OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Registered Nurses [RN] Introduction What are the Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C.? British Columbia welcomes you! Like you, over 35,000 immigrants from around the world settle in B.C. each year and find work in a variety of professions. The process of finding work can take time, so it is important to understand each of the steps needed to gain employment. If you are preparing to come to B.C., or have just arrived, this guide provides the following information: Section 1 - how this occupation is practiced in B.C. Section 2 - steps to help prepare you before you arrive Section 3 - qualifications needed in B.C. Section 4 - tips to help you find employment Section 1 Occupational Overview What is an RN? An RN provides direct nursing care to patients, delivers health education programs, works with and consults with other healthcare professionals. What qualifications are required to be an RN in B.C.? Registration with College of Registered Nurses of B.C. (CRNBC) is required. Learn More Some excellent sources of occupational information include: National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s reference on occupations. The NOC provides job descriptions, occupational statistics and labour market information. www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc New applicants for CRNBC registration must write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE). Applicants may also be required to undergo a Substantially Equivalent Competency (SEC) assessment. www.crnbc.ca/Registration/RNApplication What skills, abilities and attributes do employers expect from RNs? A strong knowledge base in the biological psycho-social and nursing sciences Good problem-solving, good judgement, and patience Workforce Highlights 35,900 Hourly Wage $22.00 - $42.00 Range For more information on wages and workforce see Section 2 This Occupational Guide for Immigrants to BC is a resource to help immigrants build a career plan. Occupational qualifications and requirements sometimes change. Planning your career in BC will require additional research and direct contact with the appropriate regulatory bodies, professional associations and training institutions. This Occupational Guide is for general information only and is not legal or professional advice. www.WelcomeBC.ca Registered Nurses in B.C. OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Advanced English language skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff and patients Strong interpersonal skills Ability to work cooperatively with other members of the health care team Compassion, dependability, maturity and self-discipline Ability to multi-task in a complex and fast-paced environment Ability to handle high levels of stress associated with emergencies and medical conditions Workplace computer skills Learn more about employment options for registered nurses in B.C. The five regional health authorities and one provincial health authority in B.C. are responsible for both hospital and community health services. They are the major employers of nurses. There are also job opportunities in residential care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Approximately 15 per cent of registered nurses in B.C. are internationally educated. Hospitals Doctors’ offices Nursing homes Clinics Extended care facilities Community agencies Rehabilitation centres Companies and private homes Section 2 Learn More The College of Registered Nurses of B.C. (CRNBC) www.crnbc.ca The College of Registered Nurses of B.C. protects the public by regulating the registration of nurses, nurse practitioners, and licensed graduate nurses. Telephone: 604.736.7331 or 1.800.565.6505 The Canadian Nursing Association (CNA) www.cna-nurses.ca The CNA is the national professional voice of registered nurses and it acts in the public interest for Canadian nursing and nurses, promotes uniform and high quality regulatory practices and promotes high standards of nursing practice. Telephone: 613.237.2133 or 1.800.361.8404 Prepare Before You Come to B.C. Explore Regions in B.C. to Live and Work The demand for each occupation varies throughout the regions of the province. B.C. is a big province, about the same size as Tanzania or Venezuela, and bigger than Pakistan or Turkey. Each region has different employment needs and industries. Use the labour market information and resources in this guide to explore regional employment options. B.C. Labour Market Information B.C. DEVELOPMENT REGIONS To learn more about your chosen profession visit the following websites where you will find information including salaries, regional employment opportunities, job descriptions, and more. 1. 2. 3. 4. B.C. Job Trend Tracker www.bcjobtrendtracker.ca 7 5. 6. 7. 8. Cariboo North Coast Nechako Northeast 8 Education Planner www.educationplanner.ca WorkBC www.workbc.ca Vancouver Island/Coast Mainland/Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay 6 Working in Canada Tool www.workingincanada.gc.ca BC Wage and Salary Survey 2009 www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/LabourIncome/Earnings.aspx 5 3 1 2 4 2 OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Prepare Yourself Plan and prepare for your career as much as possible before arriving in B.C. Be sure you understand the provincial job market and professional requirements of your occupation. You may be able to start or complete many of these tasks before you arrive in Canada. Get Started! 1. Learn about the occupation. Know the name of the job in Canada, and make lists of potential employers. 2. Collect documents. Collect copies of relevant documents, and if necessary, have them translated into English. Degrees, diplomas or certificates from universities, colleges or schools Program descriptions related to your studies, and transcripts of grades Reference letters and performance reviews from employers Work descriptions and letters from professional agencies 3. Improve your workplace skills. You may need to improve your skills or knowledge before you start working in B.C. Explore all of the resources provided in this guide. Section 3 Becoming Qualified to work in B.C. The following information will help you understand how to become certified to work as a registered nurse in B.C. This is only a guide; you will have to do more research to make a career plan that will work for you. It is important to complete all of the activities listed below. It is not necessary to complete the activities in the order they are listed. To save time, it is advisable towork on many of these activities at the same time. Go to the CRNBC website for detailed information on becoming qualified as an RN in B.C. An RN in B.C. must become certified by the College of Registered Nurses of B.C. The steps required to become qualified are listed and fully explained on the CRNBC website. www.crnbc.ca/Registration/RNApplication/InternationalEN ! Begin the qualification and career planning process and obtain all required documents before leaving your country. If you have already arrived in B.C., develop a career plan immediately to avoid creating a gap in your professional experience. Learn More Learn more about being a registered nurse in B.C. and Canada Potential to Prosperity – What it takes to work as Registered Nurse in B.C. and Canada: www.cfeep2p.com Review and download the application package This application package contains all the information that the CRNBC needs from you to process your application. This process can take many months. Begin as soon as you can. www.crnbc.ca/Registration/RNApplication/InternationalEN/Pages/ Step2.aspx Learn More Download the “Occupational fact sheet for internationally educated nurses” Occupational Fact Sheet www.crnbc.ca/Registration/Lists/RegistrationResou rces/468RegProcessIEN.pdf 3 OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Collect documents and professional evidence – registration with CRNBC requires many documents ! Currently, CRNBC requires the following documents from International Nurse Applicants. You will have to get documents from your nursing school, your regulatory authority, the English language assessment centre and from past employers. The forms listed below are included in the application package. Regularly check the CRNBC website and its document requirements and qualification processes. These can change. Current List of Required Documents: A completed “Application to be Assessed for Nurse Registration in B.C.” [Form 16] Proof of identity (including your current name, and all former names) “International Nurse Applicants” [Form 49] The application fee and payment form A copy of your passing English test scores “Verification of Nurse Registration” [Form 25] “Basic Nursing Education and Request for Transcript” [Form 30] “Employment Reference for Nurse Registration” [Form 37] Study for and successfully complete the required language assessments ! If English is not your first language, you must submit a copy of passing scores on an English fluency test accepted by the CRNBC. You must submit the test results with your application for registration. If possible, complete English language assessments before you leave your country. Excellent communication skills are required to get a job as a Registered Nurse. Continue to practice your English and to improve your communication skills even after you complete the language tests. English Language and Communication Services DIVERSEcity www.dcrs.ca S.U.C.C.E.S.S. www.successbc.ca TOEFL www.toefl.org English Language Services for Adults www.elsanet.org MOSAIC www.mosaicbc.com Welcome BC www.welcomebc.ca Planning to Work in British Columbia, Canada Workbook www.welcomebc.ca/local/wbc/docs/ BC_Workbook_EN_June4_Fillable.pdf IELTS International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org Immigrant Services Society of BC www.issbc.org The language assessments and scores currently accepted by CRNBC English Language Assesements International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) Language Skill Components Minimum Score Speaking 7 7.5 Listening Reading 6.5 Writing 7 Speaking Listening Reading 8 10 8 Writing 7 7 Overall Band Score 7.5 Overall Band Score (All components) (All components) 4 OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Schedule your RN certification exams Certification exams are offered three times a year. You must apply to write the exam two months before the exam. You must have met the English language requirements before taking the exam. To check the exam schedule and exam costs go to: www.crnbc.ca/registration/rnapplication/pages/examdates.aspx Section 4 Tips to Finding Employment in B.C. Learn More Skills upgrading programs for internationally educated nurses Graduate Nurse, Internationally Educated Re-entry www.kwantlen.ca/calendar/2011-12/health/graduaten urseinternationallyeducatedreentry-cert.html Transition Courses for Nursing and Health www.tru.ca/distance/programs/health-science/ transition-courses-nursing.html Get Help with Your Job Search Finding a job in B.C. may be very different than in your home country. You may need help finding job vacancies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and understanding what B.C. employers are looking for. Skills Connect for Immigrants program provide employment-related support services that move internationally educated professionals into the B.C. labour market: www.welcomebc.ca/skillsconnect ! The Canadian government provides employment and settlement services in China, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. The program is called the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP). To get more information about these pre-arrival services, go to: www.newcomersuccess.ca B.C. Employment and Labour Market Services employment programs: www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca Health Match B.C. offers free health professional recruitment services: www.healthmatch.org Search for job vacancies and build a list of companies and positions you are interested in Most jobs for RNs are in government funded healthcare facilities such as hospitals. Recruitment and hiring is managed by six health authorities in different regions in B.C. Visit these websites to get an understanding of how healthcare is managed in B.C. and to see and apply to job postings. 5 OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C. NOC: 3152 REGULATED Registered Nurses [RN] Regional Health Authorities Provincial Health Services Authority – manages recruitment and hiring for all of B.C. careers.phsa.ca Fraser Health – manages recruitment and hiring for communities from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope. www.fraserhealth.ca Vancouver Coastal Health Authority - manages recruitment and hiring for Vancouver, Vancouver’s North Shore, Richmond, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Sunshine Coast, Bella Bella, Bella Coola the Central Coast and the surrounding areas. www.vch.ca Interior Health – manages recruitment and hiring for the interior of the province includes larger cities such as Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Penticton and Vernon, and a multitude of rural and remote communities. www.interiorhealth.ca Vancouver Island Health Authority – manages recruitment and hiring for Vancouver Island, the islands of the Georgia Strait, and in the mainland communities north of Powell River and south of Rivers Inlet. www.viha.ca Northern Health – manages recruitment and hiring for the northern part of B.C. including larger cities such as Prince George, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Fort St. John, and Quesnel, as well as many smaller and more remote communities. careers.northernhealth.ca Other jobs for RNs are in private nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors’ offices, clinics, companies, private homes and community health centres. It is important to research and make connections to healthcare professionals to learn more about all employment possibilities in B.C. Learn More Registered nurses may have various job titles or do different jobs such as: Build connections to the nursing profession – begin networking Clinical nurse Community health nurse Critical care nurse Many job vacancies are not advertised. To find out about jobs that are not advertised, you must make connections with working RNs and others in the healthcare field. Taking another job in the healthcare field or working as a volunteer is a good way to meet people, understand Canadian workplace culture and to improve your English language and communication skills. Graduate nurse One place to look for networking opportunities is the Association of Registered Nurses of B.C. (ARNBC). The ARNBC provides a place for RNs to share knowledge and expertise with other nurses and look at existing and new healthcare and professional issues. Visit: www.arnbc.ca Occupational health nurse This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada with support from the Province of British Columbia. www.WelcomeBC.ca Intensive care nurse Nurse researcher Nursing consultant Nursing researcher Private duty nurse Updated November 2012 6