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A new employee group at Horizon Health Network is working to support the growing cohort of internationally-trained staff with the company.
Abidemi Balogun, a registered nurse in Saint John who is originally from Nigeria, said the International Educated Employee Resource Group, which was started earlier this year, gives internationally-trained staff a sense of belonging and a safe space to share ideas.
“Mainly what this group is all about is just to give them … support,” said Balogun.
“Support by mentorship, leadership, giving them that empowerment.”
Marwa Elnady, a Saint John registered nurse originally from Egypt, said she wished a program like this one was available when she first moved to New Brunswick.
Information Morning – Saint John15:30New peer support program for international health care workers
Host Emily Brass speaks with some internationally born health-care workers who are trying to give other newcomers in their field a leg up, with social support and cultural guidance. Marwa Elnady and Abidemi Balogun hope their efforts will help newcomers settle in and stay.
She said when she moved to Saint John, she had to find settlement agencies on her own, which she said can be demoralizing while living and working in a new environment.
“One of the phases is the frustration phase when sometimes we lose hope with everything, see [the] struggles more than the opportunities,” said Elnady.
According to Horizon, there are 740 internationally-trained employees with the health authority, including 430 nursing staff and 30 salaried physicians.
Balogun said it’s not just moving to Canada that can lead to culture shock, moving within Canada can be shocking, too.
Before moving to Saint John, Balogun lived in Ontario after moving from Nigeria, but he said moving from one province to another still had its adjustment period.
“I came [to] Saint John in 2019 when we [had few] Africans,” said Balogun.
“I could imagine if I was coming directly from Africa.”
Elnady said it’s important to make newcomers feel at home, not only for their mental and physical health, but also for the health of hospital patients.
She said not feeling a sense of belonging can eventually lead employees to not putting their all into their work.
It can also lead to staffing retention issues.
“If I’m not happy in Saint John, I won’t be staying,” said Elnady.
Balogun said there are still some employees who “are not really aware of this program,” so the group needs to find ways to spread the word.