Nursing is one of the most promising and fulfilling medical disciplines. Nurses as health care professionals have to be on their toes to cater to the needs of patients.
The nursing profession is also one that is highly impervious to the economic cycle of recession. So, one must keenly consider the opportunities provided by this profession. Nursing is an authentic calling, and there is no better place to train and serve than Canada.
Nursing studies in Canada are a highly popular option for international students and nursing aspirants.
Why Canada?
Canada is a country with innumerable opportunities. Since it is a developed country, it provides different ways for ensuring career opportunities that are highly diverse and lucrative. Nursing is one of the top subjects for international students to study and work in Canada
The reasons for these are:
- High-quality training and education
Canada is a leading country for offering top-quality nursing education programs. It offers students a globally reputed degree along with hands-on expertise. Besides this, BSc nursing in Canada offers an industrial internship that boosts the versatility of the nursing job by providing a wide range of positions in the nursing sphere.
- Excellent prospects for jobs
There is scope for nurses to work in Canada as licensed/ registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners or registered nurses. There are also speciality nurses (community nurses/ psychiatric nurses) which offer students more options to select from based on the individual goal. With regard to the various nursing fields, salaries vary very much as also the case with employment options (like self-employment).
Canada offers to international nurses an ambitious salary beginning from $75k per year for simply 40 hours of work per week, with annual increment in payroll. An additional benefit is health coverage which becomes valid within 3 months of living in Canada. Also, many medical centres offer child care services to help nurses serving odd hours.
- Security and stability
The Canadian profession of nursing is protected by unions who take care of benefits and job security and various organizations who offer liability help and protection. Also, once employed, nurses begin to contribute to pensions which are a great way to invest in the future for sure.
Canadian Stipulations for Eligibility For Nursing Programs
- Eligibility for BSc nursing
An undergraduate program (BSc or BN) or diploma in nursing in Canada following the 12th standard deems that students must have finished high school with a minimum average of C Grade in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths and English. Several schools provide a pre-nursing year for those who do not adhere to such benchmarks.
- Eligibility for PG (MSc) nursing programs
The major criterion for eligibility for MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) in Canada is a valid Bachelor’s degree carrying an average of B grade or at least a score of 70% to 76%. But for the PG Diploma, the requirement is a lesser score of around 60 to 65% in Bachelors.
For aspirants from universities outside Canada, the following scores are required:
- TOEFL: Score of 88 and upwards
- IELTS: Score of 6.5 and upwards
- PTE: Score of 59 and upwards
Another option for overseas students of nursing is the test of CELBAN
- Criteria for Canadian Nurse Practitioner or Clinical programs
Aspirants for the Nurse Practitioner role must complete at least clinical time of 3900 hours (amounting to the experience of 2 years) as a Registered Nurse (RN). This must be completed by August 31 for starting the program in September. But the placement in BSN or BSc Nursing program will not be counted.
Aspirants should hold current registration as RN or the corresponding qualifications.
Duration of Courses
Typically, BSc programs are for 4 years in which training is given to work as an RN. Postgraduate nursing diploma course in Canada takes 1 to 2 years. But the duration of courses varies across Canadian universities.
Cost of Study
When one opts for becoming an Internationally Trained Nurse, it is vital to opt for the right nursing program, based on competencies and desires. The structure of fees is based on the university where one applies and the nursing program which one wants to pursue.
Typically, the BSc nursing degree may cost around $40,000 annually for both tuition and living expenses. This amounts to INR 80 to 90 lakhs for 4 years.
The approximate annual fees are $18,806 for under graduation and $12,183 for graduation. The basic cost of living will cost a range from $10,000 to $16,500 for a year.
Canadian Registration for Foreign Nurses
The degree one gains in India or any other country is not enough to work as an RN in Canada. The international credentials of aspirants will be evaluated, and one must become licensed to practice in Canada. This involves some procedures:
- Begin with NNAS
One must apply to the NNAS (National Nursing Assessment Service) for seeking Canadian jobs of RN, LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RPN (Registered Psychiatric Nurse). The NNAS offer easy process for foreign nurses to apply for Canadian nursing registration. After submitting fees, applications and documents, one will be permitted to apply for licensure.
- Choose the type of nursing practice
The aspirant can opt to train to become RN, LPN or RPN.
- Take up a written exam
In case the aspirant is evaluated and is permitted to take up exams, there are 2 kinds of exams to appear for: Nursing Jurisprudence exam and National Nursing exam.
Besides the NNAS, every Canadian province enjoins aspirants to appear for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Exam). This exam may be either a CPNRE (practical nursing) or an NCLEX-RN exam based on the aspirant’s nursing group.
After clearing this exam, one is eligible to work as an entry-level RN in Canada. The Nursing Jurisprudence exam is yet another exam that concentrates on ethical and legal nursing responsibilities.
- Language proficiency exam
To be a certified nurse, one must prove language proficiency, either in French or English. CELBAN or IELTS are English exams which can serve this purpose. The difference between CELBAN and IELTS/ TOEFL is that CELBAN focuses on nursing concepts while the latter comprises of general knowledge.
- OSCE Assessment
Objective Structured Clinical Examination is a tool for assessment to measure nursing competence. It comprises of two parts: a written exam and a practical test with simulation.
These are all some top facts about nursing studies in Canada.
