Registered nurses who have advanced training and education in clinical practice are called nurse practitioners. The advanced education and training they receive allow them to conduct comprehensive health assessments, diagnose diseases, and manage and treat illnesses. They are also able to order tests and procedures, perform procedures, and prescribe medications.
Nursing students seeking admission to nurse practitioner programs or nurse practitioners already employed in the field may be wondering just how much money a nurse practitioner makes. There are several factors that influence nurse practitioner salaries, one of which is where they practice. In this article, we will take a look at the salaries of nurse practitioners in Toronto.
Also, we will examine the amount of schooling involved, how to become a nurse practitioner in Toronto, and what nurse practitioners in Toronto can do as far as duties and responsibilities are concerned.
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make in Toronto?
The salary range for nurse practitioners varies depending on their experience and specialization. You can see below a breakdown of the average hourly and annual salary for nurse practitioners in Toronto, as well as entry-level and experienced salaries.
What is the Average Amount Nurse Practitioners Make in Toronto?
Nurse practitioner salaries can vary greatly, depending on speciality, location, and years of experience. The average amount nurse practitioners make is:
- $62.56 per hour
- $130,120 per year
How Much Do Entry-Level Nurse Practitioners Make in Toronto?
Just starting out, nurse practitioners earn varying amounts depending on their specialization and type of nursing. These entry-level statistics are for nurse practitioners within their first three years of practice. The average pay for entry-level nurse practitioner positions in Toronto is:
- $43.66 per hour
- $90,808 per year
How Much Do Experienced-Level Nurse Practitioners Make in Toronto?
In general, the more experience a person has, the more money they will make. As nurse practitioners advance in their careers, their salaries will increase 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 Toronto:
- $77.77 per hour
- $161,761 per year
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What is the Salary Potential for Nurse Practitioners in Toronto?
The estimated average salary for nurse practitioners in Toronto in 2027 is $150,845. That’s a 16% increase over the course of 5 years. This shows encouraging salary potential and growth for nurse practitioners or those that are considering a nurse practitioner career in Toronto.
How Does Toronto Compare with the Rest of Canada for Nurse Practitioner Salary?
Overall, the average salary for nurse practitioners in Canada is $120,593 per year. With the average salary for nurse practitioners in Toronto being $130,120, the average Toronto salary is $9,527 or 8% higher than in Canada as a whole.
There are a variety of factors that affect salary by province, including the cost of living in each location. Also, keep in mind that salaries vary from city to city, within each province.
Toronto’s cost of living is 29% 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 Toronto?
Toronto has a great need for nurse practitioners. As nurse practitioners retire, there is an increasing need to fill those vacancies. With the lifespan increasing and healthcare advancements, people are in more need of healthcare as they age.
There are currently over 2,300 nurse practitioners in Ontario. This represents 67% of all nurse practitioners in Canada. The government is planning on creating new nurse practitioner positions. As a result of the new positions, there will be more nurse practitioners in communities across the province and in cities like Toronto. As the healthcare system shifts to a team-based approach, these positions will be crucial in supporting patients.
How To Become a Nurse Practitioner in Toronto?
To become a nurse practitioner in Toronto, you must be a registered nurse and complete a master’s degree program at a minimum.
The first step is getting accepted into a master’s program in nursing. 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 Toronto?
In Toronto, 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 Toronto?
The amount of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner in Toronto depends on a variety of factors. The time period varies depending on the program and whether you are a full-time or part-time student. This includes all coursework, as well as any internships and clinicals 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 get their registered nurse licensure. After completion of their undergraduate degree, the next step is to obtain 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.
How long 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. Usually, the education process will take between six and seven years.
This includes approximately four years of undergraduate study to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and then about two years to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Going through an accelerated program can speed up this process. 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 number of settings to practice in. Different specialities will have more variety, as far as working in both hospitals and clinics. Other specialities will primarily 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 Toronto 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 Toronto is higher and more competitive. A nurse practitioner has more autonomy than a registered nurse, so considering that, along with the increased pay, it’s a career choice that appeals to many.
Some registered nurses find themselves getting drained or bored after a few years of working at the bedside. They search for more opportunities and experiences. If you find yourself in this position, it’s worth looking into the nurse practitioner programs in Toronto and find one that may be a fit for you. Better pay and more autonomy are both 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.
Source:
SalaryExpert. February 2022
BC Gov News
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