Registered nurse

In British Columbia, registered nurses (RNs) help care for people in hospitals, clinics, and community health centres. RNs work as part of a health-care team to help patients care for their health and provide treatment options.

About registered nurses

Registered nurses (RNs) in British Columbia are regulated health-care professionals who provide safe, person-centred care by assessing health needs, planning and delivering care, and working collaboratively within the health-care system to support the well-being of individuals and communities.

  • Assess patients and identify treatment options with a health care team 
  • Monitor changes in a patient’s health 
  • Administer medications and treatments  
  • Operate medical equipment and ensure it works properly 
  • Coordinate with other health services and providers to ensure continuity of care  
  • Educate and inform patients and their caregivers/family about disease prevention and promotion  
  • Consult with patients and their families  
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To practice as a registered nurse in British Columbia, you must meet the registration requirements set out by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Please note that registration processes are different depending on where you’ve been trained.  

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  • Hospitals
  • Primary care clinics
  • Community health centres
  • Extended care facilities
  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Correction services
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Health authority employers offer comprehensive compensation packages for regular-status employees, including employer-paid benefits such as: 

  • Wages: $41.42 – $59.52 CAD per hour (as of April 1, 2024)  
  • Paid Vacation Time: 4 weeks per year, after first year of employment 
  • Defined Benefit Public Pension Plan (Municipal or Public Service Pension Plan) 
  • BC Medical Services Plan (MSP)  
  • Extended Health Care 
  • Dental Coverage  
  • Life Insurance  
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability  
  • Employee and Family Assistance Plan  
  • Paid Vacation Time: 4 weeks per year, after first year of employment  
  • Potential for employer-supported post-grad education, e.g. Specialty Nursing 
  • Other Benefits: such as maternity, paternity and adoption leaves  
  • Relocation assistance may be available for many nursing jobs. Please speak with health authorities directly for more information 
  • Additional incentives may be available for rural and remotely located employees 
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Canadian nurses with insufficient recent practice hours may need to meet to take a competency assessment. They might also need to take training before being able to get their registration re-instated.

  • Visit the BCCNM website for information on how to re-instate nursing registration.  
  • Bursaries may be available for eligible Canadian nurse applicants seeking to return to practice. For more information, please visit Nursing Jobs BC.  
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B.C. news for registered nurses

British Columbia is taking action to attract doctors, nurses from U.S.

The Province is taking new steps to attract more doctors and nurses from the U.S. by fast-tracking credential recognition and launching a co-ordinated, targeted recruitment campaign.

Learn more about B.C. taking action to attract doctors and nurses from the U.S.

Supporting international nurses into B.C.’s health system

To meet the increasing demand for nurses in British Columbia, the Province is making it easier for eligible internationally educated nurses (IENs) to enter the province’s health system so they can support British Columbians’ health-care needs sooner.

Learn more about how B.C. is supporting IENs