Nursing program (BScN) is time-consuming, and 4 years academic and clinical learning is very challenging for people who speak English as a second language. However, it is achievable.
As we all know, it is a well paid profession. It provides a variety of job opportunities. You can be a staff nurse in a hospital, a community nurse who does home visits for the sick at home, or a public health nurse who promotes wellness of health in communities. You can also work for clinics, schools, colleges, universities, military, private companies, dentists, doctors’ offices, etc. You can work at up north where the government pays you very well. If you like travel, you can be an international nurse working overseas. If you join the Canadian forces during your school year, all your tuitions will be reimbursed.
Before you apply for the program, you might need to consider whether you have the passion to help others, whether you like to deal with unhealthy people and their families, plus whether you like to deal with many professionals such as nursing colleagues, work clerk, doctors, pharmacist, physiotherapist, dietitian, house keeper, sometimes, police officer, etc.
Are you an hands-on person? Do you have plenty of resources to help you succeed in the program? Is your family supportive? If you have young kids, who can help you out while you are doing your 12 hour-shift clinical rotation? Do you have good communication skills, interpersonal skills, stress coping skills? Would you be able to deal with the situation where you are treated unfairly by a clinical teacher? What do you do if your nurse mentor has personality conflict with you? Would you be able to cope with stressful working environment? Would you be able to tolerate the working schedule? There are more you can think about before you get into the program.
If you decide to apply for the program, apply it one year ahead. The applications are handled as first come first serve.