Internationally Educated Nurses

You are the union. Your problems are our problems. We stand together. Members join or form a union to fight collectively for better wages, benefits, safety and dignity at work.

We are the BC Nurses' Union. We represent more than 55,000 professional nurses and allied health-care workers, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community.

We value and respect diversity, and pride ourselves in providing protection, representation and services to all members.

By belonging to BCNU, you’re part of an active community of skilled health-care providers, experienced in fighting to improve working conditions and advocating for patient care.

Your collective agreement covers all the terms and conditions of your work. It sets out your wages, your benefits, your rights and your responsibilities to your employer. It also describes how your union and your employer must deal with disputes over what the language in your contract really means.

Learn more about your collective agreement.

Union stewards are members of BCNU. They are trained by the union to support you at your workplace.

Stewards help by:

• Helping build a strong connection between you and your Union
• Connecting you with BCNU resources and supports
• Supporting you with workplace safety, health and job concerns
• Helping you understand your rights at work

Talk to your steward if you:

• Are concerned you are not receiving enough orientation shifts and support
• Are asked to meet with your manager or supervisor
• Are worried about a complaint filed against your practice to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives
• Have any health or safety concerns
• Have a question about your rights as a worker
• Receive notice of changes to your employment
• Feel alone and want to connect with other union members
• Have a question about your benefits
• Feel unsafe, uncomfortable or harassed at work
• Are experiencing conflict with a co-worker or manager

The support available to you is organized by region. Learn which region your worksite is included in by logging into the BCNU Member Portal.

In your region, you can connect with:

• Steward-at-Large
• Regional Council Member

You can also connect with full-time DEI stewards. Their primary focus is supporting members in promoting truth and reconciliation, cultural safety, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

BCNU’s IEN committee supports internationally educated nurses in the union and workplace. The IEN committee is made up of council members, equity leaders, and BCNU representatives across BC.

The IEN committee:

• Identifies barriers (in licensing, integration, retention etc.) and advises BCNU leadership on policy change
• Organizes surveys and focus groups to gather IEN experiences to guide evidence-based solutions
• Promotes psychological safety, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination for IEN inclusion
• Works on recruitment, retention, education pathways, and stronger IEN engagement in the union
• Collaborates with partners and the government to improve integration pathways and working conditions

Call the BCNU Head Office: 604-433-2268

• Submit a request for support from BCNU’s membership department. Visit the BCNU Support page, choose “Membership Request” and select IEN and issue from the menu of options.
• Email your Regional Council Member directly. Log on and explore resources and tools on the BCNU Member Portal.

• Enrol in BCNU’s Communicating Essential Skills course.
• Attend a Skill Lab online workshop.

• Read BCNU’s Member Care Plan.
• Attend an NU Connections webinar. 

• Enrol in BCNU’s Communicating Essential Skills course.
• Attend a Skill Lab online workshop. 

BCNU’s Licensing, Education, Advocacy, Practice (LEAP) Program provides assistance and advocacy.

• Email: leap@bcnu.org
• Learn more.

• Explore your collective agreement and ask a steward to help you understand language in your contract. 

Members of BCNU`s Mosaic of Colour Caucus are available to help internationally educated nurses transition to living and working in BC. The Mosaic of Colour Caucus is a safe space for members of colour to support one another.

• Join the Mosaic of Colour Caucus.
• Email the Mosaic of Colour Chair: moc@bcnu.org

In addition to the Mosaic of Colour Caucus, internationally educated nurses are welcome to reach out to any of the other BCNU-sponsored equity groups, including the Indigenous Leadership Circle, the 2SLGBTQ+ Caucus, and the Workers with Disabilities Caucus.

• Subscribe to BCNU eNews.
• Follow the BCNU Provincial Events Calendar.