As a Nurse, immigrating to Canada can be a very attractive opportunity, and there could be several reasons for that, one of which is getting employment. Every year, foreigners from nations across the world immigrate to Canada, a country with two official languages: English and French. Immigrating to Canada is becoming most popular, especially because of the high rates of accessible employment opportunities, of which the nursing profession has an advantage, as nurses are an important part of Canada’s healthcare system.
Whether you just recently concluded your nursing education or have been a practicing nurse with several years of experience in another country, immigrating to Canada can open up many opportunities for you as a nurse.
This article will guide you on immigrating to Canada as a Nurse.
Immigrating to work in Canada as a nurse can be a very attractive opportunity for various reasons. Some of these include:
High salary rate for Nurses in Canada: Although nursing salaries vary based on province and level of seniority, nursing jobs in Canada generally pay well.
Nurses are in demand in many provinces: Nurses are in demand in several provinces in Canada, including Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba.
Even though Canada has about 500,000 nurses, there is a nursing shortage. The shortage is due to the retirement and aging of nurses. With many career prospects, immigrating to Canada as a nurse is a fantastic opportunity.
As an internationally educated nurse, immigrating to Canada can be worthwhile when you understand your unique set of duties. Below are categories of nurses and their unique set of duties:
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- Registered Practical Nurse (RPN): The least education is required to become a licensed or registered practical nurse.
- Registered Nurse (RN): Most nurses, known as registered nurses (RN), often need a full Bachelor’s degree. They provide patient care, education, and support to patients and their families. They typically work in a permanent setting but may have the opportunity to rotate through different specialties and departments, gaining a wide breadth of experience.
- Nurse Practitioners (NP): The smallest category of nurses requiring the greatest schooling are nurse practitioners (NP). They are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge, and experience. They provide higher levels of care than registered nurses, diagnosing and treating health conditions, often having their own patients. They have the flexibility to work in different healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare services.
- Critical Care Nurse: Critical care nurses work in intensive care units, caring for patients with life-threatening illnesses and injuries. This role can involve traveling to provide specialized care in critical situations.
- Home Health Nurse: Home health nurses provide one-on-one care for patients in their homes. This could involve traveling to several patient homes within a single day, which can bring variety and travel into their daily work. Their work focuses on patients’ homes and treating various medical conditions.
Having identified your nursing category from the above, it is important to find out how you can get licensed to work as a nurse in Canada, which forms a major part of meeting the aim of this article.
How to Get Licensed to Work as a Nurse in Canada
The nursing profession is regulated in Canada, and to be licensed as a nurse to enable you to immigrate to work in Canada, following the steps below will guide you:
- Apply to the provincial nurses’ association for assessment: Contact the regulatory nursing body in the area you wish to work in to find out what steps you need to take to qualify for licensure. Most of these bodies will require you to take one or more licensing exams to demonstrate your competencies in the field of nursing. For instance, in Ontario, to become a licensed nurse, you must register with the College of Nurses, while in Quebec, as a prospective nurse, you must register with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ); since Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada.
- Take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX): To become a registered nurse in Canada, you must pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX). Each nursing regulatory body in Canada has its own eligibility requirements for members wishing to take the NCLEX, so contact the appropriate body in the area you wish to work in to find out what you need to do before applying to take the exam.
- Meet the criteria to be registered as a nurse in Canada: You must prove that you are fluent in spoken and written English or French languages, depending on the province you wish to apply to, bearing in mind that these are the official languages of Canada. You will be eligible to register for licensure in Canada in the jurisdiction where you completed your nursing education program, in the area where you had your Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or authorization to practice nursing under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and that you have good character and that you are suitable to practice. You may be required to submit a criminal record check to assess your character and suitability.
Conclusion
One beautiful thing about the nursing profession is that it can allow you to practice even as you immigrate from one country to another. So, if, as a nurse, you desire to immigrate to Canada from any other part of the world to pursue your career, you can still find fulfillment when you go through the process with the right knowledge. I believe this article served as a guide in your quest to know ‘HOW.’
