Emergency nurses are always in demand because every hospital needs skilled professionals who can handle critical situations. The emergency department offers a fast-paced and dynamic environment, which is highly valued in Canadian healthcare. Canadian hospitals often seek experienced emergency nurses due to the high demand for their skills. If you have worked in emergency care in your home country, this experience will give you a significant advantage.
Introduction: Your Path to Earning minimum $60+/Hour in Canada as Emergency Nurse
Are you a BSc Nursing graduate from your home country dreaming of moving to Canada? If earning more than $60/hour and securing a stable job as a registered nurse (RN) is your goal, you’re in the right place. This post focuses on one of the best nursing fields: the Emergency Department (ED). If you have experience in this field, you have a better chance of landing a job faster in Canada.
“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser
In this post, I will explain why the emergency department is an excellent specialization for international nurses and why gaining additional certifications will increase your job prospects. By preparing in advance, you can avoid the challenges many international nurses face when searching for their first job in Canada.
Why Emergency Nursing is Your Key to Success?
The emergency department offers a fast-paced and dynamic environment, which is highly valued in Canadian healthcare. Canadian hospitals often seek experienced emergency nurses due to the high demand for their skills. If you have worked in emergency department in your home country, this experience will give you a significant advantage.
Here’s why the emergency department stands out:
- High Demand: Emergency nurses are always in demand because every hospital needs skilled professionals who can handle critical situations.
- Diverse Skillset: The ED requires nurses to handle a variety of cases, from trauma to life-threatening conditions. This diversity makes you highly adaptable, a quality Canadian employers love.
- Potential to Earn More: Emergency nurses often earn a higher hourly rate, with the possibility of making $60/hour or more, especially with specialized training.
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
If you’ve already worked in this field back home, make sure to include this experience in your resume. It will immediately set you apart from other candidates. However, experience isn’t everything. You also need to focus on gaining the right certifications that Canadian hospitals look for.
The Importance of Additional Certifications
Many international nurses find it hard to secure a job in Canada because they don’t have experience in a specific field or haven’t obtained additional certifications. If you’re interested in emergency nursing, these certifications will help you stand out:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS): ACLS training is essential for emergency nurses because it focuses on treating severe cardiac emergencies. Completing this course before moving to Canada will boost your employability.
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC): TNCC certification provides in-depth knowledge on trauma care. Hospitals in Canada prioritize nurses with trauma experience, making this a must-have certification.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): If you are interested in pediatric emergency care, this certificate will equip you to handle critical cases involving children. Canadian hospitals value this specialization.
- CPR or BLS Certificate (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or Basic Life Support: Essential for performing lifesaving techniques in emergencies, such as chest compressions and rescue breaths.
- ENPC Certificate (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course: Provides specialized knowledge in pediatric emergency care, crucial for treating children in urgent situations.
- CCL Certificate (Critical Care Life Support: Equips nurses with advanced skills for managing critically ill patients, including complex interventions and monitoring.
- Emergency Nursing Certificate: Demonstrates proficiency in handling diverse emergency cases, from trauma to acute medical conditions, enhancing care quality.
- EKG Interpretation Certificate (Electrocardiogram Interpretation: Vital for accurately diagnosing cardiac conditions through EKG readings, essential for prompt treatment in emergencies.
- IV Certificate (Intravenous Therapy: Enables nurses to perform IV insertions and manage intravenous medications, crucial for hydration and medication administration.
- ONCC Certificate (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation: Provides specialized knowledge for managing cancer patients in emergency settings, ensuring appropriate care and interventions.
Many international nurses make the mistake of not pursuing these certificates in their home country. This can delay the job search in Canada, as obtaining these qualifications after arriving can be time-consuming. It’s better to be prepared beforehand to increase your chances of getting hired quickly.
Requirements for applying for the job as an emergency nurse:
- Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario required
- Current BCLS/HCP certification required
- Recent related emergency nursing experience including adult, child, and psychiatric care management required
- Current ACLS, PALS certification preferred
- Post-RN Emergency Nursing certificate/diploma preferred
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certificate an asset
- Successful completion of advanced patient assessment course, triage course, arrhythmia interpretation course an asset
- Demonstrated knowledge, sensitivity and expertise in the care of seniors and their families
- Gentle Persuasive Approach training preferred
- RNAO, CNA or other professional association membership preferred
- Demonstrated knowledge, skills and judgement required to provide a full range of care and treatment in the clinical area of practice to patients/clients including those with complex needs, high acuity and less predictable outcomes required
- Demonstrated ability to communicate (written and verbal) effectively with patients/clients and families required
- Demonstrated ability to practice collaboratively and communicate clearly with members of the interdisciplinary team to provide care for a full range of patients/clients required
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning, professional development and continuous quality improvement required
- Demonstrated basic skill level with computers, MS Word, incident reporting systems, internet searches, data entry and patient information systems required
- Demonstrated knowledge and skill related to crisis intervention and conflict resolution required
- Demonstrated strong leadership, problem solving, critical thinking, team building, and interpersonal skills required
- Registered Nurses working in the Emergency Department must be willing to work under the authority of Medical Directives for patients with specific clinical presentations. Successful completion of appropriate education and ongoing evaluation are required.
Set Your Goal: Focus on the Field You Love
One of the common mistakes international nurses make is not choosing a specific nursing field early on. While it’s tempting to keep your options open, specializing in a field like emergency nursing will improve your chances of success in Canada.
Before moving, take the time to think about the type of nursing you love the most. Do you enjoy the fast-paced nature of emergency rooms? Or maybe you’re drawn to pediatric care? By identifying your interest now, you can gain the necessary experience and certifications to secure your dream job faster.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
I’ve met many international nurses who struggled to find jobs because they lacked focus. They weren’t experienced in a specific field and, as a result, missed opportunities in hospitals. Don’t make this mistake! Set your goal, focus on gaining experience, and pursue additional certifications to stand out from the crowd.
Next in This Series: More Specializations for International Nurses
This post is just the beginning. I’ll be starting a series where I’ll provide detailed information on various nursing specializations and the certifications you’ll need to succeed in Canada. From obstetrics to critical care, I’ll cover the fields that offer high-paying jobs and excellent career growth.
In the next post, I’ll discuss what specific certifications are most helpful for those interested in emergency nursing. I’ll explain which courses you can take from your home country and how they will increase your chances of getting your dream job in Canada.
Conclusion: Take Action and Secure Your Future
To sum it up, emergency nursing is one of the best fields for international nurses planning to move to Canada. If you have experience in this area, you’re already a step ahead. However, gaining additional certifications like ACLS, TNCC, and PALS will help you stand out even more.
By focusing on a specific nursing field and preparing ahead of time, you’ll have a much easier transition to working as an RN in Canada. Don’t wait until you arrive to start working toward your goals—start now!
Stay tuned for more detailed posts on nursing specializations and how you can make your dream of working in Canada a reality.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Achieve Your Best Dream Job: Obstetric Nursing with $100+/Hour Pay 2024 – brandednurses
3,000+ Emergency Nurse Jobs, Employment 5 September 2024| Indeed.com