nurse practitioner in vancouver area

kp1987 · Sep 12, 2015

I'd take at look at the CRNBC website will probably give you more info in regards to licences and such. As for jobs the NP role is still developing in BC haven't seen too many jobs posted lately but there are some out there.

Be prepared to spend a lot of money to live here. To rent or buy a house is outrageous!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2015

Agreed. Vancouver is super expensive. It would make more sense to move where the work is. Have you considered applying to small communities? RNs and NPs are in greater demand. You will probably find it very challenging in Vancouver.

tewere · Sep 14, 2015

Hello, we have taken into account that we will be paying more for housing, feeding etc, but we are looking to get out of the cold...its a trade we are willing to make. I don't want to live in Vancouver itself but am looking at coquitlam, surrey, delta etc....mainly the outskirts or Victoria. I guess i was looking for some tips on where to look for jobs for, how to pass the osce etc. Any advise would be helpful

sunship88 · Sep 15, 2015

Look on the health authority websites to check if there are any postings: Vancouver Coastal, Providence, PHSA and especially Fraser Health if you're considering Delta and Surrey. You can find more affordable housing the further east you head out of the city, it's not impossible by any means but you might be an hour's drive away. Fraser Health is the authority that mainly covers this region. I don't know how much they have developed the NP role though. good luck!

dayandnight · Sep 18, 2015

As an RN in BC, I have seen only one NP in person. I studied in the US and I have seen NP's all the time during my nursing program as they were my instructors, mentors and also the majority of people I worked with when I graduated (they visited the nursing homes more than physicians), but I was surprised at just how many people in BC have never seen NP's in person. A lot of people in my community don't even know about them. I know there is one NP who work at the hospital I am working at right now...and I have seen one who works at a clinic East of where I live, but that's all I know. We have documents in hospitals that state Doctor/Nurse Practitioner, but most have not seen them in their practice. This is around the outskirts you are talking about past Surrey and Coquitlam, more to the East but not as East compared to the Okanagan.

There are probably more jobs and demands in Northern BC, rural Vancouver Island probably and in Eastern BC, but to be really honest I am not really sure how the job prospects are unless you go more rural. I read reports that about 45 NP's graduate in BC every year, but we don't really see any of them around here. As an RN who wants to become an NP someday, I really want to see NPs get more developed as a role in BC in general.

You probably have better luck in the areas I have mentioned above, or in other provinces for jobs.

newrpn · Sep 19, 2015

They are several in ft St john

As there is a severe Dr shortage up there

tewere · Sep 23, 2015

Thanks for all the replies, the NP role is still in its infancy in Canada and we are NPs are finding that we have to educate people about the role, but given how fragmented the Canadian health care system is and how many people do not have health care providers, the future looks bright, so i would say if you want to be an NP....FORGE AHEAD. The more the merrier. I would look at all the feed back i recieved back, except for fort st John, i actually lived there for a year when i was 17....don't think i can handle that cold again.