Nurses play a vital role in Canada’s healthcare system. If you’ve ever had the experience of spending time as a patient in a hospital, you have probably captured just a glimpse of of the ‘heavy lifting’ they do when it comes to providing hospital care. They are tasked with checking on patients, ensuring they have received medication, and helping patients with everything they need to feel comfortable in their current circumstances. In emergency contexts, nurses are on the front line supporting people as they face what can often be life-changing crises. They understand what to look for when someone is unwell, and are skilled at providing immediate care to children, adults, and seniors. Nurses often provide a much needed connection between hospital staff and families, updating them with important information about a patient’s health and well-being.
Outside of a hospital setting, nurses play a wide range of roles in clinics, community centres, schools, universities, and other research institutions. You might be served by a nurse in a clinic for a family doctor, a cosmetic surgeon, a long term care facility, or a community health centre. Nurses educate the general public on a wide range of topics, from sexual health to preventing the spread of communicable disease.
Becoming a nurse is one of the most rewarding and challenging careers you can pursue. While the hours can be long, your services will always be in demand not only in Canada but all around the world. You are choosing a profession that is not only stable, but generally well-paid and among the most respected by the general public. Perhaps best of all, you will be making a difference in the lives of many and be empowered to support the health and well-being of your community.
Studying nursing is a huge undertaking that requires years of study and comprehensive exams. Learn more about what it is like to become a nurse in Canada.
How Much do Nurses Earn in Canada?
Nurses in Canada make $40-$50 an hour, and there are lots of opportunities to gain additional hours through overtime or special events such as vaccination clinics. You can work in hospitals, clinics, universities, school boards, or other public and private health organizations.
What is Nurse Learning Like in Canada?
Learning to become a nurse in Canada is a journey that starts with your secondary learning. To earn a diploma or degree in nursing, you must have secondary school credits in English, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry. Taking a degree program in nursing will mean that you will attend university, which can be a more challenging pathway of study but will ultimately open up a broader range of professional options in your career. If you choose a degree pathway, ensure that you are taking academic stream courses in the senior grades to ensure you have all the requirements. Speak to a guidance counsellor at your school or the admissions department at the universities you have a preference for to learn more. The following major Canadian universities have nursing programs:
- University of Toronto
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Calgary
- Dalhousie
The NCLEX is an essential exam that all nurses must take to practice in North America. Learn all about how the NCLEX fits into the journey it takes to become a nurse in Canada.
College Programs in Nursing
There are many good reasons to attend college to become a nurse. Those that are looking to get into the nursing field quickly will be please to know that a practical nursing diploma program takes 2 years to complete, compared to 4 or more years in a degree program. These programs will give you a solid background in nursing theory, anatomy, physiology, pharmacotherapeutics, patient safety, and leadership. Programs typically involve clinical placements where you can get hands-on experience. Colleges with nursing diploma programs include:
- Georgian College
- George Brown College
- Humber College
- Langara College
- Conestoga College
- Medicine Hat College
- Norquest College
Is the Nursing Field of Study Hard to Get Into?
Getting into the nursing field of study can be competitive, depending on the program and school that you are applying to. Nursing requires a broad range of skills and attributes, and you will need to be focused and studious to acquire the knowledge and courses to graduate and be successful on your nursing exams. If you have taken a college diploma in nursing, you will be qualified to write the Practical Nurse exam. Those that have taken a 4 year degree can write the NCLEX-RN or registered nurse exam after taking a postgraduate program.
In addition to nursing examinations, you will also have to apply to the organization that regulates the nursing profession in your province. Some examples of these organizations include the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals and Midwives, College of Registered Nurses Alberta, Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, College of Nurses Ontario, and the Nurses Association of New Brunswick.
What skills do you need to become a nurse in Canada? Explore the best strategies for learning nursing in Canada.
What Areas Can I Specialize in as a Nurse?
Of course, your journey of learning does not stop after your examinations and provincial qualifications. Nursing is a unique profession in that you can truly be a lifelong learner, gaining specializations that can take you into new career pathways and opportunities in different healthcare settings. With the more experience and specialization, you can also take leadership roles and become an expert in your field. Once you get a sense of where your interests and passions lie in healthcare, you can specialize in a number of fields through additional coursework. These fields include:
- Ambulatory Care Nurse
- Burn Care Nurse
- Camp Nurse
- Cardiac Care Nurse
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Diabetes Nurse
- Dermatology Nurse
- Family Nurse
- Forensic Nurse
- Gastroenterology Nurse
- Geriatric Nurse
- Lactation Consultant
- Long Term Care Nurse
- Neuroscience Nurse
- Obstetrics Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- And so much more!
Can you Become a Nurse Online?
Online learning is one of the most popular ways to complete a diploma or degree today, and it's not hard to see why. Online learning enables you to have a level of flexibility you would not have with in-person classes: there is no long commute to school, you can learn from the comfort of your home, and attend to family responsibilities that you may have. You may also find it much easier to work part time while taking online coursework. But is it possible to learn a profession as hands-on as nursing in a virtual environment?
The short answer is yes. While you will still need to get practical, hands on clinical experience as part of your nursing program, it is possible to take some of your coursework online. When you do have clinical hours or courses that require you to be in person, you will have to re-adjust your schedule but in some cases you may be able to find ways to accommodate your work or family.
Nursing is an exciting area to study that leads to stable, in-demand careers. Learn the best reasons to study nursing.
Where Can I Find a Nursing Study Guide?
You will find no shortage of nursing examination study guides that will prepare you to be successful. In addition to study guides for exams like the NCLEX, you can also find resources to help you with the science, mathematics, and healthcare courses you will need to graduate from university and college nursing programs.
While using study guides and websites can be efficient and inexpensive, you may find that you need more than a book or a set of notes to review. Learning is a complex process, and for new and challenging academic concepts to stick you may want to get additional help. This is where a private tutor is an indispensable resource.
A private nursing tutor can help you prepare for your exams, helping you to formulate answers for practice questions and checking to see that you have the knowledge and communication skills to get the best possible results. They can work with you to understand how to best write synthesis and evaluation questions, memorize different medications you will need to know on the test, and give you strategies for writing the exam efficiently and accurately. A tutor can help you ensure that the time and money you have invested in nursing school are put to good use.
Nursing is one of the most rewarding and challenging professions you can choose. Learn all about what takes to become a registered practical nurse or a registered nurse in Canada.
Where Can I Find a Private Nursing Tutor?
Finding a tutor to help you with your nursing exams and courses is easy thanks to Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects students and tutors. You can browse the site to find a tutor that can help you in the areas you need the most help. Simply visit the website, use the search tool to find a nursing tutor in your province or city, and read through different profiles to see the qualifications and backgrounds of different tutors. You can see what their rates are for tutoring, and email them to see if they are available during times that work for you.
Don't delay on doing the best you can in your nursing program! Find a tutor on Superprof.
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