Did you recently obtain your nursing degree and are wondering where to begin your career? Well, you might want to consider taking part in travel nursing. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a much greater need for this type of professional, and their salaries have grown significantly.
If you’re looking for a good travel nursing Canada salary and you enjoy seeing new places, then consider becoming a traveling nurse in Canada. Read our guide below to learn all about how you can start a career as a traveling nurse in Canada and what you can earn doing it. Let’s get started!
What is a Travel Nurse?
Travel nursing first became a common occurrence due to staffing shortages at hospitals in Canada. It also took place in other parts of the world, as traveling nurses can be found in many nations.
Places like clinics and hospitals that have unfilled positions often hire traveling nurses. These positions can help improve patient safety by filling those staff shortages and making sure other nurses and healthcare professionals are not overworked.
Furthermore, travel nurses come from different backgrounds with more variety in terms of their education. With different perspectives and experiences, travel nurses bring more to patient care and the hospital work environment.
Do Travel Nurses Make Good Money?
A travel nursing Canada salary is, on average, $92,193 per year. However, the salaries of travel nurses differ greatly depending on the type of specialty you choose. For example, an RN travel nurse makes an annual salary of $76,380 while a travel nurse practitioner makes $107,540 per year.
In addition, a travel nurse recruiter can make $55,920 per year on average while a pediatric travel nurse gets an annual salary of $67,670 on average. In general, travel nurses do make a good salary in Canada.
Typical Salary of Travel Nursing Professionals in Canada
The standard travel nursing Canada salary is $48.85 per hour on average, according to Indeed. Most importantly, the salary of a travel nurse is much higher than other registered nurse roles in Canada.
For example, the salary of registered nurses in emergency rooms is $38.71 per hour on average while home health registered nurses make $36.48 per hour.
How Much Do Travel Nurses Make in Ontario?
Travel nurses in Ontario can make a good salary, but it does differ based on the city you’re in. The travel nursing salary in Toronto, Ontario, is $62.09 per hour while the salaries of travel nurses in Grey, Ontario, is $43.32.
Nonetheless, Ontario-based travel nurses make more money than some of the local nursing staff.
How Do I Become a Travel Nurse in Canada?
You can become a travel nurse with the minimum requirement of being a registered nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), according to the Nurse Journal. You’ll also need to be licensed in nursing.
However, the majority of recruiting agencies prefer the travel nurses within their system to have a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN). Likely, you will also need to have a certification in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
This number of qualifications should be enough for entry-level jobs as a travel nurse. However, if you want to work in certain specialties, then you’ll likely need more certifications.
Can I Be a Travel Nurse in Canada?
If you don’t live in Canada but want to become a travel nurse in this country, then there are a few other steps to complete, such as:
- Obtaining a passport and a work visa, which a recruiting agency can assist with
- Getting extra immunizations you may need
- Learning French or English better depending on the region in Canada you’ll operate
- Studying diseases that are common in the particular Canadian region
Once you complete these steps, you should be able to become a travel nurse in Canada.
Contract Length
As a travel nurse, you will find that you have much more control over your schedule. You can choose either short-term contracts or long-term contracts. That way, you get to decide how long you will stay in a particular region. You can even choose to take a break between contracts and stay in a beloved part of Canada.
Whatever the length of your contract, you will need to get one signed before you can apply for a work visa. Now, you’ll need to submit the paperwork necessary for a work permit visa. Lastly, you’ll want to undergo a medical exam and get key immunizations.
Recruiters
Most of the time, travel nurses work with recruitment agencies and recruiters who act as third parties, communicating between employers and the hired nurses. A recruiter can find you the right job in terms of your skills and your preferences.
Most recruiting agencies require you to have one year of experience working as a registered nurse locally before becoming a traveling nurse. Before you pick a recruitment agency, do your research and ask other nurses for references to ensure you find an honorable agency that meets your needs.
Travel Nursing Benefits in Canada
There are numerous benefits that a traveling nurse can gain from this type of career, such as:
- Improving one’s nursing skills
- Facing multiple different healthcare environments and positions
- Gaining a stronger professional network
- Obtaining no-cost online education courses
Furthermore, as a traveling nurse, you will enjoy exploring new locations throughout Canada, such as Montreal, Quebec, or Toronto. You can also have more control over your schedule with this type of career.
In this position, you can also travel inexpensively since you’ll be getting paid well when working. Some recruiting agencies will even cover your moving and housing costs. When compared to local staff nurses, a traveling nurse’s salary is higher (see also PSW salary) As a traveling nurse, you’ll get higher pay, expense reimbursements, and even bonuses.
Wrap Up
Now that you have learned all about the traveling nurse role in Canada, you can begin the process of starting this career. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a walk through the Royal Ontario Museum after working a shift at a Canadian hospital.
