Exploring the impact of a clinical extern program on readiness to practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic created an increased demand for healthcare professionals across all healthcare sectors globally. Attrition, retirement, delayed graduations, and sick leaves resulted in an inadequate supply of knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced nurses to care for hospitalized patients and help address hospital capacity pressures. In response to this health human resource crisis in Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health offered hospitals funding to support the employment of Clinical Externs (CEs), that is, students in nursing, respiratory therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy medicine, and paramedicine, hired to work as unregulated staff, alongside an inter-professional team.