Wanting to live and work in Canada?

Published

Hey everyone, not sure if this has been covered or if this is the right place to post this but I'm new to this awesome website so please forgive me!

My story is, I started my nursing journey by completing my Enrolled Nurse training with full medication endorsement. I have worked as an EN for the past year and a half in an acute medical floor whilst I completed further study to become an RN. Now that I have finished my studies and am now a Registered Nurse, I was thinking of looking into traveling overseas to work. I have heard that countries within the commonwealth such as Canada and the UK are easier to get into.

My questions are: Will Canada consider my 18months of EN work as appropriate nurse experience? Or will they only see me as a new graduate RN? Also... I have no idea where to start in applying for work in a foreign country? What is the process? I've heard about having to take exams from some people, yet a UK nurse told me he only had to apply for a visa and apply for a job when he moved to Australia.

If anyone could respond it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

I doubt it is easier to move between Commonwealth countries, this is from someone who is from the UK now working in Canada and been waiting over 16 months for PR and expect to see another 12 + months to the process

Depends on where in Canada you want to live. That your nurse training meets that of Canada, each province has their own college of nurses and that usually means clinical and theory hours on your transcripts in Paeds, Obstetrics, Mental Health and Adult.

Suggest a good read in this forum as many threads discussing Canada and also a good read on the CIC website, just be aware that the cap for RN via the Federal Skilled Worker route has capped for this year and a minimum of 12 months full time employment or equivalent is required and yes a English exam is required even if English is your first language (unless you meet French requirements seeing as Canada is bilingual)

Each country has their own requirements Australia doesn't require a exam to be taken similar to the UK however Canada like the US requires all nurses to sit and pass their exam if planning on working as a nurse

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your reply. I will do more reading in the international forum. Perhaps it would be an easier route to find work in the UK?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Uk is not any easier, currently lots of unemployment and many hospitals struggling. Nurses recently went on strike along with other public workers. Also there are only 2 specialties that meet immigration requirements, just do a search for the UK job shortage list

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion