Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training and education in clinical practice. With this advanced training and education, they are able to perform comprehensive health assessments, make diagnoses, and manage and treat illnesses. They are also able to order tests and procedures, prescribe medications, and perform procedures.
If you’re a registered nurse looking to become a nurse practitioner or if you’re a nurse practitioner already, you may be wondering just how much money a nurse practitioner makes. Nurse practitioner salaries vary based on a number of factors, one being location. In this article, we will take a look at the salaries of nurse practitioners in British Columbia.
We will also look at how much schooling is involved, how to become a nurse practitioner in British Columbia, and what nurse practitioners in British Columbia can do as far as their duties and responsibilities.
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make in British Columbia?
Salaries for nurse practitioners in British Columbia depend on their specialization and years of experience. There is a breakdown below of average hourly and annual salaries for nurse practitioners in British Columbia, as well as entry-level and experienced salaries.
What is the Average Amount Nurse Practitioners Make in British Columbia?
Nurse practitioner salaries can vary greatly, depending on speciality, years of experience, and location. The average amount nurse practitioners make is:
- $59.18 per hour
- $123,099 per year
How Much Do Entry-Level Nurse Practitioners Make in British Columbia?
Just starting out, nurse practitioners may earn varying amounts depending on their specialization and type of nursing. Entry-level statistics here are for nurse practitioners with 1-3 years of experience. The average pay for entry-level nurse practitioner positions in British Columbia is:
- $41.30 per hour
- $85,908 per year
How Much Do Experienced-Level Nurse Practitioners Make in British Columbia?
The more experience a person has, the more money they’ll earn. As nurse practitioners advance in their careers, their pay increases over the years. Experienced-level statistics here are for those with 8 years and more of experience as a nurse practitioner. The following shows the average pay for experienced-level nurse practitioners in British Columbia:
- $73.57 per hour
- $153,033 per year
What is the Salary Potential for Nurse Practitioners in British Columbia?
The estimated average salary for nurse practitioners in British Columbia in 2027 is $142,706. That’s a 16% increase over the course of 5 years. This shows great salary potential and growth for nurse practitioners or those that are contemplating a nurse practitioner career in British Columbia.
How Does British Columbia Compare with the Rest of Canada for Nurse Practitioner Salary?
Overall, the average salary for nurse practitioners in Canada is $120,566 per year. With the average salary for nurse practitioners in British Columbia being $123,099, the average British Columbia salary is $2,533 or 2% higher than in Canada as a whole.
Many factors determine salary by province, including cost of living for each location. Also, keep in mind that salaries vary from city to city, within each province.
British Columbia’s cost of living is 9% higher than the average cost of living in Canada. The cost of living is calculated based on accumulating the cost of rent, utilities, food, transportation, health services, taxes, and various other factors.
Is There a Demand for Nurse Practitioners in British Columbia?
There is a great need for nurse practitioners in British Columbia. As nurse practitioners retire, there is a need to fill those positions. With the lifespan increasing and healthcare advancements, people are in more need of healthcare as they age.
There are currently about 426 nurse practitioners in British Columbia. The government is planning on creating 200 new nurse practitioner positions. As a result of the new positions, there will be a total of 626 nurse practitioners in communities across the province. These positions will help to support patients as the healthcare system shifts to a team-based approach.
How To Become a Nurse Practitioner in British Columbia?
In order to be a nurse practitioner in British Columbia, you need to be a registered nurse and complete a master’s degree program at a minimum.
Getting accepted into a master’s program in nursing is the first step. Prior to admission to a master’s program, an applicant will need to have experience working as a registered nurse for a certain number of years (usually two or three) in their desired specialty.
How to get into a Master’s in Nursing Program
- Degree: Applicants need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or have completed an RN to BSN bridge program.
- Nursing License: Applicants must provide a copy of their current nursing license.
- Prerequisites: Depending on the program, certain prerequisite courses may be required before admittance.
- Performance: Testing performance may be required, depending on the program
What Can Nurse Practitioners Do in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, there are five recognized specialties for nurse practitioners:
– Primary Care
- Treat patients ranging from infants to adults
- Wide range of family-focused care from health promotion to chronic illnesses
- Acute care centers, physician offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice centers, private care with patient’s home, urgent cares, correctional facilities, private practice
– Neonatology
- Treat high risk-infants, usually in a neonatal intensive care unit within a hospital
- Provide support and education to families for the infants they’re treating and work closely with the neonatologist
- Hospitals, clinics, home health care services, patient transport, research
– Pediatrics
- Treat children of all ages, from birth up to the age of 21
- Health promotion, along with diagnosis and treatment while working in collaboration with a pediatrician
- Hospitals, urgent cares, specialty clinics, physician offices, schools, private clinics
– Adult Care
- Treat patients from early adulthood to older adults
- Primary care or acute care
- Hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, hospice facilities, private practices, specialty clinics
– Mental Health
- Treat and care for those with mental illness, and their families
- Practice in offices, outpatient centers, residential facilities, and inpatient hospitals
Nurse practitioners can perform many of the duties that are typically reserved for physicians. Nurse practitioners are capable of performing procedures and maintaining responsibilities in addition to those of a registered nurse since they have advanced degrees and training. These duties and responsibilities include:
- Diagnosing conditions, illnesses, and diseases
- Prescribing medications
- Applying medical treatments or using techniques that are invasive
- Prescribing diagnostic examinations
- Providing pregnancy care
- Identify, prescribe, and monitor medical treatment
- Using invasive diagnostic techniques
- Education and leadership
- Consultations
- Research
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner in British Columbia?
The amount of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner in British Columbia varies. To become a nurse practitioner, you will need to complete a few years of training depending on the program and whether you are studying full-time or part-time. This includes all coursework, as well as any clinicals and internships required by the program.
Nurse practitioners must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to obtain their registered nurse licensure. After completion of their undergraduate degree, they must then earn a graduate degree in nursing—MSN or DNP—which will prepare them to sit for the nurse practitioner licensing exams in the specialty in which they have chosen to practice.
The time it takes to become a nurse practitioner can also vary depending on the degree program—traditional or accelerated. Another factor is how one obtained their registered nurse license. The entire education process will usually take six to seven years. This includes approximately four years of undergraduate study to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Then, a further two years to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. This process can be sped up by going through an accelerated program. It can be slowed down by studying part-time rather than full-time.
Where Can Nurse Practitioners Work?
Depending on their specialization, nurse practitioners can choose from a variety of settings to practice in. Different specialities will have more variety, as far as working in both hospitals and clinics. Other specialities will predominantly function in hospitals.
– Primary and Adult Care
- Hospitals
- Clinics
– Neonatology
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in hospitals
– Pediatrics
- Hospitals
- Clinics
– Mental Health
- Community
- Hospitals
- Clinics
Conclusion
As we can see, nurse practitioners in British Columbia are in high demand. Within the next five years, the government aims to increase the number of nurse practitioner positions. As compared to Canada as a whole, the salary for nurse practitioners in British Columbia is higher and more competitive among the other provinces. Nurse practitioners have more autonomy than registered nurses, so keeping that in mind, along with the increase in pay, it’s a career choice that appeals to many.
Some registered nurses find themselves getting bored after a few years of working at the bedside. They search for more opportunities and experiences. If you’re finding yourself to be in this position, look into the nurse practitioner programs in British Columbia and find one that may be a fit for you. More autonomy and better pay are appealing benefits.
Written by Joanne Potter
Joanne Potter, BSN, RN, is a writer that specializes in health and wellness. She has fifteen years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Her years working at the bedside and extensive neonatal knowledge enable her to write with a deep understanding of what patients and families want from their communities.
Sources:
SalaryExpert. February 2022
BC Gov News
Recommended articles:
