Demand for Nurses in Canada

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Could somebody give me current info regarding the current demand of nurses in Canada and the usual requirements for foreigners before they are employed in a hospital. Do you happen to know how many Filipino nurses are currently employed in Canada and what can you say about their performance?:nurse:

felisa,

sounds like you are putting down roots. have you found a position? have you taken the crne?

before i left for canada, i made a list of potential employers. and since i have visited canada before, i more or less had an idea of where i wanted to stay. the very next day after we landed, i sent my application and got replies (both positive and negative) about a week later. yes, i have found a position. i am working on temporary registration for a nursing home under fraser health, and i hope to take the crne this coming october.

how are working conditions compared to your motherland?

back home, one would be lucky to land a nursing job. and doubly lucky if it were in a tertiary hospital. some government hospitals are the worst - no supplies, low budget, not necessarily an ideal place to be at when one is sick. but (in little ways) you get to help those who are poor, despondent, and no where else to go. here, it's a different kind of nursing. more responsibilities to keep you on your toes the whole day/night. some say the pay is not enough, but it's better than what nurses earn back home.

must be good to have your kids with you?

yes, i'm glad the kids are with me. we once considered that either my husband or i come to canada ahead and let the rest of the family follow, but later on decided to come together. one for all, all for one. summer is almost over and school will be starting in a few days. they are looking forward to meeting new friends in their new school.

how is the cost of living? are you able to live comfortably?

back home, a family earning average would spend about half the family income on food, sometimes more. after paying the usual bills, rent, tuition, gas, etc. there is usually little or nothing left for savings. so there is a common adage that goes "bawal magkasakit" (or "getting sick is not allowed"), because it might mean borrowing money or selling property to pay for healthcare...here in canada, food is very affordable, and that's saying a lot coming from a family with two teenagers who eat like lions. we pay rent which already includes utilities and cable, a few phone bills, internet, transportation, etc. at the end of the month we still have enough to indulge in a few wants, watch a couple of movies, and add to our savings. are we living comfortably? yes.

H'lo. I'm also planning to work as a nurse in Canada and stay there for good. I agree with Libie...most Filipino nurses plan to make Canada as their stepping stone to the US. But I believe that it's a great country with one of the best health care systems in the world, and so if you're an internationally educated nurse and you get the chance to practice there, more often than not, you'd stay for good in beautiful Canada.

hi purple! just want to make it clear that i didnt say that most filipino nurses plan to make Canada as their stepping stone to US.

This was my actual post

"hello there! i beg to disagree with that Filipino nurse who told you that. i know a lot of philippine nurses who would not want to work in another country. It's just a matter of personal choices.

i also want to agree with you that other people, not only Filipinos, should not make Canada as their stepping stone for them to go to US. Canada is a great country and i know you'll love it here"

--you can check it here --https://allnurses.com/forums/f108/demand-nurses-canada-323593-4.html

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Please be careful next time. I dont support those people who uses another country as their stepping stone to go to US and i also think it's unfair to generalize filipino nurses or any other nationality.

anyway, best of luck and God bless to you.. Just PM me if you want to ask something. Hopefully, you'll love it here in canada. What province are you planning to register?

We are all brothers/sisters by profession, I think you can tell those nurses who are very verbal with regards to their plan what you really think, since it is affecting the working relationship in the hospital. I can understand how you feel when you go out of your way to help them and they will just up and leave when greener pastures comes a calling..Since these nurses are new, they are orientating to everything about Canada, I think you can extend more by orienting them of the advantages in Canada and how teamwork/effort will help and how employers/fellow staffs would really appreciate it if they could stay and become a part of the workforce...I think communication is the KEY...In my own opinion, they don't mean any harm nor offense...

Could you site your source of the nursing shortage? In fact the US has been in the state of retrogression and immigration has trickled to near zero.

You are partially correct about the NCLEX, if you have trained in a standard US program, you will have no issues. But if you are foreign trained or attend Exclesior transferring is not as easy, even with the compact agreement.

It does vary state to state and in certain states the shortage is real. I seems evident to me with the way they will hire almost anyone on our floor who has a license that a shortage exists in Arizona. The fact that retrogression exists does not mean there is NOT a shortage of jobs for nurses but it is definitely not a priority for the legislators to deal with the retrogression issue due to many factors (ie) upcoming election, illegal immigrants etc... Every time a bill comes up to give more visas for nurses it comes down to the fact that the illegal immigrants want amnesty. The government does not want that and therefore no bill has been passed for nurses either. They don't want to give preferential treatment to any one group even if they are needed.

is it true that philippine nurses are undervalued in Canada? they are not working as nurses instead as caregivers or nannies? is it possible to apply for work in Canada as registered Nurses?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It is possible to work as RN in Canada and many nurses are moving here to work, check out the International forum where there are a few threads ongoing. You need to meet province's requirements, pass English/French exam depending on where you are going and may have to do a bridging program depending on your transcripts and province. You really need to take the time and read this and International forum and read this thread https://allnurses.com/forums/f108/internationally-educated-nurses-very-important-read-first-323075.html

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

There probably are many nurses from the Philippines who are working at something other than nursing. They would be people who weren't able to follow the application process from beginning to end, or those who thought they could come to Canada first and then start the application, only to find out that they couldn't provide the necessary documentation. When one has to eat one does what one must while the rest of the details are sorted out. There are professionals in many categories who are working at jobs that are not commensurate with their education and skills: lawyers who drive taxis, doctors who clean offices at night, accountants selling burgers at Micky D's, and many more. Residencies or other internship-like programs have a limited number of spots for graduates of foreign schools and if they don't get one of those spots, they still have bills to pay. Pride and a willingness to work hard carry them through.

Janfrn....well said! I do fall in one those jobs you mentioned. Thank you for the encouragement. Makes those rainy days seem a lot brighter.

Specializes in Medical Surgical/OR/DR/Endoscopy.

hi felisa

your responses made me not comment a bit about those who have something to say to filipino nurses. Felt like you said it all. I still take pride to be a filipino nurse. Anyway, i can't send you a pm yet. BUt i wanted to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. Where did you work here in the Philippines? I'm completing my requirements for registration in BC. But i'm quite concerned about finding an employer. I'd like to know the possibilities of finding an employer for someone like me who's only experience is an a clinic for approx a year. I have always considered working in a nursing home/long term care facilities though.If not in a clinic. But then everytime i look at the adds they wanted someone who is experienced or is currently practicing registered nurse. My mom is in ONtario, so she can't really help looking for an employer in BC. My ielts has lapsed it's 2 years validity so i have to take the exam again maybe after i give birth on December as im on my most uncomfortable stage of pregnancy.

Is your husband also working?:)

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