Student Nurse making plans to immigrate to Canada

[LDunks]

Hi there,

This is my first time using this site, and I think its absolutely fantastic!

Anyway, i just have a few questions for anyone that may be able to answer them for me!

Next year I will hopefully qualify with a degree of Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree in Ireland, and I'm looking to immigrate to Canada.

I was just wondering, what is the equivalent of my qualification over there, and would I be able to practice there as a staff nurse with a visa? Is it possible to get registered in Canada with this degree? Is there any type of exam I must sit? What kind of provisions would you recommend I have in place before I move there?

Thanks for yer help!

[loriangel14, RN]

Canadian nurses are generalist trained, meaning they have taken theory and clinical hours in adult, peds, OB/GYN and mental health nursing. You wouldn't qualify to work as a staff nurse without hours in these areas.British Columbia does have a Registered Psychiatric Nurse designation so you may be able to qualify to work in that province as a psych nurse but I'm not sure.To obtain a nursing license you would need to meet the requirements of the college of nurses in the province in which you want to work and you would have to pass the CRNE. The tricky part would be getting a visa. Nursing is no longer on the Federal Skilled Worker list so you would have to go the Temporary Work Permit route which would mean getting a license and finding an employer first. The employer would have to be able to prove that they couldn't find a Canadian nurse to fill the job first.With the bleak market for nursing jobs these days that would prove difficult.

[Fiona59]

The provinces west of Manitoba educate Psychiatric Nurses and the degree is becoming the entry point.

You need to contact the provincial college of psychiatric nurses in the province you are interested in moving to. The lower mainland of BC has a huge number of nurses looking for work. So, consider Alberta, Sask, or Manitoba.