Live and Work in Canada as a Nurse: Are you looking to relocate to a new country to find nursing job opportunities, then Canada is just a perfect option for you.
Nursing in Canada is a noble, well-paid career. Moreover, there are over 300,000 registered nurses who work in a variety of locations from hospitals to clinics to long-term care homes. But the officials anticipate that there will be 91,000 job opportunities for registered nurses in the next 10 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed Canada, and the rest of the world, how important nurses are. As the country recovers from the impact of the pandemic, the need for nurses in Canada has risen. Although nursing schools receive many applications, it may not be enough to fill the nursing shortage. However, in order to tackle this crisis, the Canadian government encourages nurses from all over the world to go live and work in Canada.
Thankfully, due to a relatively robust health care system, Canada is an attractive destination for international candidates seeking to grow their nursing careers in Canada. Nurses who are most-highly sought-after include those with specialist skills in emergency departments or operating rooms and those who wish to work in remote or isolated indigenous communities.
However, immigration procedures vary from one province or territory to another. That is to say, you should have a destination or two in mind as you complete your research.
Moreover, there are four stand-out regions in Canada where registered nurses should seriously consider immigrating to. Making a big decision like this is never easy; that’s why we’ve set you up with the four best places to live and work in Canada as a registered nurse.
Best Provinces in Canada to Live and Work in Canada as a Nurse
Furthermore, it is no doubt that every province in Canada offers very attractive salaries to healthcare workers when compared to other countries. However, there are provinces you can start applying for nursing jobs where nurses are in demand:
1. Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia otherwise known as the bluenoser province is recognized as the number one province in Canada for nursing graduates. The nurses in Nova Scotia are paid higher than the average salary of nurses in the country. This Canadian province provides a lot of nursing opportunities to both nursing graduates and qualified foreign nurses. Whether you’re a nursing graduate in need of experience or a seasoned health worker, Nova Scotia will recruit you for your registered nursing skills.
Nurses in Nova Scotia earn between $20.15-$55.47/hour, or $41,912-$115,377/year. The average salary is $38,42 per hour, but it’s always dependent on your expectations and responsibilities. Moreover, Nova Scotia is also a great place to develop your nursing career. The province is home to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing. The college oversees the practice of over 15,000 nurses in the province, ensuring that the community can trust the quality of the nurses working with people.
2. Ontario
While there are plenty of job opportunities to work as a nurse in the big, bustling city. There are also a lot of nursing jobs in the surrounding areas. However, if you prefer a more quiet lifestyle, you can choose to live outside the city and benefit from The Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot, which allows skilled workers like nurses to move more efficiently to rural areas in Ontario.
Nurses earn between $32.21-$46.11/hour, or $66,996-$95,908/year. Moreover, much like in Nova Scotia, Ontario has its organization the College of Nurse of Ontario, which oversees the practice and regulation of all nurses in the province to ensure that a high standard of care is maintained. In addition, the government funds several initiatives to ensure nurses are well-paid and that at least 70 percent of the nursing workforce occupies full-time employment.
3. New Brunswick
As a territory that is devoted to taking care of its medical services workers, New Brunswick is right among the first spots on the list that inclines toward its attendants in Canada.
The working conditions here are part of the reasons being a nurse is better. Attracting, supporting, and retaining these important healthcare workers is a top concern for the province of New Brunswick. They also welcome foreigners faster than most other provinces and nurses are not exempted.
Moreover, in New Brunswick, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and personal support workers are in high demand, with job possibilities available in either official language (English or French). The province is also collaborating with several private organizations and hospitals to fill nursing job openings. Nurses earn between $31.32-$52.21/hour, or $67,204-$108,596/year.
4. Manitoba
Manitoba is a central province in Canada and is one of the top provinces where nurses are in high demand. Search for nursing jobs in Manitoba and find more than 1,000 open opportunities. Nurses in Manitoba earn between $30.58-$67.13/hour, or $63,606-$139,630/year.
Moreover, the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) is Manitoba’s largest healthcare union, representing all licensed nursing professionals. Over 95 percent of all unionized nurses in the province are members of The Manitoba Nurses Union. MNU is not a governing entity but assists nurses working in Manitoba to ensure fair treatment.
How to Live and Work in Canada as a Nurse
Knowing the best places to live and work in Canada as a nurse can help you decide on which province you would want to move to. Moreover, if you have a permanent job offer in a particular province that is in high demand for nurses. Then you could be eligible for a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).
You can either apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry route. Or you can apply directly for a nomination from one of the 11 provinces that make use of the PNP immigration route.
Moreover, how health sectors run can vary from province to province. Therefore it’s no surprise that there will be differences across countries. The duties, responsibilities, and pay might not be what you’re used to in your home country. However, here are a few things you should know:
Your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code will depend on what your duties and responsibilities are. Canada uses this system to classify occupations in the country’s labor market. For example, all registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses fall under NOC 3012.
You will have to apply to National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) if your nursing qualification is internationally recognized, and you would like to work as a registered nurse in Canada.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, healthcare workers are very important to Canada as a country. Moreover, Canada was rated the best country to work as a nurse in 2021, specifically amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Canada is very much aware of the important roles of healthcare workers, and nurses in a particular play. It is, therefore, focused on the needs of nurses as a priority in the country. Therefore, doing all that is necessary. Including going the extra mile to make sure every healthcare worker benefits from working for the government.
Furthermore, as an ongoing event, Canada keeps increasing the wages of low-level income workers and also makes it a point of importance to reward nurses with amazing benefits. These are some of the reasons Canada is the ideal destination to immigrate as a nurse.