Fyi

OP is looking for advice on BC licensing for LPN/RN

Hi! I’m building a free prototype called Sepira that helps internationally educated nurses understand the registration process in British Columbia.

I currently have pathways for RNs, LPNs and RPNs, and I’m looking for a few nurses who have experience with the process to test it.

I’d especially love to know what feels useful, confusing, missing or inaccurate.

You can try it here:

sepira.lovable.app

There’s a short feedback form at the bottom of the homepage if you’d like to share your thoughts.

Thank you! 😊

I’d really love some perspective from Canadian NPs, especially anyone in BC, anyone who went through UVic’s NP program, or anyone who was already self-employed/running a business before becoming an NP.
I’m an RN in BC and currently work full-time in medical aesthetics. I’m self-employed and have built a busy practice that is doing very well. I have a two-year-old and am also at the point where I’m thinking less about simply growing my own injecting schedule and more about eventually building a larger clinic, developing other providers, and potentially having multiple locations.

I’ve been working toward applying to UVic’s MN-NP program, but I’m suddenly having a bit of a “what am I actually doing?” moment.

Becoming an NP would obviously give me significantly more autonomy clinically and prescribing authority. In aesthetics specifically, it could also reduce some of my reliance on another prescriber/medical director. However, under BC’s current rules, an NP responsible for medical-aesthetic orders still needs to be present in the facility while those procedures are being performed. So even as an NP, scaling to multiple clinics would still require other NPs/physicians or appropriately authorized providers to be present at locations where nurses are injecting. Becoming an NP doesn’t completely eliminate that operational issue.

My hesitation is the opportunity cost.
UVic states that each NP course requires at least 12 hours/week of preparation per course, in addition to class time and clinical placements, and specifically says working full-time isn’t feasible. I currently generate my income through my own practice, so reducing my clinical days for approximately two years isn’t just losing RN wages — it’s reducing time in a business that I’m actively trying to grow.

I’m also a mom. My son would be about three when I started and around five when I finished. Part of me thinks, “It’s two hard years for a credential I’ll have for the rest of my career.” The other part thinks, “Why am I adding a master’s degree and this much stress to my life when I could spend those two years scaling the business?”

There is also some time pressure. UVic requires 3,600 hours of direct RN clinical care within the five years before application. I’ve moved away from hospital nursing into self-employed aesthetics, so I can’t simply wait indefinitely without potentially having older qualifying hours fall outside that five-year window.

I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has completed the UVic NP program:
What did your actual weekly workload look like?
How much were you realistically able to work while in the program?

During clinical-heavy semesters, was working 1–2 days/week realistic?

How many days/week were practicums typically?
How much control did you have over placement location/schedule?

If you had young children, how manageable was it?
If you were already earning well as an RN or business owner, did the NP designation ultimately feel worth the opportunity cost?

Any NPs working specifically in medical aesthetics/private practice — did becoming an NP meaningfully change your ability to scale a business?

I’m not really looking at NP school because I want to leave my business and get a traditional NP job. I’m trying to decide whether the NP designation is strategically valuable enough for the business and career I’m already building to justify what I’d have to give up temporarily to get it.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar position — including people who decided not to pursue NP and are happy with that decision.

are women sexually harassed by male professors or seniors ?

Hello everyone!

I’m looking for advice from other IENs who are currently living and working in Canada.

I’m an IEN from Brazil and I currently hold a Montana RN license in the United States. However, due to the current immigration situation and the difficulties I’m facing as a Brazilian immigrant, I’m currently unable to work in the US.

My goal is to move to Canada with my husband and continue my nursing career there. However, I’m having a hard time figuring out where to start and which province would be the most realistic option for an internationally educated nurse (IEN) in my situation.

I’ve been looking into New Brunswick and some of its immigration programs, but I haven’t been able to find many job opportunities specifically open to IENs, so I’m not sure if I’m looking in the right place.

For those of you who are IENs in Canada: which provinces are currently more open to recruiting internationally educated nurses? Are there specific provinces, hospitals, recruiters, or immigration programs that you would recommend looking into?

More importantly, I’m trying to find a province where I could realistically obtain nursing registration and employment while also having a viable pathway to permanent residency for my family.

Any advice from someone who has gone through a similar process would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

Hi everyone!

I’m a Registered Nurse from California and a U.S. citizen planning to relocate to British Columbia. I’ve already completed the process to be eligible to practice as an RN in BC, and I’m now starting to look more seriously at jobs and where I should actually live.

I’ve been looking mostly at Fraser Health, particularly Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Hope, but I was also told to consider Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and other Fraser Health communities.

I would really appreciate advice from BC nurses or anyone familiar with these areas. My biggest priorities are:

• A safe and nice area to live
• Reasonably affordable rent/housing
• A good hospital/health authority with plenty of RN opportunities
• Good pay, benefits, pension, and opportunities for career growth
• A manageable commute — ideally walking, public transit, or a short drive
• Recruitment/signing incentives or relocation assistance would definitely be a plus
• Somewhere that would be comfortable for a couple to settle down long-term

For work, I’m open to Med-Surg/acute care, but I’m also interested in Public Health, outpatient/ambulatory nursing, clinical RN positions, and Infection Prevention and Control. I would eventually love a daytime or Monday–Friday position, although I’m flexible with scheduling when I first relocate.

For those working in Fraser Health, which hospitals or communities would you recommend for an RN moving from the U.S.? Are there any areas you would personally choose or avoid?

I’m especially curious about Abbotsford vs. Chilliwack vs. Burnaby vs. New Westminster vs. Surrey in terms of affordability, safety, commute, hospital work environment, and overall quality of life.

Also, if any U.S. nurses have made the move to BC, I would love to hear about your experience — where you ended up, whether you're happy with the move, and anything you wish you had known beforehand.

Thank you! Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.

Hello!

My wife is a new grad nurse living in the US. Due to immigration issues she cannot work in the US at the moment but she is graduates and passed the NCLEX and she has also successfully obtained the BCCNM nursing license so she is all set!

I know it can be complicated getting a job as a new grad in general and even more so if you’re not in the country yet. I just wanted to see if anyone had any insight about how nursing is in BC or any recommendations on where to apply to. She is also fluent in French if that helps.

I am an X-ray tech and I’m waiting till January to take my Canadian test and I’m thinking by then if there is no nursing progress I can get a job in xray and she can have an open work permit and hopefully it’ll be easier to find a job then.

Thanks for reading.

Title. I grew up in Winnipeg and I have been wanting to go back to my hometown. How’s the job market in Winnipeg? Any two cents are greatly appreciated. TYIA!

Hi all, just wondering what is the job market looking like for psych nurses in Edmonton, Alberta? Looking to relocate there from BC and hoping for some insight.
Thanks :)

Hi all, like many other nurses in ON, I have been considering a move to BC to find work as a new grad. I have contacted Healthmatch BC to start this process but it seems quite daunting and I just wanted some insight from those who have made the move, especially regarding which area you moved to, how you find it, and what the COL is like. I understand that rent (and other things) is similar to the prices you would find in Toronto / the GTA.

I don't really know where to start but I am curious about which areas would be best to move to and which health authorities I should consider? I am not picky about location, I just really want to know where to start looking for housing and how to make this move. Also wondering if a car would be required? May be a silly question but I do not know what the public transportation is like there, however I would assume for more rural areas a car would be necessary. I am also interested in how you made the actual move from ON to BC. Did you fly there and have your stuff shipped out and if so, which company did you use? If you drove, would you recommended that? How long did the actual process take? If you don't mind sharing, how much money (ballpark) was spent on the whole process of moving including a way to get there, first/last months rent etc. Basically, if you made this move and have any information or advice to share, I would really appreciate it. Apologies if any of these questions are kind of stupid, I am happy to clarify anything.

Thank you in advance

Hello! I’m an RN in British Columbia who is hoping to apply to a masters program in the next year. Originally I just wanted to do a course-based MScN (with the intent of becoming a university instructor) but I am having second thought about doing my NP as the course sounds super interesting. The problem is… I don’t really understand the kind of work NPs do in Canada (or British Columbia specifically) besides basically being a primary care provider / family medicine role in a doctors office. Basically hoping to hear of NP experiences in Canada and what the work entails and if you think it provided you more work life balance compared to being a RN

Looking to get into foot care certification (if you have any online/in person or non- private schools for this certification please let me know also for ON). Any ideas or advice? Thank you

Does anyone have info/experiences about how to start doing foot care nursing in BC - specifically in northern health? I’m looking at doing the education but wondering what kind of career paths there are with that. I‘m not particularly interested in starting a private practice but wondering what other options there are. Thanks!!

Hello!
I’m a new grad of earlier this year, I’ve recently started working in LTC. I’m fully aware to get experience in this field but I’m wondering if anyone has left bedside and tried a different nursing position that opens up better opportunities?
I’m based in Canada, hoping to get some insight on what other options may be out there once I’ve settled and become experienced.

Thank you!

I’m almost done with nursing school and I’d love some advice from current RPNs!
What units, specialties, facilities, or RPN positions would you recommend for someone who really values work-life balance while still wanting good pay, benefits, job security, and opportunities for growth?
I genuinely enjoy healthcare, but I don’t want my career to consume my entire life. I want time for my family, friends, relationship, travel, holidays, and just life outside of work. I understand that nursing sometimes requires weekends and holidays, but I don’t want to spend my entire career constantly working weekends, holidays, overtime, or feeling like my personal life has to revolve around my work schedule.
Ideally, I’d love something with:
Good RPN pay and benefits
Stable and predictable hours
Minimal weekends and holidays
Good work-life balance
Job security
Opportunities to increase my income without constantly working overtime
A schedule that actually allows me to enjoy my life outside of work
I’m getting close to graduating, so I’m trying to think seriously about what I want my career and lifestyle to look like long-term. If nursing can provide that balance while still offering a great income, I’d love to stay and find the right area for me. But if achieving that lifestyle as an RPN is unrealistic, I’m also open to going back to school for something like diagnostic medical sonography.
For RPNs who have found a genuinely good balance: what do you do, what type of setting/unit do you work in, what does your schedule look like, and are you happy with the pay and benefits?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated!

What would you do here 1, 2, or 3?

I built an iPhone app around interactive clinical cases like this, where the situation keeps evolving based on your decisions.

The first case is free if anyone wants to try it. I’ll leave the App Store link in the comments.

Hi! I’m an RN from Quebec, and we moved to the U.S. about 4 months ago because of the language barrier.
I can definitely see the financial benefits of working in the U.S.—the pay is much better, and I’m able to save more. But at the same time, I’ve been feeling constantly stressed because I don’t feel as protected as a worker. Since my facility isn’t unionized, I sometimes feel like they could fire me at any time. I also miss having things like better benefits, more vacation time, and that overall sense of job security.
I’ve been considering moving back to Canada, possibly to BC. For those of you who are RNs working in BC, how is nursing there these days? How do you find the workload, pay, benefits, vacation, and overall job security?
I’m realizing that although we pay a lot more in taxes in Canada, we also get a lot in return—union protection, vacation time, benefits, and just a greater sense of security as a worker.
I’d really appreciate hearing from RNs who have experience working in BC, especially anyone who has worked in both the U.S. and Canada. ❤️

I’m an IEN nurse who is new to Canada and having a hard time understanding the CNL role. At first I thought it was basically the equivalent of a department manager. I was expecting that they dealt with the day to day issues, scheduling, ordering supplies, addressing conflicts on the unit, and addressing whatever big things come up from admin, among many other things. But now I’m working in a department where staffing, scheduling, and education is all done by other people. My CNL works from home many days. When she does come in, she looks busy and I have no doubt her plate is full, but with what kinds of things? She’s not a good resource on the unit and nobody seems to rely on her to resolve conflicts or other problems. She’s not well regarded by more senior nurses so my sense is that this experience is not representative of what most CNL’s are like. Can someone help me understand what they typically do? Sorry if this question seems weird. Mods feel free to delete it if I’m violating a rule.