4 Best Canadian Provinces to Apply for Nursing Jobs

The demand for immigrant healthcare workers in Canada has drastically increased since Covid-19 plagued the world. But that is not the only reason why there are a lot of working opportunities in the healthcare sector.

According to Canada.ca, around 500,000 workers are 55 years old and above. It means that the same number of professionals will retire in the coming years, leaving the nursing positions empty.

With that in mind, there is a surge of nursing jobs in Canada where professionals can earn $20 to $30 an hour. If you’re seeking to fulfill your dream to work as a nurse abroad, there is no better time than now.

4 Best Canadian Provinces to Apply for Nursing Jobs

As an immigrant, it is imperative to acquire a Canada work visa first before you can start working. Assuming that you already have this important document, you can start applying for nursing jobs in these provinces where nurses are in demand:

Manitoba

Manitoba is a central province in Canada and is one of the top provinces that is in dire need of nurses. A report by CBC in April 2021 revealed that the shortage of nurses in Manitoba has been a big problem for many years. The number of vacant nursing positions has even doubled due to the pandemic.

If you check various job sites, you’ll see a long list of nursing jobs in Canada, particularly in Manitoba. Most of them are looking to hire nurses who can work at hospitals and other healthcare facilities where Covid-19 patients need medical attention. The salary is no joke as well. On average, registered nurses earn $37.11 per hour, and it can increase as the province continues to deal with the shortage of nurses.

Although the salary is rewarding, becoming a nurse in Manitoba will not be a walk in the park. Aside from completing the Canada work visa requirements, you must also complete the advanced practice nursing education that the province requires.

It’s a lot of work, but once you become a full-fledged Canada-based nurse, you’ll become a member of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). You’ll receive many benefits like life insurance and medical care.

New Brunswick

Another Canadian province where you can apply for nursing jobs in New Brunswick. Similar to Manitoba, New Brunswick is also facing a shortage of nurses even before the pandemic happened.

In June 2019, John McGarry, the board chair of Horizon, the province’s largest regional health authority, announced that Horizon would need to hire around 320 nurses every year for 5 years to mitigate the lack of nursing staff in the healthcare facilities. The demand doubled when Covid-19 became a pandemic.

The scarcity of nurses has also led New Brunswick to declare the Nursing Resource Strategy wherein they offer nursing jobs to foreign or immigrant nurses. It’s a 10-year program in which the province actively enlists internationally educated nurses. Talk about the benefits of having a Canada work visa, right?

Moreover, New Brunswick accepts immigrants much faster than other Canadian provinces because of its low migration rate. So, if you’re looking for nursing jobs in Canada with a higher chance of getting accepted, you should consider New Brunswick.

Aside from that, this province needs more healthcare professionals to boost its growing economy further. And to make it more enticing, nurses can earn a minimum of $28 per hour, depending on the type of nursing job and healthcare facility. The working schedules in hospitals consist of four shifts around the clock and four shifts off. Nursing facilities like elderly care homes have eight hours of work per day for five days.

Nova Scotia

Nursing jobs in Canada for foreigners are spread all over the country, including in Nova Scotia where there is also a deficiency in nurses. One reason is the Covid-19 pandemic and the other is that many nurses are leaving their profession, making it difficult for the province to fill the gap. It means that Nova Scotia has opened many working opportunities for immigrant nurses to work in the province’s healthcare facilities.

Due to the shortage of nurses, Nova Scotia has been hiring nursing graduates who are earning more than the country’s average salary. If a person holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, they can earn around $38 per hour, which is 4.5 percent higher than the national average.

However, the health authorities and nurse organizations in Nova Scotia are more inclined to hire professional nurses from other countries because of their work experience. Janet Hazelton, the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, said that it would not be enough to hire fresh grads because it takes time to orient and trains them.

To become a nurse in Nova Scotia, you have to show a registered nurse certification, your educational background, and work experience. They have no nationality preferences. Instead, each applicant is evaluated individually by an assessment consultant.

Furthermore, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), a program that aims to hire skilled workers from other countries, has posted more than 600 nursing jobs in Nova Scotia on various job sites. So, don’t miss the opportunity to apply in a promising province as long as you have a Canada work visa.

Quebec

Wait, there is more! Nursing jobs in Canada are also available in Quebec, the country’s version of France. Landing a job in this beautiful province isn’t only rewarding, but it also fulfills your Parisian dreams.

But why is it a place of opportunities for immigrant nurses? Well, just like the other three provinces on the list, Quebec is also suffering from a shortage of nurses. To mitigate the problem that has been going on even before the pandemic started, health authorities are hiring foreign-trained nurses.

According to a report by CIC News, the recruitment of immigrant nurses has increased five times more than in the last two years. The salary is also a great deal. If you get a nursing job in this province, you can earn, at least, $20 per hour. Other jobs even offer $900-$1000 a week. That’s not too bad at all.

And if you plan to live in Quebec, you can apply for immigration through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). Qualified applicants under the QSWP are granted permanent residence. But you have to make sure that you intend to stay in Quebec for the long term.

Apply for your work visa

Even during these trying times, there are still working opportunities, especially for nurses. Nursing jobs are waiting for you in different provinces in Canada. And the 4 best provinces to go to are Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. Although you’ll face some challenges along the way, you just have to be persistent enough to get one.

And speaking of persistence, we know how tedious the process of getting a Canada work visa is. The requirements alone are not easy, and the process takes time. The bad news is that you can’t work if you don’t have one. It’s for that reason why we exist. We are available to assist you with your visa needs.

If you want to learn more about our services, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Great North Visa. For your convenience, click the option below, and our team will assist you right away.