Are there still jobs for nurses in Canada?

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Hey I'm new to this and not starting school until Sept '04 and hope to get a BSN. What I am wondering is if Canada is still in need of nurses because you sure don't hear about it anymore. Where you guys work, are they looking?

Also, it scares me to come to the Canadian discussion forums and see so many posts regarding leaving Canada for the US. I don't have a problem with that, in fact if I was younger and there was a better option there I would go in a flash, but at this point in my life I have no intention of giving up my house and moving anywhere really, except maybe BC one day. It just makes me wonder if the opportunities in Canada are very good and if they exist at all.

Thank you very much!

Registered Psychiatric Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse?

Psych. Nurses work acute care and in LTC in Alberta.

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It is always hard to predict the future need for nurses but remember the need for nurses is cyclical, there have been shortages in the past followed by oversupply, that said with the average age of RN's in Ontario being 46 or so new grads wont have to wait long to fill those shoes. There should be a shortage for awhile. Those of you who have just graduated take anything you can get to get some experience including casual and or LTC. Once you have some experience it will be easier.

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I'm from quebec and here, you're hired before you finish school ! And we have very good positions too ! When are you moving ?

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I'm in southern Manitoba, just left the Toronto area.

I am very interested in the things I can do to make myself more marketable, but I am still in the early stages of figuring this out and won't even start school until Sept.

Is there anywhere I might be able to see a list of all the different specialties? I certainly haven't decided that yet.

Also, in your opinion,(or any other member's opinion & experience) does having a BA, (psych) help at all or do most nurses have other degrees? Seems that there are a lot of people who enter nursing at a later age, (like me).

Thank you! I love this site!

I am in Regina, and there are certainly RN positions here, especially in the Critical Care areas. I was supposed to be working ICU, but an injury has prevented that, so I will be starting a new telephone triage position. I very much believe that there will still be many available CC positions in the future.

I have not experienced or heard of any advantage to having other degrees. IMHO, nursing is nursing, and they kind of take that at face value.

I used to travel nurse in the States, and I am so happy to be home! I gained very varied experience, in multiple specialties, and that seemed to make me "marketable". Or at least, that's what I was told. I guess, in your position, I would try to get as much exposure as was possible.

Good luck!

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Mikaela, welcome to the board:) I don't personally know any RNs who are unable to find work. It isn't always in the specialty they want and it is often part time or casual until a full time position comes up, but all the nurses I know have jobs if they want to work and are flexible. Your chances of finding work go down if you are unwilling or unable to work in another area. I don't know the situation for RPNs, but I am sure you will be able to find a job. It is more limited than for RNs, but with the aging population I can't imagine you being unable to find a ltc position, even if you couldn't find a hospital job.

Thanks you fergus & fiona for your replies. I'll be starting my 2-yr program soon and quite excited about what this "change" will create in me. I have no problem working in LTC. I also read from other posts that many Canadian educated/trained nurses are leaving for the US. US is also my option, however, if I find my comforts here, I prefer to stay.

My next question is: do you know what level (equivalent) of nursing do registered practical nurses from Canada have in the US? Are they treated as LPNs, ADNs, or RNs? Just in case things won't work out for me here in Canada... :) Thanks!

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Thanks you fergus & fiona for your replies. I'll be starting my 2-yr program soon and quite excited about what this "change" will create in me. I have no problem working in LTC. I also read from other posts that many Canadian educated/trained nurses are leaving for the US. US is also my option, however, if I find my comforts here, I prefer to stay.

My next question is: do you know what level (equivalent) of nursing do registered practical nurses from Canada have in the US? Are they treated as LPNs, ADNs, or RNs? Just in case things won't work out for me here in Canada... :) Thanks!

If the US is your goal, you really should be getting your RN. RPNs are treated as LPNs or LVNs in the US, but they can not immigrate as easily as RNs can. RNs are covered under NAFTA so they can get a work visa at the border. RPNs are not so they have to try to get a greencard, which literally takes years.

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Thanks for the info... really appreciate it. I am just hoping that the market for practical nurses will be ok here in Canada -- after all, Canada is such a wonderful country :) . It's my plan too to apply for the bridging program to RN (which is currently under review) in the future.

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I'm sure you'll do fine:) I can't imagine a time when Ontario won't need more RPNs

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am in a town north of Toronto and there are lots of jobs here for RN's and RPN's. All the nurses I know have all the work they want and one has just returned from working in the US ( she hated it ). Ads for nursing jobs are not uncommon in the local paper.

Best of luck. I am a part time RPN student and will hopefully bridge to BscN later. :)

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I am in a town north of Toronto and there are lots of jobs here for RN's and RPN's. All the nurses I know have all the work they want and one has just returned from working in the US ( she hated it ). Ads for nursing jobs are not uncommon in the local paper.

Best of luck. I am a part time RPN student and will hopefully bridge to BscN later. :)

That's so uplifting. I hope to see more encouraging stories about RPNs. To RPNs out there with good news to share, pls. do so. Thanks.

Loriangel, good luck to you!

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In today's Province, there are two facilities/hospital in Port Angeles advertising for LPN's to come on down (proximity to Victoria is remarked upon). So, yes there are opportunities down across the line for LPNs.

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Specializes in CCU.

Well, how good is good? How is the pay? I am a ICU Rn and is interested in 12 hrs shifts, do they have long shifts in Quebec? :rolleyes:

I would be interested in QUebec City, not much english hospitals there! Well, any advice on the conditions of work? Talk to me! :p

Thanks!

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