Career development: Focus on nursing

All the studies agree that the need for nursing staff will increase in Canada over the next five years. These jobs represent just under 50% of all jobs in the health care field, a vast sector where aging workers will lead to more job openings.

 
A vast sphere of action

 Nurses are the largest group of health professionals in Canada, with three categories of regulated nurses: registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs). While registered nurses and licensed practical nurses practise in all provinces and territories, psychiatric nurses work mainly in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia—provinces where they are regulated.

 
These three categories add up to a very diversified practice. Nursing jobs offer a number of opportunities, including scientific research, leading-edge techniques, working with children or health education. In the community, nurses can work in community health clinics, medical offices or home care. In hospitals, opportunities include emergency care, intensive care, operating rooms, maternity departments, pediatrics, oncology, geriatrics and palliative care.

Higher education for more advancement

 In order to fully take advantage of these many openings, the Canadian Nurses Association recommends doing a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. This degree is often a condition of admission to practise in most provinces. It also allows students to pursue master's degrees, which are required for some specialties. In partnership with universities, many colleges now offer nursing degree preparation programs, with the option of taking further courses to get a bachelor's degree. Generally, though, it is faster and cheaper to enrol in a bachelor's nursing program from the very start.

According to Service Canada statistics, the hourly rate for licensed practical nurses is now $18.52. Registered nurses make about $25.92 an hour while head nurses can earn as much as $27.18 an hour. Saskatchewan has the highest proportion of well-paid nurses.

Avenues to explore

 According to the Canadian Nurses Association, one of the most exciting opportunities for nurses in Canada is Northern nursing. Jobs in this region are particularly interesting because of the level of independence afforded, in which community health centres are often run entirely by nurses.

 As for types of jobs, the job outlook for registered nurses and head nurses in nursing facilities is very positive. Skills in caring for elderly patients at home will be increasingly in demand for licensed practical nurses, as will be tending to critical care patients in hospitals.