Change to address Manitoba nursing shortage linked to rise in complaints, injuries: regulatory body

The group regulating nurses in Manitoba say a recent change to address the nursing shortage in the province is putting patients at risk. Jeff Keele reports.

The regulatory body for the province’s nurses worries a requisite change to address the nursing shortage in Manitoba is putting patients at risk.

The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba said it was mandated in 2022 to remove the requirement to verify nurses registered outside the province have 450 hours of practice over the last two years or 1,125 hours over the past five years.

The college said this change has led to a rise in complaints and contributed to injuries, including two deaths, because some nurses lacked basic skills, like taking vital signs and administering medications.

The group said this upward trend began in 2023.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of serious allegations (against) registered nurses with this background,” said Deb Elias, CEO of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

In December, the college informed the province it would reinstate the requirement. However, the college said Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara wrote back to say no, noting the change would violate a number of laws, including the Labour Mobility Act and the federal Fair Trade Agreement.

“We’ve heard for many years that our province isn’t welcoming (internationally educated nurses) and supporting them the way other provinces are, and we’re missing out on really exceptional talent,” Asagwara said.

They added the practice requirement blocked qualified, internationally educated nurses from working here. Asagwara added that in some cases, nurses were a few hours short of the requirement, but still had their licenses revoked.

“It’s really important not to paint all (internationally educated nurses) the same way; I think it’s an unfair position to take,” Asagwara said.

The minister noted the province does respond to safety complaints as quickly as possible and has a program that allows internationally educated nurses to get training.

Still, the college would like some more oversight.

“We would like to do an assessment and complete remedial education if that’s found to be necessary,” Elias said.