nursing in canada

Hi lisamct.
In Ontario you do not have to have nursing to work in a group home. In other words your qualification would not be recognized but you can be hired in one of the group homes in Ontario becaus of your experience. I have worked in group home for six years now. I am not a nurse yet but I graduated from college with DSW (Devlomental Services Worker). This allows me to work in group home with people with special needs. It is a two year program that teaches us how to handle working with behaviours, famiilies, medical needs (medication dispensing). I am not sure what your pay rate is in Scotland but here I get apporx 16.00 dollars an hour. This is extremely low compared to the nurses working in an instution which would make between 18-25 dollars an hour.
If you were to come to Ontario and apply for a job in group home you would make the same as me and start at the bottom of the scale which starts at 13-14 dollars an hours. Most nurses choose not to work in group home here because it is not worthe the pay cut.