Info needed on Vancouver

Hi,
I'm in similar position in that thinking of migrating to Vnacouver as RN but I'm probably a little ahead in the researcing of it all. A good place to start for info on nursing in BC, the health authority structuring etc is;

http://www.healthmatchbc.org/

They have all the websites for the 6 possible employers. The fraser health site (I think) has a comparison of a band 5 in UK to BC salary so would be good place to start. One good thing about moving there as a nurse is that they take the number of years experience in this country and have it count to where your salary would be once working there.
The healthmatch site is who you would have to go (again i think) through once registration and job offer sorted and they act as go between for immigration stuff (free of charge to the individual nurse).

Some of the general forums eg brits2Vancouver, british expats -canada sub group all have good info on immigration routes/ timespans and there are a few nurses there who have either done the move or in process that can offer some good info.

I just met up with 4 of the BC health authorities at RCN Congress in Harrogate. They were doing a recruitment drive (my hubby, psych nurse, somehow ended up having an interview and was offered a job!!) and it was really good from an information point if view.

Any way hope this has been of some help
Kabel

hey. i'm from Vancouver B.C...And yES..We need NURSES... i don't have much info on RN's ..on the wages... cause i'm doing my LPN..but yea its a good place.. ..Ohhh and there is a city in B.C. ..called Kamloops. They need nurses really bad. and if u stay there for 3 years they will pay u extra 5 dollars/hour.. and after your 3 years are completed , they will pay all your loans...on house/car..watever... they will clear everything for you....I know it sounds 2 good to be true.. bUT YEA IT IS TRUE>>>

Hi there,

I'm an RN, trained and currently practicing in Vancouver.

For wages - BCNU.org > go to contracts then provincial contracts then wage grid. 27-35$ / hr depending on experience

as for good and bad...well it really depends on the experience you have. so hard to say just good or bad. every ward is very different, let alone diff hospitals, municipalities, etc. St. Paul's and Vancouver General are the major hospitals in Vancouver and both are generally fairly forward thinking. PM me and i can answer you more specifically.

it's a beautiful city, especially in the summer. lots of outdoor activities nearby. very multicultural.

Do you have a link for this? I live in Kelowna, which falls under Interior Health like Kamloops and I've never heard of this. I looked on Interior Health's website and couldn't see anything to this nature.

Paying off a car and mortgage after 3 years of service? Sounds like it would be too good to be true. My in laws live in Kamloops and they've never heard of it either.

i'm guessing they get the extra benefits through an agency. i sometimes work through an agency and they have some really nice perks depending on which one you're with and how long you commit. i believe the ministry of health has a program that helps pay your BC student loan if you work in an underserviced area. kamloops isn't an underserviced area. 1/3 of your BC student loan each year for 3 years.

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentaid...orgiveness.htm
http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentaid...pplication.pdf
http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/...nitiative.html

i am elegible to write the psychiatric registration nursing examination. any help on how to pass. i am Uk trained.

hi im actually from the phils and soon il be working in australia as a nurse..though to tell u honestly im really thinking of moving to canada after i finish training and experience in sydney..anyway, is there anyone out there who could inform me about the steps in applying to canada as a nurse? i guess its easier to go to canada from australia than from the phils..i know it'll take a awhile before i can move to canada..australia will be my stepping stone in a way..im just looking at my long-term plan here anyway hope anyone could help

I have worked for Interior Health for years, and this info is bogus. Interior Health and the other health authorities do provide some financial assistance for RN's to help with moving expenses.
Wages are determined by the BCNU (nursing union) collective agreement, this is Province wide and past experience in another country does count.
You need to get your license before being allowed to work, this is done through the CRNBC. As a native English speaker, you should not encounter to many problems getting a temporary license after which you can write your exams once you get here.
Vancouver is a beautiful city, I prefer the sunny Okanagan, but it all depends on what you are looking for.
Good luck, please come we need nurses!

Marijke:hatparty:

Some basic non-nursing advice on the city of Vancouver:

I am a Canadian citizen born in Ontario and raised all over the US (east coast, south, midwest, etc.) Depending on the lifestyle you lead, Vancouver can be a bit of a disappointment.

I moved here most recently from a city just outside New York. I am by no means a "big city person," nor am I preferential to the country. The basic facts that I've learned about Vancouver in the 6 months I've lived here (through 3 seasons) are:

1. It is almost always overcast. This may not be a problem for you as I thought it was not for me, howeer upon getting here I became extremely depressed and anxious. Today, in the middle of June, it's sunny and about 20 degrees C. However it was overcast for 5 days straight before this.

2. The city is not multi-cultural. The main cultures here are European/Caucasian and Asian cultures. There is a small percentage of Middle Eastern population and Native/Aboriginal peoples and an extremely small amount of African/Carribean descent (compared to other US/European cities.) This is also by no means a bad thing, it's just not as diverse as some say.

3. Vancouver is not a "cosmopolitan" city. Again, if you prefer a laid back, earthy vibe, not a problem. However, the city lacks great dining, social scene, and general "high-end"ness. It's a chill out place where fashion, prestige, and social advancement are not the main values.

4. It doesn't look like it does in pictures. The mountains are gorgeous as are some of the city buildings however most of the buildings are 60's/70's era grey concrete. There are also a considerable amount of, for lack of a better word, crazy homeless people, especially downtown and in the West End. Infact you will probably find that a lot of people here are slightly "off." Connected with the Earth, yes. Connected with reality, not so much.

All in all I am just giving facts about the reality of Vancouver. Do some considerable research on forums and such before coming here. The tourist/city websites don't tell of the the people.

Thanks and Good Luck!