Becoming a Registered Nurse
Nursing as a Career
Thinking about a career as a registered nurse?
The possibilities in nursing are limitless. Nursing offers both men and women a wide range
of opportunities for career challenges, travel, professional development and the personal
satisfaction of working in a caring profession that helps people to get well or to stay
healthy.
Where do registered nurses work?
You will find them in busy intensive care units and in small neighbourhood health clinics. They assess infant and toddler growth and development and promote healthy child rearing in the many northern, rural, urban and ethnic communities of Canada. They run health and safety programs in factories; they discuss policy in government; they work with children, teenagers, adults and the elderly. There are nurses doing research in all areas of nursing care. There are nurses teaching groups of clients and other nurses. Nurses participate in the administration of hospitals and other institutions.
Why should I consider a career as a registered nurse today?
This is a good time to consider nursing. In Canada, we are facing a nursing shortage since many nurses will soon retire. Changes in the health care system such as increasing health care services provided to patients at home and in the community, more illness prevention and health promotion, and growth in the elderly population continues to broaden the opportunity for nurses. Registered nurses earn salaries that compare with other professionals with a similar amount of education.
Where is nursing education available?
In the Atlantic provinces, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, 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. Please click on the link for further information on why is nursing education changing.
Where can I find information about funding?
Where does graduate education fit in?
Specialty areas of nursing require experienced nurses and nurses who have gone on in their studies through specialty courses or graduate school. Canada has 21 master's programs in nine provinces. Doctoral programs in nursing are available in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Some schools are now offering graduate courses by distance. Please click on the link for further information on distance education programs.
Where can I obtain further information?
For further information about nursing programs, please click on the links to the web sites of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing or the Association of Community Colleges of Canada.
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