Best Province to Work as a Nurse in Canada

Canada is one of the world’s most advanced and developed countries in basically every sector, including healthcare. With numerous opportunities available in every province, it is a great place to work as a nurse.
However, some provinces may be better suited to nurses than others, depending on factors such as the availability of jobs, salary, and cost of living. This article will explore the best province to work as a nurse in Canada.

Why is Canada the Best Country for Nurses?

Immigrating to Canada as a nurse or healthcare professional is profitable. For one, nursing is one of Canada’s most prominent healthcare professions. The Canadian healthcare system is highly dependent on nurses as they help and aid other healthcare professionals in carrying out their duties effectively. So far, the total number of nurses working at various clinics, hospitals and caregiving homes across Canada is over 430,000, which technically is quite small compared to some of its North American neighbors like the United States of America.

The demand for registered nurses in Canada has been on the rise since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Famous provinces like Ontario and Quebec have been reportedly known to be critically understaffed in their nursing units. Common issues like caregivers for senior citizens and home and road accident victims have also caused the increased demand for nurses in Canada.

Nurses are also paid decent wages in Canada. An experienced nurse in Canada can earn up to $78,546 annually, while entry-level nurses can make up to $41,396 annually. All provinces in Canada pay their nurses and other healthcare professionals well. Medical students in Canada can also earn about $20 to $30 per hour by working professionally in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. 

Nurses in Canada enjoy decent salaries alongside various exciting career opportunities. Although the nursing profession seems incredibly exciting, it can also be challenging. Nurses put up with challenging jobs with long hours and can experience emotional difficulty when working with people with ill health or facing diseases or injuries.

Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about nursing in Canada, with data gathered according to the 2019 statistics from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA):

• The Canadian nursing population grew by 1.9%.
• The Nursing profession in Canada is a female-dominated profession, with 91% of regulated nurses being female. However, the number of male nurses is also growing steadily. 
• In 2019 there were 439,975 regulated nurses with active licenses. 
• On average, the nursing workforce is becoming younger. This is due to the retirement of most older nurses in the profession. 
• The hospital is by far the highest employer of nurses, with over 58% of nurses employed in Canadian hospitals.  

Canada is also easily ranked as one of the world’s highest-paying countries for nursing. Canada boasts a yearly average of over $70,000 for nurses in the country.

Best Province to Work as a Nurse in Canada

Nurses are in high demand worldwide, especially in the most developed countries, mainly due to the effects of the pandemic and an inadequate number of registered nurses. Provinces like Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick are considered the best provinces to work as a nurse in Canada.

Nova Scotia 

Nova Scotia is widely regarded as the number one province in Canada that pays nursing graduates more than the average Canadian salary. From both income and opportunities, postgraduate students are considered to find jobs related to their field of study easier, along with fair wages befitting their level of education in Nova Scotia. 

A bachelor’s degree holder in nursing stands a chance of earning a salary of $20.15-$55.47 per hour. When put together, this accumulates to $41,912-$115,377 per year in Nova Scotia, which is 4.5 Percent higher than the Canadian average. However, on average, postgraduate students and entry-level nurses are paid less than experienced nurses.

Nova Scotia favors nurses and ensures they have the best working conditions to carry out their duties effectively. Nurses also receive the best benefits and opportunities. This is because Nova Scotia has one of the highest age groups and aging populations compared to other provinces.

New Brunswick 

New Brunswick is one of Canada’s best provinces for nurses and other health workers. New Brunswick welcomes immigrants faster than most other provinces because of its slow and low immigration rate in previous years. The province needs more health workers, especially nurses.

Work schedules in Canada are quite conducive, as nurses in hospitals can work 4 shifts simultaneously and take well-earned breaks in between. Nurses at other healthcare facilities, like retirement homes, can work one shift with an eight-hour duration five times a week, which amounts to 40 to 42 hours per week.  

Nurses are paid up to $31.32-$52.21 per hour at hospitals in New Brunswick, which sums up to $67,204-$108,596 per year. Nursing graduates in New Brunswick are almost always guaranteed a job upon graduation.

Manitoba

Manitoba is one of Canada’s central cities and is in the market for skilled healthcare workers. As Manitoba and other Canadian provinces are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers, especially nurses, are in high demand. 

Manitoba province provides nurses with various benefits, including their health care plan. Besides the high-standard working environments in various Manitoba hospitals, nurses are treated very well in terms of pay, accommodation, and commute. 

Due to the population expansion in the province, the salary expectation for nurses has also been on the rise. Manitoba nurses are currently paid $30.58-$67.13 per hour at hospitals in Manitoba, which sums up to $63,606-$139,630 per year. 

Provinces like Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta also pay decent wages for nurses.

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How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse 

There are several ways for nurses to immigrate to Canada. Let’s look at a step-by-step guide on how to migrate to Canada as a nurse;

Step One: Evaluate your academic credentials

Your credentials will have to be assessed by the World Education Services(WES). The WES is an organization authorized by the Canadian government to carry out education checks and verification. This step is vital as it ensures that you meet the required standard for practicing as a nurse.

You’ll also proceed to get your nursing credentials recognized in Canada. This procedure is managed by the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) and would require you to open an online account with them. In short, the function of the NNAS is to convert your credentials to the standard used in North America, which also includes Canada. The NNAS assessment process costs CAD 650, the first compulsory step in securing your Nursing Registration in Canada and your Canadian Visa.

Step Two: Create a profile on the NNAS application page

After your NNAS assessment, the next stage is the NNAS application by creating a profile on the NNAS application page. In this category, you would be required to:

• Provide a minimum of two proof of identity documents. The documents could be your birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver’s license, international passport or any other authentic government-issued identification document. These proof of identity documents must be notarized, copies of original documents (dated, signed and stamped correctly) complete with your signature.

•  Proceed to submit your nursing education form. The form will accompany copies of your transcript documents, nursing program curriculum, and course syllabi. You would have to download the form from your online profile account, then sign and send it to the school where you got your nursing training. The form will then be completed by each school official and sent to NNAS directly from the school official either by mail or courier.

• Proceed to submit your nursing registration form. You would download, print and sign this form and then send it to all the nursing licensing authorities where you were licensed or registered outside Canada. It’s important to note that the NNAS will only accept your Nursing registration form if it is sent to them directly from your licensing authority. If you were issued a degree or a diploma that enabled you to work as a nurse in your country, ask the school that issued you the degree or diploma to send an official copy of it to the NNAS.

• You will submit your Nursing Practice/Employment Form. Sign and send this form to all the employers you have worked for in the past three to five years. The current year of your application represents your first year. It’s important to note that the NNAs would only accept your Nursing Practice/Employment Form if sent directly from your employer.

• You will submit your IELTS language testing result. It’s compulsory that you complete your language tests and have the results sent directly to the NNAS from your approved language testing agency. If your country’s first language or your nursing education instruction program was in either English or French, you might not have to complete language testing. 

Once your documents have been received by the NNAS. When you are submitting your application, submit and choose the provincial association and nursing groups you are applying to.

Step Three: Apply to the Nursing Medical board of your choosing

After the NNAS assessment, you would then proceed to apply to the nursing medical board in your chosen province or territory. The NNAS will then send the completed files to the provincial regulatory bodies to ascertain if you are eligible to work as a nurse in Canada.

Every province and territory will use the NNAS report to shortlist their number of applicants. The provinces use the NNAS to gather data on each applicant’s international nursing experience, skills and qualifications as stipulated by their respective nursing boards.  

Step Four: Choose an immigration program

After completing your nursing registration with the provincial regulatory bodies, the next step would be to find a suitable immigration program.

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Immigration Programs for Nurses in Canada 

there are several economic immigration programs at both federal and provincial levels, respectively. However, the three major immigration options available for immigrants looking to migrate to Canada as a nurse are:

1. Express Entry Stream 

You would need to meet the requirements to qualify for the express entry stream as a nurse under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. Nurses are often required to score about or above 67 out of 100 possible points. These points are based on factors like their education, age, work experience, and language proficiency. The IELTS score required for nurses to be eligible for the Canada express entry stream is at least 6.0 in each of the four language abilities.

2. Provincial Nominee Program

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are immigration programs that operate through a partnership between the provincial governments and the Canadian Federal Government. Each Canadian province operates its own PNP streams that lead to obtaining a Canadian PR. Some PNPs are open to individuals connected to the province by family or past experience studying or working there. While some other PNPs are available to candidates on the federal Express Entry pool. However, most PNPs are designed to address skill shortages in provinces.

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3. Quebec Skilled Worker

As a nurse, to be eligible for the Quebec Skilled Workers program, you would have to score at least 50 points on the Quebec selection grid. The Quebec Skilled Workers program doesn’t require you to have the minimum IELTS, Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), and Proof of funds for the immigration option. However, depending on your profile, you may need a specific IELTS score to qualify.  

The Benefit of Working as a Nurse in Canada 

Working as a nurse in Canada has certain benefits which include; let’s take a look at some of the benefits of working as a nurse in Canada:

• Canada is amongst the top-paying countries for nurses.
• The demand for registered nurses in Canada is high; hence they are easily employed. 
• Canadian provinces pay nurses a decent wage 
• Nurses have a suitable work-life balance in Canada 
• Nurses are not overworked as they work decent shifts befitting their status. 
• Nurses are afforded leave benefits
• Nurses are also given health benefits.
• Nurses, after retirement, are due to receive their pensions. 

Some provinces also offer other benefits for nurses; this can help you decide the best province to work as a nurse in Canada.

Ten Highest-Paying Jobs for Nurses in Canada 

There are many nursing jobs, but the top ten highest-paying nursing jobs in Canada are:

Some nursing jobs may pay higher or lower depending on the provinces. However, keep an eye out for the provinces that pay above the Canadian average, as they stand out as the best province to work as a nurse in Canada.  

Final Thoughts on The Best Province to Work as a Nurse in Canada 

Overall, Canada is a great country for nurses. The salaries are good and the opportunities for nurses are quite broad. However, there are some differences in the nursing profession in various provinces. These differences are mainly due to the availability of nurses and salaries, of course. So then, when looking for the best province to work as a nurse in Canada, be sure that the province you choose ticks all the boxes you consider important. 

Frequently Asked Questions On The Best Province to Work as a Nurse in Canada

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