Northwest Territories

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2013

Keep in mind that the weather is extreme and most of those communities are very remote. There is a reason why nurses are offered high incentives.

Trishrpn80 · Mar 5, 2013

Being in the north takes a certain personality.. Be prepared for extreme cold and isolation and food costs 4-5x what u pay.. I work in northern ontario in a fly in community and ppl come up here with good intentions but don't do their research and leave

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 5, 2013

As the previous posters have written, Nunavut isn't for the faint of heart. It's cold and dark for much of the year. It's VERY remote... one-way plane fare from Iqaluit (the hospital associated with the link you gave) to Winnipeg ranges from $1200 to $1733 depending on the time of day you fly. Groceries are flown in and are priced accordingly. Depending on the source, cost of living is between 1.6 and 3 times as high as the next most expensive province, while the average household income is roughly the same as Ontario. There are very limited opportunities for social interaction. The city of Iqaluit's population sits around 7000, is about 85% Inuit and more than half are under 25 years old. There's one shopping centre, North Mart and a couple of restaurants. There are obvious reasons why the Qikiqtani Hospital pays such generous northern and retention allowances. It's the only way they have nurses who stay for more than a few weeks. If that kind of lifestyle appeals to you, by all means go there. but if you're only going for the money you're not going to last.

monikah · Mar 5, 2013

well depending on where up north im from the yukon and my mom is a nurse and Yes you are correctly about being paid well as they are paid one of the top wages in canada for nursing but like everyone has said i wouldnt just come up here for the money, you really have to enjoy snow, be able to handle -40 weather, and again prepared to pay a lot more for things since most of our food is shipped up everything is quite expensive . Not to mention housing costs have been insane and so buying a house unless you are already well off is most likely out of the question atleast for the next couple years. But the outdoors are beautiful and its a pretty safe place , I really enjoy living there :)

katherine100, LPN · Mar 6, 2013

Keep in mind that the weather is extreme and most of those communities are very remote. There is a reason why nurses are offered high incentives.

Yes I realize that.

katherine100, LPN · Mar 6, 2013

Thanks for the reply. Yes I was looking to go for a year to pay down some debt. this would not be a lifetime thing. Thanks for telling me more about living there. I am surprised by how how mnay young people live there.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 6, 2013

Thanks for the reply. Yes I was looking to go for a year to pay down some debt. this would not be a lifetime thing. Thanks for telling me more about living there. I am surprised by how how mnay young people live there.

You probably wouldn't come out after a year with a great deal of extra money. Have you already begun the registration process in Canada? That's a big expense for you right there.

As for the number of young people... it's because the Inuit birth rate is higher than that of more southern climes. Think children, not young adults.

katherine100, LPN · Mar 6, 2013

//ou probably wouldn't come out after a year with a great deal of extra money.//

I plan on paying of bills while I work vs saving it up. Easier that way. The cost of registration is under 3000.00.

Trishrpn80 · Mar 6, 2013

Katherine i think people are saying you wont get much paid off in a year due to cost of living.. If you really have researched it i say go ahead.. I live in northern on in a remote community.. My dream is to go to Nunavut, NWT or Yukon eventually because i like northern nursing.. I like -40 weather lol the only thing i dislike is the summer bugs. Lol

Good luck.. It does take a special person to do northern nursing.. Dont expect big city life.. For me yukon is big city so i would love it there lol

katherine100, LPN · Mar 8, 2013

Why would anyone expect city living in the NWT? I have to do more research on cost of living. 2000 a month would be pricey indeed. I have to look more into it.

Trishrpn80 · Mar 8, 2013

Katherine trust me ppl expect it,. I have stories lol