In addition to providing ground transportation from the airport for the arriving nurses long before their arrival, Liaison Services personnel found the nurses suitable rented accommodations in Camrose, Alberta, where they will be working. Before they report to their jobs next week, the Liaison Services will assist the nurses in getting their Social Insurance Numbers as well as opening bank accounts.
"We ensure that the transition process is as smooth as possible and that they are ready for work within two days after arriving in Canada," explains Donna Adams, deputy chief liaison officer.
Faith-based organisation
The Bethany Group, employer of the group of Jamaican nurses, is a faith-based organisation that operates a wide range of homes and services for older, disabled and vulnerable people, offering varying levels of health-care and hospitality services in the province of Alberta.
Adams notes that Bethany will have to adhere to Canada's high employment standards that are applicable for native as well as migrant workers.
"We have met with all employers prior to the arrival of the workers and we are confident that if they work hard and are willing to apply themselves, the experience will be positive," she says. The liaison officer believes that "the training our workers received in Jamaica have prepared them well and they have proved equal to the task. This is a new experience, and it would not be without challenges."
The group of 10 nurses is the first from the batch of 77 who, last October, completed the licensed practical nursing (LPN) pro-gramme offered by the Kingston-based Pre-University School. "This is the first set of Jamaicans to be trained under a Canadian curri-culum to take up jobs in Alberta," boasts Camelia Campbell, Dean of Health Services.
Pre-University School delivered a LPN curriculum developed by NorQuest College in Alberta, Canada. In addition, graduates received a one-year temporary license from the College of Licensed Practical Nurses in Alberta. The nurses are allowed to work up to a year on a temporary license until they write their final exam to get their permanent license. The arrangement was brokered by Canadian-based firm, Marmicmon Integrated Marketing and Communications.
Campbell explains that although the entire group had received job offers in Canada last year, the immigration process is dependent on the Canadian High Commission working in tandem with Jamaica's Ministry of Labour. She discloses that a batch of 14 LPNs are next in line to depart for Canada.
According to Donna Adams of the Jamaican Liaison Services, the feedback from employers has been very positive and the health-care workers already in Canada have adjusted well. The experiences over the years, she says, have confirmed that Jamaicans are "very committed, always working very hard to achieve their goals and always endeavouring to be good ambassadors."