It is perhaps no longer news that Canada is in significant need of nurses. Provinces like Ontario have announced as a pressing concern, that they currently have a shortage of professional nurses and that about 17,000 more will be needed to balance out their nurses to population ratio. Other provinces like New Brunswick have made plans to accommodate 320 additions of professional nurses every year and a 10-year program to recruit foreign-trained nurses into their system. Canada’s healthcare system is a great place to work and we will be giving you a guide on how to do this.
HOW EASY IS IT FOR NURSES TO COME TO CANADA?
To keep things quite candid, transitioning isn’t always that easy. Leaving your home country and everything you are used to, and adapting to a new system and work environment is an understandably challenging endeavor for anyone. For nurses especially, it may be particularly challenging to come to Canada and work directly with your foreign degree. This is because Canada needs to ensure that you meet certain set standards and have the required knowledge and skill set needed to carry out your roles. As a result of this, you will be required to undergo some additional training, certification, or take licensing examinations before you can begin work as a professional nurse. But before you cross that hurdle, it might interest you to know that there are roles you can take up while trying to get the right certifications.
WHERE Internationally-Educated NURSES (IENs) CAN WORK
Many employers in Canada find the difficulties of successful integration of IENs into the Canadian healthcare system quite challenging. As a foreign-trained nurse who has just moved to Canada, it is important to gain some work experience and also earn a living while trying to get into the system. It is advisable not to veer off entirely from your profession while doing this. Consequently, most nurses begin with allied nursing jobs which are essentially a step down from being a professional nurse. Here are some of the related jobs that may be of help to you while you work towards a successful integration:
PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER
In most provinces in Canada, what it takes to become a personal support worker is a high school degree. Earning an average of $14 per hour, foreign-trained nurses can garner work experience caring for people and their families during a period of illness or recovery at home. They may also be required to provide services such as bedside assistance, meal planning, general grooming, and some aspects of housekeeping.
NURSING AID
As a nursing aid, you can work in nursing homes, hospices, home care, and provision of assisted living. The minimum requirement for these positions is a high school degree as well, and the salary can get as much as $16 per hour.
BLOOD DONOR CLINICAL ASSISTANT
Blood donor clinical assistants ensure that potential donors meet the criteria and are safe during the collection of blood. The job description also requires you to help ensure donor identification as well as keep clinical records. The average wage for this job role is about $17 per hour.
Steps to Canadian Registration as an Internationally-educated Nurse (IEN)
As stated earlier, there are steps you will have to go through to enable you to practice as a registered nurse in Canada. The basic steps are as follows:
- Set up an account with National Nursing Assessment Service
This service helps foreign-educated nurses with their documentation. You will be required to submit a list of required documents after accessing this portal.
- Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) review
Your documents are passed on to the CGFNS, where they are reviewed to ensure they meet the required standards
- Provincial Regulatory body assessment
The CGFNS forwards your verified credentials to the province you have indicated interest to practice in.
- Sit for the NCLEX-RN
After passing through the above stages, the next step is to make arrangements and payments to sit for the professional exams. Once you are successful in the exams, you are on your way to practice as a registered nurse.
Bridge to Canada Programs
Canadian universities and colleges in all provinces offer bridging programs for internationally educated nurses. Whether you are looking to practice or to follow an academic pathway, these bridge to Canada programs help nurses gain the knowledge and skills that meet best practices in Canada. In these programs, nurses learn:
- Professional communication skills in health
- Nursing clinical practices
- Nursing skills in mental, child and family health.
- Health alterations and therapeutics.
Here are some of the programs to consider:
- Registered Practical nurses pathway to Bachelors of Science in Nursing program
- Registered practical nursing diploma
