Canada is the world’s second largest country by total area, and it is composed of ten provinces and three territories. This country also experiences a wide range of climate, from the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to the western coast of British Columbia, from its northern Arctic edge to its southern border with the U.S. Residents enjoy metropolitan living in cities such as Vancouver in British Columbia and Toronto in Ontario. But, many Canadians live in smaller towns and rural areas, too – and, like the U.S., nurses are needed in Canada’s rural and urban areas.

Becoming a Nurse in Canada

Basic nursing education is available in many communities across Canada. As in the U.S., nursing students can enter a basic program that prepares them for the national examination and to enter the nursing practice. Many universities and diploma schools provide these programs. In the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, new graduates are required to have a baccalaureate degree in nursing as the initial program. In all other provinces and territories, candidates have a choice of a diploma or a baccalaureate degree in nursing as the initial program. Professional associations encourage nurses to obtain a degree. If you’d prefer to obtain a higher education, Canada has twenty-one master’s programs in nine provinces. Doctoral programs in nursing are available in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Nursing Jobs in Canada

Nurses who seek employment in Canada can choose among numerous clinics, doctor’s offices and community health centers across this country. The larger health care centers are located in urban areas, however. The Scarborough Hospital, located in Montreal, is Canada’s largest urban community hospital, and the William Osler Health Centre is one of the largest hospitals in Ontario. Other top-tier employers include Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre in Vancouver and Foothills Medical Centre, the largest hospital in Calgary, Alberta. Nursing salaries in Canada are basically equal to pay in America, but some salaries are much higher in Canada. For instance, an LVN in Canada ranges from $35,000 to $145,000 per year, and an RN can earn between $50,000 and $111,000 per year. An emergency RN in Canada can earn, on average, $78,000 per year.