENs: the employers, regulators, professional associations, academic institutions, settlement agencies, local immigration partnerships and others. When we share our strengths in the cause of IEN advancement, everyone benefits.”
Convention and Conference Update
Executive Director Ruth Lee attended the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) convention in Ottawa mid-June focusing on the theme: From Insights to Impact: It Starts with Nursing. Pictured are CARE Centre member IEN Adela Belisario, RPN, a complex continuing care nurse at Baycrest Health Sciences, who presented at the conference, and former CARE Centre case manager, Norma Tomlin, now a Professional Practice representative at the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario. Earlier in the year, Ruth attended the Partners in Education and Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses conference in Montreal, where she presented with Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) Coordinator Meghan Wankel on PASS’ mentorship program with the CNA, pairing newcomer IENs with CNA member nurses across the country.
Member IEN featured in Mental Health Awareness Campaign
Congratulations to our Hamilton-area member IEN Sashani Brown-Gowdie, RN, the “poster nurse” for her employer St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s #GETLOUD campaign in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week in May. As the largest health centre serving the communities of west Toronto, St. Joseph’s Health Centre has a comprehensive range of supports and services for thousands of people living with mental illness. St. Joe’s Mental Health and Addictions program has grown to include both inpatient and ambulatory services for patients of all ages. Brown-Gowdie works in the Youth Wellness Centre with the Youth Mobile Team. Find out more here.
CARE Centre in the Media
CARE Centre thanks the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario for including the organization in it magazine RNAO Journal. In broadcast news, Executive Director Ruth Lee and London-area member IEN Rebecca Leung appeared on OMNI TV’s Chinese-language (Mandarin and Cantonese) news magazine in a two-part report discussing CARE Centre and IENs’ contributions to nursing in Ontario, particularly in the face of an increasing nursing shortage in the province. Watch part one here. Watch part two here.
Deadline or Submissions to the 2018 Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards is September 15th
There is still plenty of time for CARE Centre member IENs to complete a nomination form for the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards, where one RN and one RPN is recognized for their outstanding dedication to nursing. Candidates must have been employed at least one year, and may self-nominate, receive a nomination from workplace colleagues or families and patients, or other supporters. CARE Centre founded the award in 2011 for its 10th anniversary, named for the late nursing leader who championed IENs. So far, 11 member nurses have received the honour. More information is available at www.care4nurses.org/ienaward
CARE Centre’s Language Programming
CARE Centre has a new video on YouTube about Language and Communication for Nurses (LCN) programming, including iCELBAN assessments and CELBAN exam preparation. Instructor Cara Malla is a language specialist who hosts the video and oversees LCN curriculum at CARE Centre. “CARE Centre’s LCN courses offer opportunities for nurses from all over the world to develop their communications skills and build confidence in the way they communicate,” says Malla. Nurses in the Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) program can access these nursing-specific language courses and have a huge advantage in re-establishing their nursing careers.” Watch the video here.
CARE Centre’s IEN Connector – Spring 2018
CARE Centre has moved in Toronto and Peel Region
Please note that CARE Centre has relocated to three new office spaces. CARE Centre’s head office is now in the Parkdale-High Park area known as the Junction Triangle. Our new address is 128A Sterling Road, Suite 202, Toronto, ON, M6R 2B7. The access door to CARE Centre’s new location is located behind the Henderson Brewery. Other neighbours are the Drake Commissary, House of Anansi Press, and the new Museum of Contemporary Art. Did we mention the Nestlé factory that makes the whole neighbourhood smell like chocolate?
Our Brampton office at Nelson Street West has closed, and we have two new locations to serve IENs in Peel Region. CARE Centre’s new Brampton office is housed in the Regus Offices in the Brampton County Court Business Centre at 2 County Court Blvd., Suite 400. We will also see clients in a new Mississauga location (Wednesday to Friday only) in meeting space in the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care at 5510 Mavis Road.
Please note that both Peel Region locations are by appointment only. Please call 416-226-2800, ext. 221 or toll free 1-866-515-0018.
Executive Director Dr. Ruth Lee Receives RNAO Award
Dr. Ruth Lee and Ella Ferris, RN, MBA
CARE Centre, its member IENs and all of our community congratulate Dr. Ruth Lee on receiving the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is bestowed on long-standing members of RNAO who exemplify outstanding contributions to the profession of nursing in the areas of practice, education, administration or research, at the provincial, national and/or international level.
Ruth was born in China and came to Canada to attend nursing school and to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Throughout her career, she has witnessed the challenges immigrant nurses face, and is passionate about supporting colleagues who are facing cultural and linguistic barriers. Ruth is pictured with long-serving CARE Centre board member Ella Ferris, RN, MBA, who has chaired the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards Committee since their inception.
Celebrating our Graduates at RNAO Health Professionals Expo
CARE Centre held its graduation celebration in partnership with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) during its Health Professional Expo in Toronto on May 11th during Nursing Week.
“It’s a great fit for our organizations, since our member IENs who have passed their exams get to shine in the spotlight, and they can also network with exhibiting employers,” said Program Manager Joanne Roth. There are 163 member IENs who passed their registration exams in 2017-2018.
Guest speakers included Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Assistant Deputy Minister Michael 
Reid and new RNAO President Angela Cooper Brathwaite, who delivered a speech The Overcomers: Cultural Adaptation from One Country to Another.
Valedictorian Folakemi Afolabi was the very first member of CARE Centre’s Pre-Arrival Supports and Service Program (PASS), and has now completed the CARE Centre bridging program to obtain her RN license as well – congratulations to all!
Call for Nominations for the 2018 Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards
The 2018 Call for Nominations for the Joan Lesmond IEN RN and RPN of the Year was announced at CARE Centre’s member celebration on May 11th with an inspiring speech by 2017 RPN recipient Derrick Ntungwe. “CARE Centre brings IENs together to know that we are not just people, we are professionals who are on a journey with many hurdles,” said Ntungwe. 
“The Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Award is very important to shine a spotlight on all the positives that IENs bring to nursing in Ontario. I was so honoured to receive the award in 2017, and I was promoted to a supervisory position shortly thereafter.” The RN recipient in 2017 was Gaynor Quieros. The award is now in its seventh year and was established in 2011 on CARE Centre’s 10th anniversary to honour the late nursing leader who championed diversity in nursing.
The nomination kit is available on the website at www.care4nurses/ienaward.
CAMH Nursing Leader Shares Insights on Cultural Competency
Dr. Rani Srivastava
In early April CARE Centre invited Dr. Rani Srivastava to speak to staff and members on “Cultural Competency in the Healthcare Workplace”. Dr. Rani Srivastava RN, MScN, PhD, is Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Assistant Professor at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor at York University.
The interactive session was seen globally by PASS members and a full audience at CARE Centre’s Toronto office who wanted to learn about navigating a multicultural society and work environment, and how one’s personal and professional culture affects nursing practice. Dr. Srivastava shared insight on how to nurse efficiently and competently in a multicultural and multilingual setting.
Staff also received mental health capacity training from CAHM Recreation Therapist Craig Currah in March. Thanks Craig and Rani! (Caption: Dr. Rani Srivastava)
PASS Membership Continues to Climb
Year-end results of the PASS (Pre-Arrival Supports and Services) program are in! March was an impressive month for enrollment in CARE Centre’ PASS with 32 new IENs joining PASS. The total for the past fiscal year was 290, and a total of 443 IENs became PASS members before arriving in Canada.
“Although the vast majority of our PASS clients are coming from the Philippines followed by India, it’s exciting to be providing service to nurses in places like Czech Republic, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan, Korea – the list goes on!” said PASS Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel. “With PASS, these IENs will have a significant advantage in the entire process of resuming their nursing careers in Canada.”
PASS pairs IENs with Canadian Nurses Association members in destination provinces and CNA member nurses have also participated in webinars.
Visit the PASS website for more information: www.pass4nurses.org.
RNAO Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Ruth Lee
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario bestowed the RNAO 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award to CARE Centre’s Executive Director, Dr. Ruth Lee, for her contribution to Nursing.
“I’m just doing what I think I should be doing as a nurse,” she says. “I believe in what nursing is and what it does for society.”
– Dr. Ruth Lee
2018 RNAO Lifetime Achievement Awardee
Follow the link to learn more about the award. 2018 Lifetime Achievement Awardee
November 20 marks the CARE 2015 IEN Conference
Hi all,
The last years worth of preparation is about to bear its fruit, as the 2015 IEN Conference
Post expires at 3:19pm on Tuesday February 6th, 2018
CARE Centre’s IEN Connector – Winter 2017
CARE Centre Thanks Outgoing Board Chair Saleem Hall
Vice-Chair Jean-Jacques Rousseau
CARE Centre’s long-serving board member, Saleem Hall, has resigned as Chair to start “a new life adventure up North in Huntsville Ontario, where I have accepted a position with a local not-for-profit.” Saleem previously worked for one of CARE Centre’s founding organizations, WoodGreen Community Services, and had been a board member since (2008). Executive Director Ruth Lee said, “On behalf of the CARE Centre team, our heartfelt gratitude to your unfailing support and commitment to CARE over the years. Words cannot express how much I appreciate your guidance, wisdom, dedication, kindness, and great sense of humour since I assumed my role in CARE.” Vice-Chair Jean-Jacques Rousseau has assumed interim Chair duties. He stated, “Saleem inherited an organization in transition and helped it build on a solid track record, leaving CARE in a strong position to face the challenges ahead. “Being on the Board at CARE Centre has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life,” said Hall. “I will leave with a quote from my favourite bear: ‘How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’ – Winnie the Pooh. Happy (ski) Trails, Saleem!
2017 Joan Lesmond IENs of the Year
Gaynor Quieros, RN
Two outstanding members have been chosen as the 2017 RN and RPN IENs of the Year. Both served as valedictorians for their respective graduating years, going on to impress the selection committee of nurse leaders with their successful nominations. RN recipient Gaynor Quieros is from Wales, and passed the NCLEX exam 33 years after obtaining her RN in the UK. She currently works in telemedicine community mental health nursing and her daughter has recently graduated with her BScN.
Derrick Ntungwe, RPN
Derrick Ntungwe is an RPN from Cameroon who was nominated by his employer Saint Elizabeth Health Care, where he is a community nurse. Derrick is now pursuing his RN designation and also works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. During his IEN journey to registration, Derrick struggled to bring his wife and three children to Ontario during the West African Ebola epidemic. “Once again the selection committee was incredibly impressed by the determination and resilience of the nominees to overcome many challenges to practice as nurses in Ontario,” said Ella Ferris, Committee Chair and CARE Centre Board Member. “Their dedication and professionalism are truly inspirational.”
New Curriculum and Courses at CARE Centre
LCN participant and 2017 graduate Jisha Shaji with case managers Maria Krumov and Jun Doydora
Former Professional Practice Lead Ruth Wojtiuk, RN, MEd and former Case Manager Anaar Shariff, RN, BScN retired from their CARE Centre staff positions last summer, but continue to bring their professional acumen to the organization. Wojtiuk has prepared a new preparation course for the Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE, or IENCAP) to be piloted this fall.
Part of the OSCE Prep Course is a section on relaxation techniques in the form of a four-episode video series contributed by Shariff, a certified yoga teacher. CARE Centre also has a new video to promote updated Language and Communication for Nurses offerings, including iCELBAN assessments and CELBAN exam preparation. Instructor Cara Malla has been teaching internationally educated professionals for many years, and has helped evolve the LCN curriculum through CARE Centre member feedback and advances in the field.
CARE Centre Program Manager Joanne Roth said, “As the nursing regulatory environment continually changes, we are focussed on staying ahead of trends and developments to offer the best supports to our member IENs for registration success.”
CARE Centre for IENs on OMNI TV’s New Canadians
Executive Director Ruth Lee appears in the video, featured here with 2017 graduate and valedictorian Aaron Antonio)
CARE Centre’s Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) program, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, was featured on NEW CANADIANS on OMNI TV stations across the country at the beginning of 2017, and now we’ll start out 2018 with an episode featuring CARE Centre’s services in Ontario. CARE Centre is funded by the Ontario Government through the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. NEW CANADIANS is a rich and informative web and TV show produced by New Horizons Media, and hosted by Gerard Keledjian and Rachel Lee.
The magazine-style presentations showcase settlement, education, employment and small business resources available to newcomers to help them maximize their chances of success and ease their integration into the Canadian workforce. “For 16 years CARE Centre has been a leader in customized programs and one-on-one case management support for internationally educated nurses,” said producer Keledjian. “It’s exciting to profile an organization that was one of the first to offer bridge-training to a specific group of international health professionals, and that has continued to innovate to meet regulatory requirements.” Both the PASS and CARE Centre episodes will be online at http://newcanadians.tv/. Further announcements will be made for the OMNI TV broadcasts.
PASS and CARE Centre Member IEN Success
Executive Director Ruth Lee, PASS Member IEN Pamela Campos, PASS Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel, PASS Member IEN Cristina Giron, Case Manager Michelle Gordon and PASS Assistant Nicholas Ghadiri.
CARE Centre promotes membership for life (with a one-time fee of $150!), and everyone speaks of the CARE Centre “family”. Recently our case managers shared updates from clients who shared some milestones in their Canadian nursing careers. Featured in this holiday photo (third from right) is member IEN Novlette Delisser-Francis. Her case manager Michelle Gordon recounted that she “went to a job fair in Toronto and was offered a temporary position as an RN in Newfoundland which led to a full-time job in the Medicine Unit. “Just want to say thanks to you, CARE Centre and Ontario for all the assistance given to me while trying to secure my RN license,” said Novlette.
Case Manager Lourdes Vicente shared this visual sent by member Rittiya Augustine, created by her proud husband congratulating her for passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Pre-arrival Supports and Services (PASS) Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel and others in the office were excited to meet two PASS member IENs who are settling in Ontario. Cristina Giron and Pamela Campos met in a Planning for Canada information session in Manila, and went on to become active PASS members through online webinars and chat rooms. and case managers Michelle Gordon and Maria Krumov.
CARE Centre Conference Presentations and Posters
Jennifer Cheng, RN and a PIE-IEN conference delegate
This fall there’s a lot to round up for CARE Centre’s presence at nursing and immigration conferences in 2017. CARE Centre and PASS have become recognized leaders in both theory and methodology in the success of IENs in Ontario and Canada. The Partners in Integration and Education of IENs (PIE-IEN) was held in Halifax in April, with a presentation on PASS by Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel and a poster presented by Observational Job Shadowing Lead Lourdes Vincente and Master of Nursing student Jennifer Cheng. In May, Executive Director Ruth Lee and PASS Assistant Nicholas Ghadiri attended the Conference Board of Canada annual Canadian Immigration Summit in Ottawa examining innovations to build an even stronger immigration system. PASS Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel and CARE Centre Program Manager Joanne Roth presented at the 12th Metropolis World Congress in Montreal in June under the theme “Global Challenges: Major Cities in Action”. In October Dr. Lee and Meghan presented at the 2017 Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation Conference in Halifax and later in the month Dr. Lee presented a poster at the Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society in New Orleans. Another poster presentation at the Pathways to Prosperity conference in Toronto was facilitated by Meghan Wankel and Michelle Gordon.
CARE Centre’s IEN Connector – Summer 2017
IEN Connector Stories Summer 2017
Meet Our New CARE Centre Staffers
Ismail El Assaad, RN, Case Manager
CARE Centre is pleased to announce that two new case managers and an office records coordinator, all nurses, have joined the CARE Centre staff. Member IEN Ismail El Assaad, RN, the 2012 Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Award-winner, is the new case manager in the London office. Ismail continues to work as a critical care nurse at London Health Sciences University Hospital.
Grace Felix, RPN, Case Manager
Member IEN Grace Felix was recently working in Atlantic Canada as an RPN, and returns to Ontario as a case manager in the Brampton office. CARE Centre has also received funding to hire Ronelca Joseph as File Management Clerk to assist in digitizing CARE Centre’s records. Ronelca, who also has a nursing background as an RPN, joins front office assistant Vanesta Dieudonne in keeping CARE Centre running smoothly. Welcome All!
CARE Centre’s 2016 – 2017 Annual Report Now Online
Dhan Sahi, RPN
CARE Centre’s newest annual report is now available to read or download on the website (posted under the “About Us” section). “Having marked its 15th anniversary year and now in its 16th year of service, CARE Centre has served thousands of IENs and has positively affected system-wide change for IENs’ integration to the Ontario healthcare workforce,” said Executive Director Dr. Ruth Lee. “CARE Centre’s case management model is unique in the supports IENs can access in Ontario and is the most client-centred program available. We are delighted to have several IENs working as case managers, some of whom are members who completed their registration with us.” Case managers in the regional offices are available for individual information sessions by appointment.
Deputy Minister Congratulates Latest Cohort of CARE Centre IENs
Case Manager Michelle Gordon, Valedictorian Aaron Antonio, RN, CARE Centre Executive Director Dr. Ruth Lee, Alexander Bezzina, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, 2016 IEN of the Year Kareen Tacderas, RN, and Case Manager Lourdes Vicente.
On June 19th, CARE Centre celebrated the achievement of 113 IENs for passing their nursing registration exams and completing the bridging program. A special guest at the event was Mr. Alexander Bezzina, Deputy Minister for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, CARE Centre’s government funder. Mr. Bezzina shared his appreciation for IENs and wished them the best for their careers. “Our IENs become members for life when they join CARE Centre, so they are always part of the family as we support them in continuing milestones,” said Executive Director Dr. Ruth Lee. “This year we had graduate Aaron Antonio give the valedictorian speech, and one of last year’s Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Award-winners, Kareen Tacderas, also offered words of encouragement and inspiration. IENs overcome incredible barriers and challenges to pursue their dream of nursing in Ontario and we are grateful for the continuing support of the Ministry for funding CARE Centre and sharing our vision of a more inclusive nursing workforce for Ontario.”
It’s a Small World After All
Lina Hassan
Attending a recent Newcomer Expo, CARE Centre Communications Specialist Tina Novotny took part in a group exercise where attendees introduced themselves to the person sitting next to them. Who should Tina meet but Lina Hassan, an IEN recently arrived from Dubai, where she was acquainted with member IEN and former CARE Centre instructor Rola Moubadder, who now teaches in her home country.
Rola Moubadder
“You know, when I first planned to pursue my nursing license in Canada I was confused and feeling lonely, I didn’t know how and where to start,” said Hassan. “I connected with Rola while still in Dubai. Rola gave me a lot of support and information on how to start and told me not to give up. And she said ‘Go to CARE Centre, you’ll be in safe hands!’ CARE Centre staff are people who support others deep from their hearts with a passion to help.” Thanks Rola! Thanks Lina!
Windsor-area Member Featured in Magazine
Randa Al Hassani, RN
CARE Centre member IEN Randa Al Hassani was profiled in a Windsor magazine called Biz X in honour of National Nursing Week 2017. Randa told editor Deborah Jones, “I chose to immigrate to Canada as it is the best country in the world with outstanding education and healthcare systems. Being a nurse here is a great honour to me. CARE Centre supported me by setting up an action plan to successfully complete all the necessary steps to qualify as a registered nurse in Ontario. My case manager helped me gain employment by critiquing my resume, teaching me interview skills and providing a Canadian reference. My employers and co-workers give me great support and being part of a team that improves the quality of life for our seniors every day, I consider that an amazing role.” Read the whole article here. (Article is on page 17.)
PASS Member IENs Bring the Global Village to Canada
Unnati Christian and Ronald Thakor
CARE Centre’s Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS), funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, has released data about international participants since the start of the fiscal year April 1, 2017. In three months there have been 51 new IENs registered with PASS, out of a total of 204 since the launch of the program in January 2016. The greatest number apply from the Philippines, with India the second-spot country. Many of the IENs are heading to Quebec, with Ontario the second-ranked destination province. Although PASS has an extensive referral network of government and private agencies, many IENs find out about PASS by searching out the website or by visiting the PASS Facebook page. The PASS IENs are predominantly female at 75%, but the 25% of male IENs is significantly higher than the ratio of domestically educated nurses, which can be a single-digit percentage or rarely higher than 10 percent. “Nursing is a much-less gendered profession in other parts of the world than in North America,” said PASS Program Co-ordinator Meghan Wankel. “Gender is just another element of the desirable diversity that IENs bring to Canadian healthcare.”
