Foreigners Registering To Nurse In BC

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Hi all!

I know that a lot of people probably ask this question, but I've searched through the posts and couldn't find anything...

I'm an RN living in Sydney, Australia, and really want to work in Vancouver for a while. I must have googled about a thousand different things and I'm still no wiser. Does anyone know what I have to do to be officially allowed to work in BC as a nurse? I will be going over on a working holiday visa (unless someone can suggest a better option), which means that after I touchdown I have to go to a CIC office and change the restrictions on my visa by being "issued medical instructions" and taking some kind of exam. I understand that much, but then who do I register with? The government? The CNA? Oh and one more thing - how hard is it to find work in Vancouver, and whats the pay like for a second year BSN? I'm stressing... I hate dealing with bureaucrats...

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You want the RNABC (registered nurses assn of B.C.) for registration info. Just google for the web-site. Contracts are through BCNU (B.C. nurses union) except for private clinics and private nursing homes. There's work if you are prepared to work casual. It helps to have a specialty (emerg, cardiac, dialysis, etc). Starting registered nurse makes about $28/hr I think (I'm highest level so I don't remember amount for sure). Vancouver and Victoria are expensive to live- if you live in Sydney you'll understand that! Good Luck.

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http://www.rnabc.ca . You can also contact health match BC http://www.healthmatchbc.org/ . You will probably need to write the Canadian RN exam and everything which can be a real hassle.

This looks like the page for you: http://www.healthmatchbc.org/hmbc_nurses.asp?pageid=630

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thanks guys!

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