Where to work in Montreal

I just started working at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, after graduating from McGill.

If you're anglophone, you probably want to work in one of the McGill-affiliated hospitals (the Royal Vic, the Montreal General, the Jewish General, the Children's, or St Mary's). The working language is mainly English, with varying amounts of French depending on the unit.

On paper, all these hospitals require a basic level of French proficiency, though in practice it seems they'll hire unilingual anglophones regardless. Either way, though, as you've probably figured out, you'll need to eventually pass a french test administered by the language office if you want to work as a registered nurse. (I wrote it myself a few months ago). The OIIQ is quite strict about this, and people have lost their jobs for taking too long to pass the test.

There is also the Universite de Montreal hospital network, with another 4-5 hospitals, but very little English is spoken there.... so probably safer and easier to stick with the McGill network.

Of the McGill hospitals, the Children's is obviously peds, while the others all have NICUs. I'm pretty sure all of them are taking new grads. I only know a bit about the one at the Jewish, from someone I know who started working there- it's stressful, like anywhere, but for the most part a decent working environment where people get along. Nurse/patient ration is something like 1:2-3.

Anyways, hope this helped a bit, and good luck!

Hi Stanley,

Thanks for your thoughts, I'm interviewing for both the Royal Vic and JGH NICUs so hopefully something happens there! Are you Francophone? Was the French test challenging for you?

Are you able to work as a LPN in Montreal still? If so, what is the payscale?

hi everyone, thanks for reading my post!

i am new to montreal and finally have cpn status from the oiiq (yippee!). i'm just wondering where people work or have worked and what they can say about it. i'm particularly interested in the nicu and pediatrics. i know there are a few different nicus and was wondering if any have apparent reputations about working environment and things like that. also, i am anglophone (learning french), so where might i be able to practice safely and efficiently without having too much trouble?

thanks in advance for your thoughts!

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congratulations for your new position!

(i can't wait until i say that in qc too!) i love it here but, it's been a bumpy road with the oiiq!.

i supposed that the cpn status means a candidate to practicing nursing?

if you graduated from the us, did you have to do a "program of professional integration"?

i have to do this... i understand that i need to learn the qc system... but it's an hassle... 30 days in college or to a hospital that agrees to hire me, get an apartment, lose a month of wage. then, if the oiiq is satisfied with me, they will let me sit at the exam.

kinda frustrating when you have been practicing for few years (9 years), in critical care, precepting... bilingual... originally from quebec. besides, i am a good nurse!

matter of fact (am i going on a tangente? well, sorry, others might have to face that too), when i asked the oiiq if anyone that graduated from the us ever was accepted to sit for the board exam without ever having to do that program of professional integration, they told me (strangely with a vague tone)... very rarely...

i am just curious! and somehow feels like i am on the oiiq leash!:paw:

Hi Everyone

Just wondering how long it took for people to get their license in Quebec. I applied 8 months ago and my folio has been approved but still have heard nothing back from them as to when it will be reviewed by the board?

Also i am from Australia and am only fluent in English but currently learning French, do any of the hospitals provide French classes? Is anyone else in my position? I have been traveling for nearly two years now around Canada and settled on Quebec im a little worried it will be hard for me to go back to the hospital after this long!

Hi Natalie,

I'm from British Columbia but moved to Montreal last year and have been working at the Royal Victoria Hospital for about 13 months now. I too had to navigate my way through the OIIQ and found that they like to take their sweet time. If you are wondering how long things are going to take your best bet is to go in to the OIIQ and talk to someone there (if you are in Montreal) or call them. I know it's sometimes difficult with the language barriers but if you have questions, that's the best thing to do. If you have been approved you might even be able to start looking for jobs and then let them know when you are starting and they will issue you your temporary license. The temp license is good until you pass the OIIQ exam (unless they except your Oz exam?). After you get your full license you still have to write the French Exam, which you have 3 years to pass. But at least you can work during that time.

The McGill University Health Centre (http://www.muhc.ca) provides free french classes. This is my employer and the French lessons have been a good experience so far.

There are many hoops to jump through to work as a nurse in Quebec. Pay is also the lowest in Canada. So if you're going for it, make sure it's really where you want to be!

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.

Lost In Translation (bcgrad08)

Hey, Thanks so much for your info!, at least i know im not the only one who's had to wait a while. I took your advice and called again yesterday and they assured me it would be reviewed by the end of the year but it looks like that may just be the beginning. She said i will probably have to do a 6 week stage in either a hospital or at university. The fact that im from Australia means everything is apparently different. Has anyone had to do this.. i guess it would be like a prac from the university days (not getting paid??)

The Royal victoria was where i originally looked into, so its great to hear that your enjoying it there and that they have french lessons! yay. I guess in the meantime i just have to wait. Also I will have to sit the exam next march, where is the best place to get the exam guide for this??

Hi lostintranslation,

I am also a RN here in BC and MUHC interviewed me recently. It sounds like everything will fall into place. If I am a Canadian RN already and I apply for registration in Quebec, will they quickly give me a permit to work as a RN??? that's what the HR from MUHC told me in the interview... your advise will be very much appreciated.. and also, do you mind if I ask you how much they pay you hourly? I've been reading the threads and it looks like Quebec RN rates are not that tempting...

Hi Dollarman,

Quebec now accepts the CRNE as equivalent to their exam and so getting your licence should now be fairly straightforward. You will still have to attempt the French exam at least once every year though and take French lessons in order to renew your licence each year. Once you pass that, you are golden. They do pay slightly less than the other provinces. They recognize previous experience though and you will get paid at the "echlon" concurrent with how many years you have been working as a nurse. Also depends if you have your degree or not, which you probably do, but in Quebec they still have 2 year RN programs and those nurses get paid a lot less than nurses with their bachelor's degrees.

Good luck!

Sweet, thanks a lot for that very detailed info. It decreases my anxiety a lot. How's Montreal by the way? how about the cost of living? because if MUHC will hire me, I might move to the city and live by myself.

Montreal was fun..... I say was because I am now in Ontario.... I know, a bit of a sell out but it was more because of my husband than me..... I loved it. It's diverse and exciting. Has more than it's share of problems and I did get a bit sick of the political agenda as far as language goes but I appreciate it for what it is. Unique!

I forgot to mention cost of living.....

Rent is cheap as far as big cities go..... for instance it's way cheaper to live downtown montreal than Toronto or Vancouver. But it always depends on the area and what you are looking for.

Everything else I find pretty comparable.