Prince Edward Island reports hiring hundreds of health care professionals
Some of them are professionals specially brought in from abroad.
The press office of Canada's smallest province has reported a large number of medical job closures. Since January 2023, the Prince Edward Island Health Department has recorded the hiring of 547 employees for permanent and temporary positions, including:
- nurse practitioners — 9;
- registered nurses — 201;
- licensed practical nurses — 72;
- resident care workers, personal care workers and home support workers — 265.
Of the 547 employees hired, 147 were recent graduates. 26 employees were hired among expatriates at a job fair in Dubai and another 31 at a similar event in Singapore.
Non-Canadian health care workers are now in various stages of immigration and are expected by the province to begin arriving early next year. Prince Edward Island authorities are actively promoting the integration of foreign-trained nurses.
A second recruitment mission to Dubai is planned for early 2024 as part of a new recruiting plan. Prince Edward Island is looking to bring in 200 more nurses from other countries to fill vacancies across the province.
To make it easier to apply for one of the above positions, Health PEI has created a specialized portal. It can be used by employees who are already certified to work in Canada and by employees who can register within 6 months — or obtain a bachelor's degree in the required field within 6 months.
The portal launched in May, and since then, 70 positions have been closed using it, including 45 internationally educated nurses.
Health PEI continues to work to attract talent to the province's health care facilities from across Canada and abroad.
