**Disclaimer**
Are you an international nurse applying to work in Canada? Well, stay tuned...
First of all, welcome to my blog!
After going through frustration of trying to research what needs to be done to be a nurse in Canada. Reading through so many websites/threads/posts online. Trying to gain some insight on what is required to get licensed... and STILL not fully understanding process.
I am taking it up upon myself to start this blog up with my version of events. I am hoping to help some of you wonderful nurses out there to gain some clarity on; what you have to do, how long it takes and also the cost of the every step to be a internationally educated nurse (IEN) in Canada.
So the title of this post 'disclaimer'... This is for two reasons;
I am not actually looking to be a nurse full-time here. I moved to Canada (Vancouver to be precise) in July 2018. Wanting a break from healthcare and a fresh start to learn new skills in a different role. This is still the case. I have just landed a great office job that I am really looking forward to starting... But after being in Canada for a couple months and realizing that I do love it here, I've figured nursing would be a good way to stay in the country long term. Currently, I am on a temporary visa which is for only 2 years. Nursing, on the other hand is classified as a 'skilled worker' job. This will allow me to be apply for that golden PR (permanent residency) status. PR status will allow me to stay in Canada for as long as my heart pleases.
I have never been through the process of trying to be a nurse abroad before (Canada seems to make it a very difficult and long winded process). My intention is that this blog is going to be a very 'real'. The plan is to update it whenever I figure out a little bit more or hear back from relevant regulatory bodies. BUT please be patient. As said in #1, I am starting a job outside of healthcare which I really want to get great at. Nursing is not the main work I want to do out here, for now anyways, so it's taking a bit of backseat.
Right, so I hope that clears up a few things! In my next post I will go into more detail of what I've found out so far on what needs to be done to apply to be a nurse here in Canada.
Until next time...