The iSavta Team | 03.06.2019
Considerations when looking for a registered nursing job in Canada
Although over 60% of registered nurses in Canada work in hospital settings, there is a huge range of jobs in other settings, such as nursing homes, businesses, clinics, and many others.
There are so many different places where you could work as a registered nurse.
Nurses work with people at every stage of their lives, through illness, disability, injury and health.
A career as a registered nurse (RN) can take you in countless directions.
Thinking about the kind of job you want will help you in your job search.
To find a registered nurse job, you will want to narrow down the type of setting that you want to work in. These could include:
- Hospitals
- Community healthcare clinics
- Mental health care facilities
- Home care
- Businesses
- Prison
- Research centres
- Rehabilitation centres
- Colleges and universities
- Government agencies
Consider who you want to work with. Is it the general population? Older adults? Children?
Think about where you want to work. It might be helpful to consider whether you want to work in a rural or an urban setting, and what your days might look like.
And finally, think about the hours and shift patterns that you would be willing to do. In a community clinic, you may work regular 9-5 hours, but in a hospital, you could be working a range of different shift patterns.
If you have any family commitments, this could be something to consider when looking for a job.
At the bottom of the article there are some helpful links for websiteswhere you can look for registered nursing jobs.
For more information, check out the Framework for Registered Nurses.
Qualifications
Entry to registered nursing in Canada is now through bachelor’s degree programmes in nursing.
If you are from Canada
In Canada, a registered nurse has either passed their Canadian Registered Nurse Examination or the Quebec examination (examen professionnel de l’QIIQ).
They also need to register with the regulatory body in their province or territory.
About 44% of nurses in Canada are qualified with a diploma. Now, to qualify as a nurse, you need a bachelor’s degree in nursing. You can find out more information by visiting the Canadian Nurses Association website.
If you are from outside of Canada
If you are a registered nurse from another country hoping to come to Canada to work in nursing, you will need to assess your credentials in accordance with the provincial association in the area where you wish to apply for work.
The usual requirements are:
- Evidence of your RN qualification
- Evidence of your education
- Evidence of your work experience
- Evidence of language proficiency score if you are not a native English or French speaker
If you meet the criteria, you will gain a temporary permit and you can apply for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE).
You can find out more information on the requirements of each province here.dciu
You can find out more about working as a nurse in Canada here.
Websites to look for nursing jobs in Canada
- Workopolis has a range of registered nursing jobs.
- Nursing Careers Canada is the official job board for the Canadian nurses association and has both job listings and useful information about careers in nursing.
- You can search your local area for RN jobs at Health-e-Careers.
- RN Careers has job listings and career resources.
- Indeed.com is a useful resource for registered nurse jobs.
You can also use general job boards online to look for nursing jobs.
Other ways of finding registered nursing jobs in Canada
The “hidden job market”
It’s true of many different industries that a huge number of jobs are never posted. Personally, I have found jobs through making prospective enquiries, and referrals through people that I know. Sometimes, getting the best job is about being in the right place at the right time.
Networking
Stay in touch with other nurses, such as people you’ve trained with and former colleagues. LinkedIn can be a great way of doing this. It’s also a great resource for jobs.
Networking can also be highly beneficial. Events and conferences can be the perfect way to meet people working in other organisations who will be able to link you to your next RN job. Another way of networking is by joining nursing association peer groups or professional interest groups.
Prospective applications
Another thing that you can do is consider where you want to work and make a prospective application. I recommend speaking to prospective employers either face-to-face or over the phone rather than solely emailing or sending in a resume. You are much likely to make a better impression and be remembered this way.
Also – keep your eyes on jobs and career fairs where you might be able to connect with potential employers!
Make yourself more employable
What about when you’ve found the job you want and it’s time to apply? How do you stand out amongst the other candidates?
Are you at the beginning of your nursing career? What about if you want to change direction to work in another area of nursing? What if you have gaps on your resume?
There are plenty of resources to help you address these issues and find the RN job that you’re looking for.
Check out the career resources on the RN Careers website to help you consider your career goals, assess your options, discover your transferable skills.
Job Applications and Interviews
It is vital in any industry to be able to write an effective CV or resume and a covering letter. These tools will show your prospective employer that you have the skills and abilities to do the job.
If you get an interview for the job, the most important thing you can do is prepare. The more prepared you are with examples of how you meet the job competencies, the more likely you are to succeed.
The Careers in Nursing website has loads of helpful information on preparing to get a job, including interview tips, resume advice and more.
