American RN wanting to move to Canada

[whiteorchid81]

Hi everyone,

I'm a US citizen. Graduated nursing school September 2016 with an ADN (associate). My family and I would like to move to Canada and possibly become dual citizens. We were thinking of living in vancouver, BC. I have family living there. It would be nice to live near family.

I understand that Canada requires BSN and I would still have to go through the application to be allowed to work in Canada.

My questions are:

For BSN requirement, does it have to be an actual 4 year school or can I do the rn to bsn route that usually takes 6 months to a year (depending on school). And of course the school must be accredited with the nursing board. Does Canada have a list of US approved schools? Or is it as long as the school is approved with the nursing board?

Also, I looked into the process of applying for RN license in Canada. I'm a bit confused with the terminology used. I've read that I need to be assessed first but I don't understand what that entails.

Also, what comes first? Applying for the visa or applying for the license?

And I haven't taken the NCLEX just yet. Still have a few more weeks of studying to do. And if I passed the NCLEX here, is it true that I wouldn't have to retake the exam to get a license in Canada?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. And please excuse my ignorance with Canadian immigration policies.

Thanks

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Most places are unionized so you generally start casually or part time and move to full time as seniority moves up. Even then can still take time

[whiteorchid81]

Most places are unionized so you generally start casually or part time and move to full time as seniority moves up. Even then can still take time

What about having 2 jobs? I assume working casual or part time can sometimes be a problem financially. Do most nurses who are casual or part time have more than 1 job?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

What about having 2 jobs? I assume working casual or part time can sometimes be a problem financially. Do most nurses who are casual or part time have more than 1 job?

Some nurses work casual or part time for two different employers and some prefer to work casual/part time for one employer. The ones that work for one employer tend to be available to accept extras shifts and some accrue seniority much faster than those who work for two separate employers.

[Fiona59]

Some nurses work casual or part time for two different employers and some prefer to work casual/part time for one employer. The ones that work for one employer tend to be available to accept extras shifts and some accrue seniority much faster than those who work for two separate employers.

seniority is based on date of hire.

pay rate is achieved by number of hours worked. You can port your hours worked from to a secon employer to be compensated for your hours worked history.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

seniority is based on date of hire.

pay rate is achieved by number of hours worked. You can port your hours worked from to a secon employer to be compensated for your hours worked history.

Here in NS depending on union your seniority moves with you if your new job is in the same union so your date of joining union is the key factor

[Zakaton]

Do not do that. Way lower money, higher prices, strangling car insurance. You would be much better of doing nursing in the States.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Do not do that. Way lower money, higher prices, strangling car insurance. You would be much better of doing nursing in the States.

Where does the information that a BC nurse makes way lower money than US nurse come from? The OP would make more money as RN in BC than a RN Colorado.

[whiteorchid81]

Thanks for the info everyone.

I don't know the starting rate for RNs in BC but in Colorado the starting pay ranges from 23 to 28 an hour. $23 to 25 an hour at a hospital for a new grad. 26 to 28 an hour for an LTAC depending on shift you take. A nursing home here can range from 26 to 30 an hour depending on how desperate they are to keep nurses. And then there are 30s and up which is rare for a new grad. It all depends on where the facility is located. Right now I have contacts who can start me at an LTAC or rehab hospital ranging from 27 to 28 an hour.

I have been thinking, if I am unable to find a job in BC I will definitely have to look at Washington state for work until I am able to find something more permanent in BC. Bills still have to paid so will have to just take what I can get.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@whiteorhid google BC nurses union salary grid.

[whiteorchid81]

@whiteorhid google BC nurses union salary grid.

Thanks for that info. It helped. But I also look at the NNAS thread. Seems like no one had any luck with NNAS. I really hope it gets better in 3 to 4 years when I can finally put my application together.

[RN_Pro]

This is correct. So far, NNAS has essentially functioned as a means of keeping IENs out.

[lisayan]

Does anyone know if there's an age limit for this job in Canada?