By Vicki Caissie
Forest Dale Home was recently recognized for showing “exceptional leadership in recruiting Internationally Educated Nurses” by the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes in May 2019. The award came after Forest Dale Home was approved as a Designated Employer by the Province of New Brunswick to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.
Forest Dale Home was recently recognized for showing “exceptional leadership in recruiting Internationally Educated Nurses” by the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes in May 2019. The award came after Forest Dale Home was approved as a Designated Employer by the Province of New Brunswick to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.
Left to right: Rony, Niji, Ambili, Anju and Romario We are now eligible to identify foreign nationals to fill our labour needs. Consequently, we have hired and helped settle five qualified individuals to work at Forest Dale Home and live in the community of Riverside-Albert. The five, all from India, are working part-time: four as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and one as a resident attendant. They include Niji and Rony (a married couple), Ambili (a married woman who would love to bring her husband and children to Canada), Romario (a man who arrived in a snowstorm in late December) and Anju (a young woman who arrived in the spring).
Forest Dale Home historically has had difficulty attracting enough LPNs to meet our staffing ratios required by government. We have no casual LPNs! When someone is injured or becomes sick, we have no LPNs for replacement.
All five of the workers are experienced registered nurses (RNs) in India. The training in India is a four-year program similar to what Canadian registered nurses do. Their studies are in English in India. [RNs require four years of study to get their degree whereas LPNs require two years.] The Indian degrees, however, are not recognized in Canada. All but Rony have studied at Omni College in Vancouver and are currently registered in New Brunswick as Licensed Practical Nurses. They are enrolled in programs to gain their nursing registration in Canada. It will take them about two years to become RNs. Rony, who worked as a nurse in operating rooms in India, has not yet completed the Canadian training and testing to be licensed as an LPN, but is trained and qualified to work as an resident attendant.
They are fitting in very well and the residents seem to enjoy them.
“Riverside Albert, in a nutshell, for me and my husband Rony is a ‘Network of Support,’” writes Njii. “There are times in life when you are in need of a particular service, advice, support or understanding. When you are in strong community, it is highly likely that someone may be able to help you out or just share your celebratory moments. Apparently, this means a lot for people like us who are away from our near and dear ones.”
“When it comes to Forest Dale Nursing Home,” Niji writes, “we both were overwhelmed to witness the competent and dedicated care the staff gives to each residents to make the residents feel like home. Also we understand their guidance is very crucial and appreciate for accepting us as a part of their team.”
“We both would be always grateful for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful small world and looking forward for starting the new chapter of our life,” adds the couple.
“I am really thankful for the opportunity to work at Forest Dale Home,” writes Anju. She adds that she “really enjoys working at Forest Dale and the new experience of living on the East Coast of Canada.”
Ambili says, “It’s an immense pleasure to be part of the Riverside-Albert community. It’s really an amazing and beautiful place to live. And the local people over here are really helpful and friendly. It’s a great privilege to work in Forest Dale Home.”
Ambili appreciates “the sense of camaraderie among the co-workers” along with the support from the home’s management.
The newcomers all express their gratitude to be able to live in a peaceful friendly community in a beautiful location with no pollution. They are all from different small towns in India and are used to living in rural areas. After living in Vancouver, they find Riverside-Albert very friendly by contrast.
The workers say that they are excited to experience summer in Albert County after hearing people talk so much about summer activities and social events.
Vicki Caissie, BN RN, is the Administrator of Forest Dale Home Inc. in Riverside-Albert.
Forest Dale Home historically has had difficulty attracting enough LPNs to meet our staffing ratios required by government. We have no casual LPNs! When someone is injured or becomes sick, we have no LPNs for replacement.
All five of the workers are experienced registered nurses (RNs) in India. The training in India is a four-year program similar to what Canadian registered nurses do. Their studies are in English in India. [RNs require four years of study to get their degree whereas LPNs require two years.] The Indian degrees, however, are not recognized in Canada. All but Rony have studied at Omni College in Vancouver and are currently registered in New Brunswick as Licensed Practical Nurses. They are enrolled in programs to gain their nursing registration in Canada. It will take them about two years to become RNs. Rony, who worked as a nurse in operating rooms in India, has not yet completed the Canadian training and testing to be licensed as an LPN, but is trained and qualified to work as an resident attendant.
They are fitting in very well and the residents seem to enjoy them.
“Riverside Albert, in a nutshell, for me and my husband Rony is a ‘Network of Support,’” writes Njii. “There are times in life when you are in need of a particular service, advice, support or understanding. When you are in strong community, it is highly likely that someone may be able to help you out or just share your celebratory moments. Apparently, this means a lot for people like us who are away from our near and dear ones.”
“When it comes to Forest Dale Nursing Home,” Niji writes, “we both were overwhelmed to witness the competent and dedicated care the staff gives to each residents to make the residents feel like home. Also we understand their guidance is very crucial and appreciate for accepting us as a part of their team.”
“We both would be always grateful for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful small world and looking forward for starting the new chapter of our life,” adds the couple.
“I am really thankful for the opportunity to work at Forest Dale Home,” writes Anju. She adds that she “really enjoys working at Forest Dale and the new experience of living on the East Coast of Canada.”
Ambili says, “It’s an immense pleasure to be part of the Riverside-Albert community. It’s really an amazing and beautiful place to live. And the local people over here are really helpful and friendly. It’s a great privilege to work in Forest Dale Home.”
Ambili appreciates “the sense of camaraderie among the co-workers” along with the support from the home’s management.
The newcomers all express their gratitude to be able to live in a peaceful friendly community in a beautiful location with no pollution. They are all from different small towns in India and are used to living in rural areas. After living in Vancouver, they find Riverside-Albert very friendly by contrast.
The workers say that they are excited to experience summer in Albert County after hearing people talk so much about summer activities and social events.
Vicki Caissie, BN RN, is the Administrator of Forest Dale Home Inc. in Riverside-Albert.
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