Can an American RN be a travel nurse in Canada?

dixRN · Oct 8, 2011

Nena, I have met plenty of travel nurses from Canada as they want to come here as the pay in Canada is lower than in the States. I have never heard of a USA nurse traveling in Canada. You can travel internationally but just be aware that you have to have several years of experience in your specialty & excellent references. It is also a lengthy process to get your work visa for whatever country you go to & passing tests may be involved.

canadian_girl75 · Oct 9, 2011

I am a Canadian Nurse currently traveling in the USA so I have a few tidbits of info to share with you. Firstly, there are a few companies that do travel nursing in Canada but it is currently only in the Western Provinces and mostly in remote areas. The pay is not less than the USA infact most of these positions are $50+ per hour. Your biggest obstacle will be the passing the CRNE Canadian Registered Nurse Exam. I say this not because the exam is harder but because entry to practice as an RN in Canada requires a minimum of a BSN Degree. Since many schools in the USA still offer a Associates this will not beet the education standard to sit for the exam or practice in Canada. However if you do meet these requirements and pass the exam immigration is relatively easy for nurses since they are in high demand. Also, healthcare is free for all residents and citizens and workloads are much lighter than in the USA I have found. To give you an idea, when I left I was making 32$ as a staff nurse with 2 years experience in Ontario. Western provinces are higher. Hope this helps..

LovePurple · Nov 7, 2012

hello, currently looking to move and work as a RN in toronto from US.. I have my ADN and a bachelors degree, however the bachelors is not in nursing. Would that count?

CP2013 · Nov 7, 2012

hello, currently looking to move and work as a RN in toronto from US.. I have my ADN and a bachelors degree, however the bachelors is not in nursing. Would that count?

From reading other posts, Canada is looking specifically for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing.

canadian_girl75 · Nov 8, 2012

Hi Sorry that wouldnt count. It has to be a Bachelor of Nursing Degree. As of 2006 the laws changed and all new nurses were required to have a 4 year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. RN's already licensed and practicing without a bachelor were grandfathered in and not required to upgrade but any nurse looking to obtain a new license after that date was required to complete the 4 year nursing specific degree. I would recommend and RN to BSN here in the States before leaving or the 2nd degree entry program at a Canadian University which would fast track you since you already hold a degree in another subject.

godfatherfreak · Jan 20, 2014

So you are doing travel nursing in US already? How is it going? How were you able to get there? Im doing my research.

I am an RN in manitoba. I started with a 31/hr rate and now im up to 33 after 2 1/2 yrs and honestly ive never seen any US state having higher start rates. I was an IEN and had to do 1 yr of bridging course. I was a BN back home but its only considered here as equivalent to RN program (that was abolished a year ago)

Scooby-Dooby-Doo · Apr 11, 2014

Western Provinces... do you mean states and territories like BC, Alberta, or Yukón that pay higher and have options in remote áreas? I love the flexibility of travel nursing in those áreas because of the short-term assignments and the ability to extend contract.

I'm in the US and thinking about trying travel nursing in BC or the western part of Canada