Canadians spend a lot of time in school - with one of the best education systems in the world, we are quite fortunate in this regard. However, once we finish the end of secondary school, many students often wonder - how much more school must I do?
This of course all depends on what we want to do in our careers. Some of us may choose to enter the workforce immediately, others will take time to travel, and many will choose to attend college or university. Those that have an interest in entering a nursing program will have at least 2 or more years of formal study to complete.
Canada’s nursing schools attract students for a wide variety of excellent reasons. Nurses are always in demand in Canada and abroad, with hospitals, clinics, municipalities, and private healthcare companies constantly looking for nursing professionals. Nurses enjoy job stability unlike many other jobs, with plenty of opportunities in different fields. You can become a nursing instructor, for example, a public health nurse, or provide care in a long term clinic. Pay for nurses is also rather competitive, and you will also likely receive a competitive benefit package upon hiring.
The time that you take to become a nurse will be an investment that you will see returns on almost immediately upon receiving certification. As you might expect, however, nurses require a significant amount of training prior to entering the field. Nurses must take courses in science, mathematics, and health care related subjects that will enable them to provide care to the most vulnerable patients, and watch for signs of distress or progress. Those that choose a college pathway to learn nursing will discover that a program will take about 2 years to complete, plus the time it takes to pass a nursing exam. Students that want to learn nursing in university may find that it takes 3-4 years to complete a program. Some schools will offer accelerated degree programs to prepare you for the workforce faster.
Let’s take a closer look at nursing programs in Canada today.
Becoming a nurse practitioner or a registered nurse in Canada is a complex process that attracts the best and brightest of students. Find out how to become a nurse practitioner in Canada.
Where Can I Learn Nursing?
Nursing training in Canada happens at the postsecondary level in college and university. To enter a nursing program, you will first need to have a secondary school diploma, with credits in English, mathematics, and science.
College programs in nursing lead toward certification as a practical nurse. In a practical nursing program, you will learn nursing theory and best practices, in addition to courses in anatomy, physiology, patient safety, pharmacotherapeutics, safety, and ethics. Learning will take place in a variety of hands-on and traditional environments, such as classrooms, labs, simulators, and clinical placements. These programs typically last 2 years, and when you graduate you will need to apply for certification with your provincial regulatory body and pass practical exams like the NCLEX successfully.
If you have your heart set on earning a university degree, you will find no shortage of nursing degree programs at universities across Canada. At the university level, you will receive a comprehensive foundation of learning in undergraduate courses, which will lead you to earning a bachelor’s degree. However, it will take significantly longer - up to 4 years to finish.
Nursing requires so many different skills, and nurses play a key role in supporting vulnerable individuals - some of whom will be in critical condition - so you can expect the training to be thorough and rigourous. Learn all about what it takes to become a nurse practitioner in Canada.
What are the Benefits of Learning Nursing in University?
Though university programs in nursing take longer to complete, there are significant benefits. Here are the top benefits of studying nursing in university.
Enjoy the University Experience
Attending university can be one of the most formative periods of your life, as you will meet people who will become lifelong friends and experience the joy that comes from having years to simply focus on learning. Many adults in the workforce that have undertaken the responsibility of family life will tell you how special it is to have time to learn not only about the academic discipline you have chosen, but to have time to discover yourself and your interests. University is a place where all of this happens and more. For many students, university is a first time to be living independently, and meet dozens of people from all different areas of the world and Canada.
Why miss this experience? Remember, you only live once!
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Having a university degree is a relatively unique distinction that you will be proud to have your entire life. Once you have a degree, you join a group of highly educated individuals that can say they pursued the challenging goal of gaining knowledge in a specific area or discipline. As a nursing graduate, you will be highly respected for your knowledge of healthcare and for the essential role you play in hospitals, clinics, universities, and the broader system of healthcare across the country.
With a degree, you all also find new academic pathways should you want to continue on withs school. You can attend graduate school or even college or continuing education postsecondary programs that will enable you to specialize your knowledge or even change careers.
More Career Options
Finally, with a nursing degree you will find that you have many more career pathways. Nursing degree students can become certified as a registered nurse, and then proceed on to become a nurse practitioner with experience in the field and graduate study. As a nurse practitioner, you can become a nurse educator or be in a better position to pursue leadership roles in the organization you choose to work in.
If you are interested in rewarding, steady work that is always in demand, you might want to consider starting a career in nursing. Nurses are in demand not only in Canada but around the world.
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners have advanced university education. They earn more higher salaries than practical nurses, and have much more responsibility. Nurse practitioners are certified to provide a significant range of health care services to people in settings such as hospitals and community based clinics. They have many of the privileges of a physician, but with a much shorter and less intense training period. For example, nurse practitioners can assess, diagnose, treat and monitor health problems, and can even prescribe medication. They are widely respected in the community and in many cases much easier to schedule an appointment with from the patient's perspective.
The career path to becoming a nurse can be varied, with so many options and opportunities. Find out if nursing is the right pathway for you.
Will I need Nursing Help to Complete my Program?
Nursing at any level can be challenging, and there is nothing wrong with getting help when you need it. As we have discussed, nursing is an interdisciplinary subject with connections to science, mathematics, English, and more. You must memorize a slew of terms, take extensive exams to become qualified, and pass your courses successfully. If you have other responsibilities in your life, you may find that keeping up with your learning is extremely tough.
For this reason, you should be aware of all the resources out there to help you in a nursing program. Here are a couple of ways to support your studying.
Independent Learning
With so much information on the internet, it is actually quite feasible to find the help you need through websites, videos and even podcasts. Need a study guide for an anatomy class? You’ll find plenty of infographics on the internet. Are you finding yourself confused by the explanations provided by a teacher or professor? An explainer video may be able to clarify your misunderstanding in a few short minutes.
Study Groups
Your peers are also an excellent resource, and you may find it incredibly cost-efficient and fun to use each other to learn and review information. Form a study group with a group of classmates in your program, and you may find that you will not only form a great social group but a convenient way to prepare for tests, share notes, and provide feedback on each other’s work.
Tutoring
Tutoring is another excellent way to get help with your nursing program. Perhaps you don’t have time to form a study group, or need to learn lots of information in a short amount of time. A tutor can tailor a program of study for you, focus on your greatest areas of need, and meet with you when it makes sense for your schedule.
What’s the difference between a nurse practitioner and a doctor in Canada? The similarities may actually surprise you.
Where Can I Find a Nursing Tutor?
Finding a tutor is a great way to get help when you need it, especially in a program like nursing. Using Superprof Canada, you can easily find a tutor that suits your need. The site is intended to help you find academic support while also providing valuable information and articles about studying a range of topics in Canada. Use the site to browse the profiles of dozens of tutors near you. You can message prospective tutors through the site, and communicate with them to see if they will be a good fit for your needs.
Get the help you need on Superprof today!
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