Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified Canada's nursing shortages, increasing reliance on internationally educated nurses (IENs) as a solution for these vacancies. IEN integration strategies vary across Canadian provinces and territories, driven by contextual needs and available resources. This discussion paper provides a high-level overview of IEN integration in Canada, offering practical recommendations for nursing leaders to develop an ethical, equitable and sustainable nursing workforce. We outline the benefits of investing in improvements to IEN integration and the value it plays in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This requires equity-focused reforms at macro-, meso- and micro-levels to fully utilize IEN expertise and experiences.