Employment Discrimination In Canada

In a study, Li writes, “Healthcare team performance may be hindered due to the different cultural backgrounds of the nurses” (2014, p. 316). A report mentions that the IENs have less confidence in providing culturally competent care to the patients of the different culture due to lack of understanding of health beliefs, values and behaviors of that culture (Lampley, 2008). For instance, in Philippines, most of the decisions are made by the doctors. Nurses just follow doctors’ order in decision making (Tregunno, et al., 2009). But in Canada nurses are required to be more assertive and actively involved in decision-making and have more responsibility and accountability regarding patient care. Further, Canada is a multicultural country and

Employment discrimination includes unequal treatment in employment decisions, opportunities, hiring and firing, compensation, promotion done by the supervisor and management on the basis of nurses’ race, origin, color, religion and language (Walani, 2015). In some cases even the patients refuge to be treated from a nurse with certain ethnic or national background. In Primeau’s study (2014), one IEN reports that a patient denied her care and said, “I don’t want to be treated by a terrorist”. Moreover, immigrant nurses are often employed in less desirable areas, lower positions and are excluded from the opportunities which could promote them easily to higher positions ((Li, 2014). Discrimination is not only unethical but also an illegal practice at any workplace. However, sometimes the IENs themselves acknowledge that they have less confidence and take inequality for granted. So, they do not report some cases of discrimination. Moreover, even the colleagues, patients and families treat the IENs with aggression, resentment, less trust and uncooperative manner (College of Nurses of Ontario [CNO], 2007). Sometimes, the coworkers intentionally misunderstand and underestimate the IENs’ education and skills and bully them (Kingma, 2007). A study by Hagey shows that immigrant black nurses also face racial discrimination in nursing employment in Canada (2001).

So, organizations need to educate all nurses of all levels about all forms of discriminatory behaviours occurred in workplaces (Hagey et. al). Moreover, nursing leaders can urge the organizations to develop anti-discrimination policies and support IENs, who face workplace racial discrimination, to report and seek legal justice (CNFU, 2007). It helps enhance patient safety, quality care and also increases inter-professional collaboration. Nursing leaders should take step to ensure that IENs are treated equitably in all health care setting (Franklin et al….). Further, they can promote positive organizational culture to IENs by ensuring equitable treatment in the workplace. Encouraging cultural sharing during formal meetings as well as informal gatherings helps IENs explore Canadian culture also the role of leader in organizational level. Finally, nursing leaders have to sit to talk with the employers to provide sufficient opportunities and resources to help flourish their professional skills then only quality care and patient safety can be