Like many other healthcare services in the world right now, Canada is going through challenges with a lack of public services, a staffing shortage, and an increased waiting time for processes to get transpired. For this reason, numerous steps are being taken by the Canadian government to ensure that the healthcare system becomes strong.
Not only are measures being taken to reduce the shortage of healthcare professionals but other significant policies that contribute to making the healthcare system of Canada robust are also being implemented.
There is immense potential for career development for nurses in both the public and private-owned settings. After completing the nursing courses in Canada, nurses can make the most out of the employment opportunities and set forth towards making a successful career in the country. Competitive salaries and an annual increment are offered to the international nurses in Canada. Although the pay varies on the basis of the province, kind of nursing study, and the overall experience, it is still lucrative on average.
Another advantage of completing nursing courses in Canada and then working there is the health coverage that nursing professionals get after months of living in the country. Additionally, nurses might also be able to access much better healthcare benefits with their employers over time.
Given all the benefits of choosing a nursing course in Canada, there are some things that must be known and considered beforehand by the nursing professionals. After all, no matter how lucrative migrating to Canada might be, it still involves careful planning. In this blog, we will list 5 important parameters to consider before choosing a nursing course in Canada.
1. The Process to Become a Registered Nurse:
After you got the necessary qualifications by completing the nursing courses in Canada, it is time to leverage the training and experience that you have received into a satisfactory nursing career. To do the same, you need to know about two important things.
Applying to NNAS:
The NNAS is called the National Nursing Assessment Service for Canada and applying with NNAS is considered as the first step or getting a license. Registration involves filling an online form with all the required information. It is necessary to apply to the NNAS in case you have been educated abroad and are seeking nursing jobs in Canada as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and registered psychiatric nurse.
NNAS will approve you once all documents are submitted and verified. It must be noted that this process takes a long time so nurses must begin doing the needful at the right time. However, after you are approved by NNAS, you will be eligible for licensure in your province in Canada. The NNAS will offer an initial assessment of the credentials so they can be matched to the Canadian standards.
Appearing for NCLEX:
In Canada, nurses don’t get licensed for the whole country. Each nurse is licensed in one province at a time. Before you begin, note that each province has a different set of requirements and different application fees for the exam. The first step is to check if you meet the registration requirements.For a detailed idea, here you can read, all you need to know about NCLEX.
Wide Range of Nursing Specializations:
Other than offering world-class education, Canadian colleges also offer a variety of nursing courses in Canada over different specializations. This gives the nursing students a chance to work with their existing talents, learn a new skill, and gain experience in the specialization of their individual choice.
Some of the specializations that the nurses can choose from are Mental Health Nursing, Palliative Care, Gerontology Nursing, Community Mental Health, Nursing leadership, and management, etc. To be able to stand apart amongst your peers, it can be a great idea to choose a postgraduate nursing program of your choice.
Besides the benefit of studying a master’s program, gaining a degree in your choice of nursing field enables a nurse to work for something that he/she is truly interested in. Additionally, choosing a nursing course that matches the past nursing education and competencies of a nurse pays off really well in the long run.
Multi-Cultural Growth:
Being a nursing student in Canada allows you to experience multicultural growth by living with students from diverse nations and cultures like China, India, the Philippines, the UK, the USA, etc. The Government of Canada follows multiculturalism as a policy by providing an inclusive environment to all nationalities. Currently, there are people from around two hundred nationalities who work and lead a happy life in Canada.
It is a well-known fact that Canada welcomes people from other countries with open arms. This is why Canada is a preferred destination for immigrants and visitors all over the world. Hence, nurses who migrate to Canada in search of a better life will experience multi-cultural growth in the true sense of the word. They experience the liberation and contentment that comes with oneness and accommodating with people of so many cultures.
When nurses choose to complete a nursing course in Canada, they sign up for a much better quality of life, all-around development, and the happiness of living with different kinds of people. The multicultural growth that nurses can get in Canada will be a significant highlight of a holistic development that they can experience in their lives. It will help them become competent, compassionate, and proficient healthcare professionals.
2. Role of Nurses in Canada:
Nursing professionals are responsible for enhancing the patient and community access to health services remarkably. At the time when the nurses were initially introduced in the Canadian health care system, their role was to fulfill the shortage of physicians.
However, today the nursing professionals have a distinct, independent, and profound identity of their own. Right from dealing with problems like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, the nursing professionals after completing nursing courses in Canada are effectively helpful in managing the patients suffering from chronic conditions.
Nurses nowadays are presented with an opportunity to maximize their professional capabilities with the help of training and education. Their jobs enable them to use their educational preparation, in-depth nursing knowledge, and full expertise in meeting the healthcare needs of individuals, groups, families, communities, and populations.
Hence, nurses who aspire to migrate to Canada must know that they will be presented with some of the growth opportunities that lead to professional and personal development.
3. First-hand Learning Experience:
Getting a first-hand learning experience is probably the most important requirement for becoming a competent nurse. Without getting valid practical experience, nurses will never be well equipped with the skills needed to treat the patients effectively. Before choosing to study a nursing course in Canada, nursing students must prepare themselves to get exposed to the best possible practical nursing experience.
All specialized nursing courses in Canada are structured in the sense that they provide hands-on education to all students. They are structured in a way that students gain both theoretical and practical knowledge. Irrespective of the program choice of a nursing student, one thing is certain that the education will be focused on providing as much knowledge as possible.
Hence, nurses who are on the fence of making a decision to migrate to Canada can take unlimited confidence in the fact they will be enriched with the kind of knowledge that will take them far in life.
Conclusion:
Nursing is considered as one of the most valued and well-respected professions in Canada. The nursing professionals are looked upon and admired for the kind of compassionate and selfless care that they offer to the patients and for the overall contributions they provide to humanity in general. Nurses are thought of as honest, ethical, and highly trusted individuals.
However, there are some important things that must be considered before choosing a nurse course in Canada. All the points mentioned above explain clearly that even though enrolling in nursing courses in Canada can be one of the best decisions ever made by an individual, it requires careful planning.
