NP in British Columbia?

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Specializes in Rural outpost nursing and ED nursing.

Hi,

I'm wondering if there are any Canadian NP's out there who can answer a few questions for me......

I'd love some information regarding practicing as an NP in British Columbia. I'm an experienced (13 years) ER nurse, with a 3 year diploma. I'm currently working on my BScN completion through BCIT. I'm working on the PICU specialty stream within that program. I'm debating going to UVIC afterwards to do the MSN NP program.

However, it's a big commitment both financially and time wise. I'm 38, have two kids under 3 and figure that I still have a good 25 years left to practice as a nurse.

I suppose I really want to know if NPs are paid what they are worth. I want to do it for the love of it, of course, but I also want a job where I can afford to only work a few days a week so I can home school my kids. Do you think it would be worth it to go back to school full time for 3 and a half years (incl. finishing BSN), or would my future NP wage be similar to an ER nurse wage in BC?

Also, what do you think the demand for NP's will be in a city like Victoria or Vancouver Island in general? I'm currently working in San Francisco where there are more NP's than one can count. However, I'm from Victoria and will be moving back shortly. I could see myself practicing in a somewhat rural community, or small town, as a FNP.

My last question is: do you know if there are any small communities in BC that are desperate for a FNP and would pay for my schooling in exchange for a commitment to their town?

Thanks,

Suzanne

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With the state of the economy in both BC and AB, I truly doubt that any health region would be in a position to pay for a NP to be educated. If there was the cash available it more than likely go to someone with a history in the community.

All the funds for healthcare up here is allocated at the provincial level, so I truly doubt that funding would be handed out in that manner.

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Specializes in ER, Rural Nursing, Public Health.

Double post error

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Specializes in ER, Rural Nursing, Public Health.

I am not an NP, but I had a thought.....

I have worked up in rural northern Alberta for the past 3 years - the last year and a half of those for a Cree Reserve. Therefore, I was employed by the Band (affiliated with Health Canada). They were going to pay for my full schooling to become an NP, as long as I stayed on at the job for an other 2 years on completion of my NP. Everything was a go, but I decided last minute it was not what I wanted. Maybe find a Reserve that may do this.... However, with young kids, keep in mind that you may have to relocate.

Health Canada also employs nurses for reserves and they definitely pay for your NP education - again, return of service is necessary. Health Canada might be the way to go, as they truly are AMAZING to work for. I got tons and tons of education and topnotch training with them (even though I worked for the Band, we were "under" HC). Check out their website. BIG on continuing education.

One more thing: I know Alberta has a Northern Education Bursary, if you live up in northern Alberta. They even have an exclusive program for NPs - up to $40,000, if you agree to work in northern Alberta afterwards.... Maybe BC has something like this too????

From the NPs I have talked to, some wished they had never bothered, but some think it is ok. However, the ones I know all work in isolated fly in communities (reserves) and have to deal with all kinds of ****. Everyone agrees the schooling was beyond intense... That was my deciding factor - not a lot of enthusiastic NPs with high job satisfaction from the gals in MY area.

However there are so many opportunities as an NP, and if it is what you want then go for it.

Good luck!

Camel

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I am not an NP, but I had a thought.....

I have worked up in rural northern Alberta for the past 3 years - the last year and a half of those for a Cree Reserve. Therefore, I was employed by the Band (affiliated with Health Canada). They were going to pay for my full schooling to become an NP, as long as I stayed on at the job for an other 2 years on completion of my NP. Everything was a go, but I decided last minute it was not what I wanted. Maybe find a Reserve that may do this.... However, with young kids, keep in mind that you may have to relocate.

Health Canada also employs nurses for reserves and they definitely pay for your NP education - again, return of service is necessary. Health Canada might be the way to go, as they truly are AMAZING to work for. I got tons and tons of education and topnotch training with them (even though I worked for the Band, we were "under" HC). Check out their website. BIG on continuing education.

One more thing: I know Alberta has a Northern Education Bursary, if you live up in northern Alberta. They even have an exclusive program for NPs - up to $40,000, if you agree to work in northern Alberta afterwards.... Maybe BC has something like this too????

From the NPs I have talked to, some wished they had never bothered, but some think it is ok. However, the ones I know all work in isolated fly in communities (reserves) and have to deal with all kinds of ****. Everyone agrees the schooling was beyond intense... That was my deciding factor - not a lot of enthusiastic NPs with high job satisfaction from the gals in MY area.

However there are so many opportunities as an NP, and if it is what you want then go for it.

Good luck!

Camel

I'd like to point out that health care on reserves is a federal responsibility. The federal government has amny programmes that can be tapped into for furthering one's education in this sort of way. BUT... Alberta is currently undergoing a massive restructuring of our provincial health care system and there is NO money even for inservicing at the moment. No one will be getting any conference funding, any financial assistance for upgrading to a Masters or any other financial aid for anyone for the foreseeable future. Even CARNA, through their Education Trust Fund, has scaled way back on the amount of assistance they're providing. If the OP really wants someone else to pay for her education then Health Canada and the First Nations health care programme will probably be the only source.

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Specializes in ER, Rural Nursing, Public Health.

That's true. Things changed practically overnight. Hopefully the picture will be clearer in terms of nursing in the near future... If doing the NP program will be a financial burden, then maybe right now may unfortunately not be the time...

But keep in mind those options for the future....

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Hello, my husband thought I might be able to offer some advice as we are in a similar situation. I am a Canadian OR nurse also working in the US (Hawaii) and we are also thinking about moving to BC this fall (for my husband to go to university). We both worked in Canada for many years before giving the US a try (as well as Australia and NZ). All great experiences. Employer paid education is really a very US benefit, I have only seen Australia offer a similar program. However, at least school in Canada is quite affordable. If you go the University of Toronto, school of nursing, there is an interesting research study posted under "research in focus" titled "why Canadian nurses go to the USA and stay in the USA". Findings include better pay, benefits and paid graduate education. I lived and worked in Alberta during the "good times" and even then my pay and benefits never even came close to what I make now. So I agree with some of the other posts that it would be unlikely to find sponsorship for your NP program. If you are looking for a good review on the state of NP's in Canada (and salary) check out www.NPCanada.ca, great site. I don't know about other provinces but I had no problem receiving a great job offer from an employer in BC just 2 weeks ago. And you are a PICU RN! As to the actual job of an NP and is it worth it...well, I have 4 close friends that made the change and they ALL LOVE IT! The hours, independence, pay and work environment (NO NIGHTS) are all reasons they are very happy they went back to school. Good luck with everything!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Our NICU NPs definitely do work nights. We have four of them and the rotate through.

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hi im an international educated nurse... my i just asked if are we allowed to work in a home care?? what are those requiremnts in order to work as a educated nurse in birtsh columbia???what are the benifits that i could get from the institution???? ho much is the salary thnx a lot

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi im an international educated nurse... my i just asked if are we allowed to work in a home care?? what are those requiremnts in order to work as a educated nurse in birtsh columbia???what are the benifits that i could get from the institution???? ho much is the salary thnx a lot

If you want to work as a nurse in BC then I suggest a search and read in the International forum as there are several threads regarding what you need to do.

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

This question has absolutley nothing to do with the thread (NP in BC).

5cats

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last, I checked salaries for NPs fulltime in BC...seemed to top out at 85,000/yr.

Most jobs seem to be in primary care or clinics.

I work in Alberta, have worked as a NP since 2002.

There are hiring freezes in healthcare in AB right now.

I work 0.8 fte part-time and make way more than the top-paid fte NP wage for BC.

Most of my colleagues make more than 85,000/yr for fulltime

If you are already in the USA, do NP school there as the NP education is likely to be much better.

Canadian NP schools don't even have 50% NP faculty let alone 100%!!

Most US facilities fund professional education,....rarely seen in Canada.

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