Nursing Jobs in Canada: Ultimate guide

Nursing jobs in Canada: Having a bachelor’s degree in nursing could open great doors to opportunities, including immigrating to Canada and working as a nurse.

Year by year, the impact of nurses cannot be overemphasized. The world has witnessed a pandemic, and still, these professionals are always needed.

The demand for nurses doesn’t only apply to Canada but every other country In the world. But countries like Australia, UAE and UK have an increased demand for nurses. As we dive into the 2020s, there has been an extra demand for nurses in Canada.

If you have been looking to get nursing jobs in Canada or want to know more about nursing jobs in Canada, this is the right article for you.

If you are ready to go on a nursing career journey, taking other nursing courses and getting licenses in the field is always advisable to better set you apart from the crowd.

This doesn’t mean someone with a bachelor’s degree doesn’t tend to be recruited. Every nurse has a space they will fill as far as professionalism is there.

However, to ensure you are the right person for an open position, you must be west of these requirements.

  • You must apply for a license and have your credentials from abroad examined.
  • Customs differ from one province or area to another. This implies that you ought to have a target or destination in mind when you’ve finished your research.

SEE ALSO: Top 35 Nursing Colleges in Canada for International Students

Nursing jobs in Canada: why should you practice nursing in Canada

You might have your reasons for wanting nursing jobs in Canada. Listed are other likeable reasons that would make anyone pursue practising nursing in Canada.

  • Canada has vast opportunities for professional growth and education.
  • Canada provides competitive compensation for nursing positions for a 36–40 hour work week.
  • There is a yearly increment pay rise, and the acute care compensation for fresh graduates in Ontario is almost $59,000CAD. It is advisable to thoroughly investigate the city and province you reside in because the pay differs depending on your region.
  • There is Health insurance. This is another perk that typically begins after three months of residing in the nation. If you decide to work in the private sector, you can also obtain additional health benefits and bonuses through your employer.

What it takes to become a nurse in Canada

You must register with an online service known as the NNAS (National Nursing Assessment Service) for Canada and the US to apply for nursing positions in Canada. It is the initial phase of getting your license. You can finish this before going to Canada.

A list of any nursing organizations with which you are currently or have previously been registered is required when registering with the NNAS. You must also provide information about your demographics, education, and professional experience over the previous five years on the online form.

If you attended school outside of Canada and are seeking employment in one of the following nursing positions outside of Quebec and the Territories, you must apply to the NNAS:

There are expenses associated with becoming a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered psychiatric nurse (RPN). The NNAS requires a USD 765 registration fee (as of 2020).

Along with filling out the NNAS paperwork, you must also mail copies of your notarized birth certificate and passport and have the proper people from your college, previous employers, and registered nursing organizations do the same.

You may find online tutorials on completing these forms, and you have a year from the date you enrolled with NNAS to return all documents.

The NNAS should accept you as soon as all the paperwork is submitted. However, it must be understood that this can take a full year. Once approved, you’ll be allowed to apply for a license in the province where you’re travelling in Canada.

The NNAS will initially assess your credentials by comparing them to similar Canadian criteria. The online manual for the NNAS can be used to learn more.

If there is no proof that you speak the language fluently, you will need to take an additional English exam in addition to the NNAS in each province of Canada or a French exam if you want to work in Quebec. The NCLEX is the exam that would be used to gauge your level of proficiency in English.

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which you must pass, will determine if you are eligible to begin working as a nurse. To work as a nurse in Canada, as a foreign worker, every nurse who received their education in North America must pass this exam.

The exam is computer-based and has several multiple-choice questions. Many online tutoring services, including UWorld, can be used to prepare it. You can retake the exam if you fail the first time. Once you pass the NCLEX, it is recognized across North America. Contacting the proper regulatory agency in your province or territory will help you learn more.

READ ALSO: Social Work Jobs in Canada

What should you do while you wait for your nursing license in Canada?

A nurse with international experience looking for work in Canada should start developing their networks as soon as they arrive.

Before submitting an application for administrative jobs in the healthcare sector on LinkedIn and Indeed, you should update your resume.

Talking to nurses and doctors with different specialities and backgrounds will help you figure out your professional route once you acquire your license.

Nursing Jobs in Canada

 

What to expect from nursing positions in Canada

Like many other health systems throughout the world, Canada’s health system is currently experiencing problems with a lack of public services, a labour shortage, and higher wait times for operations.

In a public hospital, more Registered Practice Nurses (RPN) are commonly employed as cost-effective staffing options; thus, as a Registered Nurse (RN), you will be caring for more complex patients.

As the need for nurses increases, nurses can apply for either temporary or permanent residency in Canada.

Discover the advantages of the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) immigration program if you are a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse seeking permanent residence in Canada.

Nurses with international credentials may also apply for temporary residency in Canada if they receive a legitimate employment offer and subsequent work visa.

Permanent residency alternatives may eventually become available through alternative immigration systems after working in Canada temporarily.

The Quebec Option for Permanent Residency

Nursing jobs in Canada: Due to the vital need for nurses, the province of Quebec has implemented an immigration policy.
Quebec wants to attract the top international nursing experts to its cities and towns because of its high salary, plentiful employment opportunities, and the fast-growing healthcare system.

Qualified nurses are benefited from the way that the QSW program, the province’s most well-liked scheme for permanent residency, is set up.

Internationally educated nurses can apply for permanent residency in Canada through the QSW program without needing an employment offer.

The QSW program uses a points-based selection method, with points for age, education, training specialization, work experience, language proficiency, etc.

Without security or health concerns, a candidate who receives enough points to pass would typically be eligible for a Quebec Selection Certificate, resulting in a visa for permanent residence in Canada.

French language proficiency receives a substantial number of points in the QSW selection criterion. However, only some nurses can satisfy the program’s requirements without receiving credit for French language proficiency.
This is because nurses can receive excellent marks for their schooling and very high marks for the “field of training” selection element.

Please click here for additional information on the QSW program and its criteria for selection.

Temporary Residency: The Option of a Work Permit

Nursing positions are more accessible than ever in the nation, despite the Canadian Nurses Association’s (CNA) forecast that the nursing shortage will persist in the future.

 

Nurses with training abroad may seek to work temporarily in Canada. If the candidate receives a legitimate job offer and a work permit, they may be granted temporary residency if they are foreign-trained nurses.

An applicant with a nursing degree from outside Canada must have their academic credentials evaluated to start this process.
Since educational credentials can be evaluated from inside and outside of Canada, candidates can choose to stay in their home country while their credentials are being assessed.

Candidates must register as nurses in Canada after evaluating their educational backgrounds. After completing this, a candidate can start the procedure for getting a job offer and work permit in Canada.
Some provinces have put in place programs that help connect internationally educated nurses to work possibilities in healthcare to streamline the process of getting a job offer.

A candidate seeking permanent status may then investigate their immigration prospects through programs like the Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee programs after working in Canada temporarily.

Nursing jobs in Canada: Final Words

Although Canada faces the challenges above, there are still plenty of job prospects in the commercial sector and opportunities for professional growth in the public sector.

Are you looking for nursing jobs in Canada because you’re prepared to start your nursing career there and are likely doing so because of the country’s world-class healthcare system? Then you are right.

Regarding foreigners wishing to pursue their profession in another nation, Canada is a popular destination.
In Canada, there is a great demand for nurses with experience in operating rooms or emergency rooms and those who want to work in isolated or indigenous communities. You are free to take a chance. Canada has several nursing positions available.

Nursing Jobs in Canada: FAQs

Are my employment rights safeguarded in Canada as a nurse?

In Canada, nurses have the option of joining either national or provincial unions. By securing reasonable working hours and salaries, nurse unions defend the rights of their members.

To ensure potential employers are appropriately treating you, union members can ask representatives to interpret job contracts, ask for legal assistance, and help negotiate.

Should I work as a nurse in the public or private sector in Canada?

Working in Canadian society’s commercial and public sectors has perks and downsides. Less complicated medical histories, but a smaller variety of patients and circumstances, will result from working privately.

Although the public sector employs a wide range of individuals, it also needs you to deal with complicated medical histories.

To demonstrate these advantages, we have put together an accessible table showing the advantages and disadvantages of working as a nurse in the private sector.

What is the minimum age to practice nursing in Canada?

In Canada, there is no set minimum or maximum age. In actuality, some nurses are still working in their 60s and 70s.

SEE ALSO: 25 Best Job Sites in Canada for 2022

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