In this episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing Officer of TruMerit., welcomes Earl Dalton, MHA, MSL, BSN, NEA-BC, Chief Clinical Officer & VP of Clinical Services at Health Carousel, for a powerful conversation on building a more ethical, sustainable future for global healthcare staffing.

Earl shares his personal journey from a small fishing village in Canada to the Duke University Health System and ultimately into his current role leading clinical strategy for one of the largest international nurse staffing firms in the U.S. He discusses the deep responsibility Health Carousel feels as a “social enterprise,” committed not only to ethical recruitment, but also to the professional and personal development of the nurses they serve.

The episode explores Health Carousel’s multi-pronged global initiatives—training nurse educators in the Philippines to improve local licensure exam pass rates, launching Uganda’s first ICU nurse training program and computer lab, and partnering with the DAISY Foundation to recognize nurses in underserved regions. Earl explains how these efforts are designed to leave a “better than carbon neutral” footprint in sending countries by strengthening local infrastructure and contributing back to the global nursing workforce.

Lea and Earl also discuss the future of health worker mobility, the need for career path planning, and the vital leadership role nurses must play in shaping global healthcare policy and innovation. Whether you’re a frontline clinician, a policymaker, or a recruiter, this episode offers insight into what ethical, future-ready health workforce development really looks like.

Tune in to the full episode at trumerit.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast platform.

In the latest episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International, Inc.), is joined by Jim Campbell, Director of Health Workforce at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Peter Preziosi, President & CEO of TruMerit. Together, they explore pressing global nursing workforce challenges, the upcoming State of the World’s Nursing Report, and strategies for strengthening health systems worldwide.

Jim Campbell highlights the WHO Global Strategy on Health Workforce 2030, emphasizing the need for investment in workforce education, optimizing existing resources, and improving global workforce data to ensure universal health coverage. He also discusses the impact of COVID-19, which accelerated innovation in digital health and workforce policies but also exposed critical shortages and funding gaps.

Peter Preziosi introduces True Merit's focus on care model evolution, ethical recruitment, and career mobility. He shares insights on their initiatives, including a global rehabilitation certification for nurses and the evaluation of ethical recruitment standards to align with WHO’s Global Code of Practice on International Recruitment. Both guests stress the urgency of addressing workforce shortages, ensuring fair recruitment practices, and adapting education to prepare healthcare professionals for the future.

As the healthcare landscape evolves, this episode underscores the importance of global collaboration, policy innovation, and investment in nursing leadership to sustain a resilient workforce.

Tune in to the full episode at trumerit.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast platform.

On this special Career Journeys episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims sits down with Shailadi Gupta, CEO and Founder of Kindshell Healthcare. A nurse and holistic wellness coach, Shailadi shares her inspiring journey from India to Canada and how her experiences shaped her mission to support other Indian nurses in achieving global career success.

Born into a family of doctors, Shailadi’s path to nursing was both unconventional and transformative. Despite societal stigma surrounding nursing in India, her parents supported her decision, leading her to train at the National Institute of Nursing Education in Chandigarh. Inspired by her mother’s health journey and her exposure to global nursing practices, Shailadi sought opportunities to advance her career abroad.

After navigating the challenges of migrating to Canada, Shailadi recognized significant gaps in support for internationally trained nurses. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Kindshell Healthcare in 2017. The academy offers comprehensive programs for nurses, including licensing guidance, exam preparation, peer mentorship, and acculturation training to integrate seamlessly into Canada’s healthcare system.

To date, Kindshell Healthcare has supported over 4,000 nurses, many of whom now excel in leadership roles or as mentors within the healthcare industry. Shailadi emphasizes that nursing extends beyond clinical care to encompass leadership, policy-making, and entrepreneurship. Her academy focuses on equipping nurses with global skills, preparing them to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

This episode highlights Shailadi’s transformative impact on global nursing opportunities and underscores the importance of mentorship, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership.

For more stories like Shailadi’s, tune in to Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast on your favorite platform or at cgfns.org/podcast.

In this special episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing Officer and Host at CGFNS International, dives deep into the critical role of English language proficiency in global healthcare workforce mobility. Joined by guest Spiros Papageorgiou, Principal Measurement Scientist at ETS, the discussion unpacks how language proficiency benchmarks are set, their role in career mobility, and the human impact of these assessments.

Spiros brings unique insights, drawing from his extensive experience with ETS’s renowned proficiency tests like TOEFL. He underscores that while language proficiency is necessary for success, it’s not sufficient on its own. Factors such as cultural adaptation, professional expertise, and social support also significantly influence outcomes. Highlighting the nuanced process of setting cut scores, Spiros emphasizes the balance between ensuring safety in high-stakes fields like healthcare and creating opportunities for global health workers.

Lea and Spiros explore how proficiency testing must align with real-world demands, particularly in healthcare, where communication varies across patient care, team collaboration, and critical decision-making. They discuss the importance of continuous upskilling in language proficiency, not only for career success but also for fostering social integration and building meaningful connections in new environments.

This episode offers actionable advice for internationally educated nurses and healthcare workers. Spiros encourages leveraging modern resources such as language apps, subtitles, and immersive experiences to enhance proficiency. Lea concludes with an empowering reminder: minimum proficiency is the starting line, not the finish line—fluency should be the ultimate goal.

For anyone navigating the challenges of career mobility in healthcare, this episode provides a thoughtful, empathetic, and practical perspective on the intersection of language, opportunity, and global workforce development. Tune in to hear how proficiency assessments are not just regulatory hurdles but critical enablers of a resilient and skilled global health workforce.

In a recent episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at CGFNS International Inc., welcomed Dr. Pam Cipriano, President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), to discuss the transformative impact of nursing on global health. With over 45 years of nursing experience, Dr. Cipriano shared her journey from a bedside nurse to a global leader, highlighting the crucial role of ICN in advocating for the world’s 28 million nurses.

Dr. Cipriano outlined ICN’s dual mission: elevating the nursing profession and addressing global health challenges through policy, leadership development, and disaster response. She emphasized the importance of workforce investment, a theme central to ICN’s recent advocacy at the UN General Assembly. Discussions included global issues like antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and the Pact for the Future, a UN initiative to tackle global crises collaboratively.

A significant portion of the conversation focused on nursing education and workforce development. Dr. Cipriano highlighted the shift toward competency-based education and the growing role of advanced practice nurses in addressing healthcare gaps, particularly in primary care. She also emphasized the importance of attracting diverse talent to the nursing profession, including men and second-career professionals.

Dr. Cipriano’s inspiring message underscored the indispensable role of nurses in delivering health for all, urging governments, health systems, and organizations to invest in nursing as a cornerstone of sustainable healthcare systems. Her closing words resonated deeply: “We cannot afford to operate our health systems without nurses. We would collapse.”

Tune in to the full episode at cgfns.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast platform to hear this inspiring discussion.

In a groundbreaking move, CGFNS International has launched the first-ever global specialty credential for rehabilitation nurses, the Certified Global Nurse Rehabilitation (CGNR) exam. This credential marks a pivotal step toward addressing the critical need for globally standardized competencies in rehabilitation care. The development of this certification was a multi-year effort, uniting rehabilitation specialists from diverse regions to establish the foundational skills and competencies required for a global standard in rehabilitation nursing.

In this episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims is joined by key contributors to this initiative: Vanessa Gurie, Prinola Gurie, and Julia To Dutka. Vanessa and Prinola, both seasoned physiotherapists with extensive careers in rehabilitation and occupational health, bring invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the field. Julia, Chief of the Global Health Workforce Development Institute at CGFNS, has been instrumental in convening experts worldwide to develop this credential.

The conversation explores the pressing global need for rehabilitation professionals, the barriers to workforce mobility, and the immense potential of global certifications to create standardized pathways for health workers. Challenges such as regulatory barriers, workforce shortages, and evolving care models are addressed alongside the opportunities provided by digital innovations and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Julia emphasizes the importance of identifying essential competencies that ensure patient safety across diverse healthcare settings, while Vanessa and Prinola highlight the transformative impact of such credentials on career mobility and healthcare delivery. The episode celebrates the collaborative spirit and foresight driving this initiative and underscores its potential to elevate the global standard of rehabilitation care.

With plans to expand credential offerings for health workers in 2025, this initiative is poised to make a significant impact on global health systems. Stay tuned for more insights into the future of workforce development in healthcare.

On this special bonus episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing Officer & Host at CGFNS International, Inc., sits down with Dr. Olivia Wei Li, RN, MSN, EdD, an International Nursing Educator and Consultant whose remarkable career spans continents and decades. With over 27 years of experience, Dr. Li shares her inspiring journey from China to the United Kingdom, Canada, and finally the United States, where she now thrives as a nurse educator and mentor to aspiring health professionals.

This bonus episode, titled Health Career Journeys, shines a spotlight on the personal and professional pathways of health workers worldwide, offering an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs they face along the way. As part of an ongoing series, future bonus episodes will feature similarly inspiring profiles, showcasing stories of resilience, ambition, and global impact from health professionals who are shaping the future of healthcare.

Olivia’s story begins in her kindergarten classroom, where a childhood dream of being a "guardian angel" planted the seeds of her career in healthcare. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued nursing at China Medical University, building a strong foundation in knowledge and skills. However, witnessing human suffering as an ICU nurse inspired her to further her education, leading her to the University of Wales in the UK for a master’s degree in nursing.

The transition to a new culture and language was challenging. Olivia recalls learning English one sentence at a time, a process that demanded vulnerability and perseverance. Her time in the UK not only enhanced her critical thinking and research skills but also broadened her perspective on global nursing.

After completing her master’s, Olivia faced a 12-year wait to immigrate to the U.S. due to hiring freezes and visa limitations. Despite the delay, her determination never faltered. When the opportunity arose, she moved to California and began her career as a nursing educator.

Now based in Hawaii, Dr. Li empowers the next generation of nurses through teaching, mentorship, and entrepreneurial initiatives supporting internationally educated nurses. Her dedication to helping others achieve their goals reflects her lifelong commitment to making a difference locally and globally.

Dr. Li’s advice to aspiring nurses and health workers is profound: dream big, stay determined, and take actionable steps toward your goals. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, education, and the boundless opportunities available to those willing to embrace career mobility.

To hear Dr. Li’s full story and gain insights into her extraordinary journey, tune in to this inspiring bonus episode of Care Anywhere.

In the latest episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims delves into the critical issue of credential fraud with CGFNS experts Emily Tse and Jason Wessel. Credential fraud, defined as intentional deception to falsely claim qualifications, poses a significant threat to healthcare systems and patient safety. The discussion highlights the motivations behind fraud, including career advancement shortcuts and the desire to bypass proper training, emphasizing the downstream impact on patient care and trust in the global health workforce.

Emily and Jason share insights into the challenges of fraud detection and prevention. They emphasize the importance of understanding legitimate credentials, verifying primary sources, and leveraging tools like CGFNS's Credential Transfer Portal to ensure data integrity. Diploma mills and accreditation mills also emerge as growing concerns, creating additional layers of fraud and confusion. The guests stress the need for vigilance and caution when evaluating institutions and credentials, noting the potential legal and reputational risks associated with fraudulent documents.

The role of technology in fraud prevention is a key focus. While digitization has streamlined credential access, it has also introduced new opportunities for falsification. Emily highlights how CGFNS employs secure portals and rigorous verification processes to combat fraud, while Jason underscores the need for continuous diligence as fraudulent methods evolve.

Lea concludes by emphasizing that credential fraud has a direct impact on patient safety, making vigilance in credential verification essential. Ensuring healthcare workers are properly trained and qualified safeguards not only the workforce but also the quality of care delivered to patients worldwide. This episode underscores the importance of rigorous standards, collaboration, and technology in building trust and integrity across the global healthcare system.

On the latest episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims sits down with Sinead Carbery, President of International Staffing Solutions, and Gillian Williams, MSN, BS, RN, Senior Director of Clinical Operations, both from AMN Healthcare. The episode delves into the complexities of global career mobility for healthcare professionals, with Sinead and Gillian sharing their personal experiences as internationally educated nurses who transitioned to the U.S. in search of opportunity.

Sinead, originally from Ireland, and Gillian, from Trinidad, describe the challenges they faced when moving their careers across borders. For Sinead, the journey was an adventure shaped by economic challenges in Ireland and the steep learning curve of adapting to new clinical practices in the U.S. Gillian’s migration was driven by a lack of career mobility in Trinidad, where advancement opportunities were rare. Both emphasized the importance of adaptability, self-care, and building support networks to thrive in a new healthcare system.

Now leaders in international recruitment, Sinead and Gillian are passionate about helping others navigate similar journeys. Sinead, a CGFNS Daisy Award honoree for Ethical Recruitment, shared how AMN Healthcare prioritizes transparency and fairness, ensuring clinicians are supported both professionally and personally. She highlighted that ethical recruitment goes beyond job placement, extending to helping healthcare workers and their families adjust to life in a new country.

Reflecting on the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, Sinead and Gillian noted the increasing importance of technology, such as telehealth and AI, and the need for a growth mindset among clinicians. They emphasized that global career mobility is often about more than economics—it’s about creating better opportunities for families and advancing professional aspirations.

Tune in to the full episode at cgfns.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast platform to hear this inspiring discussion.

In the latest episode of Care Anywhere, host Lea Sims sits down with Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), to discuss the state of the global nursing workforce. As a respected figure in global nursing, Howard shares insights from ICN’s recent findings, addressing a projected global shortage of 13 million nurses by 2030. This shortage, compounded by factors like the aging workforce, pandemic-driven burnout, and policy delays, underscores the urgent need for sustainable workforce solutions.

Howard highlights ICN's work on the Sustain and Retain and Recover to Rebuild initiatives, which emphasize workforce investment, better working conditions, and policy reforms aimed at retention and professional development. He discusses the “COVID effect”—the exacerbated burnout and early retirement many nurses face—and emphasizes how ICN's advocacy supports the creation of “decent work” conditions globally, essential for retention and future workforce growth.

Lea and Howard also explore ICN’s advocacy efforts to make nursing roles integral to universal health coverage and advanced practice. Howard underscores the economic value of investing in nursing, which benefits patient outcomes, public health, and broader economic growth. He calls for international collaboration to push governments towards sustainable healthcare workforce policies, reflecting on successes, such as the recent enactment of a Nursing Act in South Korea, which serves as a model of effective healthcare policy reform.

This episode sheds light on ICN's comprehensive strategy to elevate nursing worldwide and the critical steps needed to secure a resilient, skilled workforce capable of meeting future global health challenges.