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Diana Hechanova
Internationally Educated Nurse
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“It’s really great. I did not expect everything to line up into place. I love my unit now. My manager was very kind to give me an opportunity.
I know the journey is not easy but… If I can do it, you can do it too.”
Meant to be
With Diana, Internationally Educated Nurse
Looking back now, Diana Hechanova views each unexpected detour of her journey back to nursing not as setbacks, but as redirects that lead her to where she was meant to be.
Originally from the Philippines, Diana came to Manitoba in 2016 with her husband, hoping to build a better future for their growing family. What started as a leap of faith has since grown into something even bigger. Today, not only has Diana built a life here, but her family, parents, and siblings have made Manitoba home too.
Like many internationally educated nurses (IENs), Diana understood the potential financial barriers and uncertainty about how to get back into practice.
“I did not start the pathway to licensure immediately. There are many steps and I knew it could be challenging,” she said.
To support herself and her family, Diana took on a series of jobs outside of patient care for many years, but nursing never stopped calling her back.
The right time presented itself when she learned about Manitoba’s International Educated Nurse Program.
The Manitoba Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) Program supports nurses who were educated outside of Canada and are living in Manitoba. The program provides personalized guidance and access to supports that help participants understand nursing licensure requirements, plan next steps, and move through the process.
“That’s when my nursing journey restarted. At first, I was not convinced because everything is very expensive,” said Diana. “But I was connected with a nurse employment navigator, Sonya from the Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office who helped me every step of the way and offered guidance on eligibility requirements to access financial supports.”
“All of these pieces coming together felt like a sign. I thought, ‘Okay, this is what the Lord wants me to do’. I had a lot of answers saying yes, you are on the right track.”
Diana committed fully, enrolling in the one-year bridging program, completing her coursework and practicum, working toward her way back to nursing.
As she neared completion, Diana received additional support from Sonya and the HCRRO team including practical tools like resume optimization, interview preparation, along with navigating employment opportunities and the regulated need for her to complete 250 supervised practice hours. For her, those supports helped give her the confidence she needed.
As she began to apply for nursing positions across Winnipeg, ready to begin her next chapter, the one place she hesitated to apply to was Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (HSC).
“I avoided HSC because it sounded intimidating,” she said. “You hear stories that it’s busy and intense.”
But Diana decided to go for and when she applied, HSC called her back within three days.
Today, Diana works on a sub-acute adult medicine unit at HSC and says it has turned out to be the perfect fit.
“It’s really great. I did not expect everything to line up into place. I love my unit now. My manager was very kind to give me an opportunity,” Diana shared.
What Diana found was kindness and support, from her manager, her colleagues, and the team around her helping her grow and succeed. As she nears the completion of her final supervised practice hours, Diana is excited to receive her full nursing license and plans to stay on her unit.
“When things didn’t work out the way I wanted, it was because I was meant to be somewhere else.”
Now, Diana is helping others find their way too. She hopes to mentor other internationally educated nurses as they navigate their own journeys. She’s been encouraging her friends to take the same leap she made. One of them is even joining her unit, making it feel even more like home.
Diana’s message to other IENs facing the same doubts she once had is simple:
“I know the journey is not easy but… If I can do it, you can do it too.”
Ready to start your own nursing journey in Manitoba?
Learn more about the support available for internationally educated nurses and take the next step towards returning to practice.