British nurse looking at working in Canada

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jul 26, 2012

I knew that, SD102. I think the more times this message is reiterated the more likely it is to be received. Too many people are operating on old information when so much has changed in a short time. I don't know of any other way of ensuring people are staying up-to-date other than to continually issue these caveats.

pamiwhite05 · Jul 26, 2012

So do you think that being accepted as a nurse in Canada is going to be quite difficult come January then? I am willing to go to any area of Canada that isint too rural, also I am 25 and my partner is 30 and both fluent in English and degree educated

Fiona59 · Jul 26, 2012

Avoid BC and Ontario for sure. Local grads can't find work. Cost of living is high and the provincial governments are a mess.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 26, 2012

I think for a short time things will be difficult and yes it is a good idea looking at other provinces. There are other routes to look at with some provinces than FSW like PNP but you are expected to come out a couple of times to visit and make contact with the community. Suggest looking on CIC website at PNP route

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jul 26, 2012

I think immigration is actually going to be the easy part for many nurses over the next several years. Finding work is going to be a very difficult task. Time is money for employers too, so if they're choosing between a nurse living in the next province over or a nurse who will need time to complete registration assessment and write the exam, obtain an appropriate visa, arrange an international move and all the other details involved they're going to choose the one who can pack up and move right now. Alberta is getting a lot of nurses from Ontario and BC these days and those nurses whose spouses have been transferred to other provinces, such as two of my friends have, are unemployed. It's a multifaceted issue that isn't easily resolved. I'm not saying that anyone should abandon their dream of living and working in Canada, I'm saying that anyone with that dream should stay abreast of conditions and changes, recognize that it won't be easy, cheap or fast and that they may have to compromise a lot to get to that end. This will not be a sprint, it will be a marathon and without perseverance and endurance, the finish line will never be reached.

Fiona59 · Jul 27, 2012

Too true, Jan. My parents migrated to Canada in the '60s during the huge migration of skilled tradesmen from western Europe. It took my Father four months to find full time work. My Mum never returned to nursing because there were too many hurdles to jump through and not enough work.

What the government tells prospective migrants and the reality when the boots hit the ground in the new country are two very different things.

itsmejuli · Jul 28, 2012

Here's an example of immigration reality.

One day I was in a mobile phone shop and got chatting with one of the reps. He told me that he was an MD educated in Thailand and that he had recently immigrated to Canada to work as an MD. Nobody in immigration told him that he'd have to upgrade his education in order to work here. He was granted immidiate PR because of his being an MD. But to stay here and work as an MD he'd have to go back to school for another 5 years...but there's such a wait to get in that he'd be able to upgrade his education faster in the States.

Fiona59 · Jul 28, 2012

@Juli and don't forget he has the problem of finding a residency. Each province limits the number of spots for foreign doctors. If he has to upgrade for five years there are some pretty glaring questions about his education.