If you are in U.S and you want to work in Canada as a nurse assistant, you will definitely ask how much the nurse assistant salary in Canada is? To be honest, it totally depends on where you would like to work at. If you apply for a job at Ontario or Nova Scotia, most likely you will find that the nurse assistant salary of these two provinces are similar with each other.
Nursing assistants, also called nursing aides, perform some of the most important work in Canada’s hospitals and care facilities. Nurses rely on these individuals to provide basic health care services, such as bathing patients and passing out medication. A nurse assistant salary in Canada is significantly higher than other countries. With high-paying, entry-level jobs that can lead to a career in nursing, this is a good area for someone looking for great pay with quick training.
Nurse Assistant Salary In Canada
$43,875
/ Annual
Based on 818 salaries
The average nursing assistant salary in Canada is $43,875 per year or $22.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $38,854 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $55,934 per year.
Median
$43,875
chart
Low
$38,854
High
$55,934
Nursing assistant: salaries per region
Alberta
$87,449
Saskatchewan
$50,388
New Brunswick
$46,800
Ontario
$46,800
British Columbia
$46,761
Quebec
$42,900
Related salaries
Nurse Practitioner
$104,724
Assistant Professor
$96,194
Professor
$90,967
Practical Nurse
$53,946
Instructor
$47,002
Health Care Aide
$40,016
Working life
You’ll work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and your job will vary depending on where you’re based. For example, in a hospital you may:
- wash and dress patients
- serve meals and help to feed patients
- help people to move around
- make beds
- make patients feel comfortable
- monitor patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight
In a health centres and GP surgery, you may
- sterilise equipment
- do health checks
- restock consulting rooms
- process lab samples
- take blood samples
- do health promotion or health education work
As well as nurses, HCAs work with doctors, midwives and other healthcare professionals. They have a lot of contact with patients.
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ.
Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work. This could be from paid or voluntary work. There are sometimes apprenticeships in healthcare that can give you experience to apply for HCA posts.
If you’re applying for a role in the NHS, you’ll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work.
Skills and personal characteristics needed
To be a healthcare assistant, you’ll need to be
- caring and kind
- cheerful and friendly
- willing to be hands-on with patients
- willing to do personal care tasks (washing, toileting, etc)
- able to follow instructions and procedures
- able to work in a team but use their own initiative
You’ll also need
- communication skills, including listening
- organisation skills
- observational skills
Training and development
Your training as a healthcare assistant will include basic nursing skills and you’ll work towards the Care Certificate, developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England and launched in 2015.
You may also be offered the chance to study for qualifications through an apprenticeships such as:
- the NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
- the NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
With experience and further training, you could become a senior healthcare assistant. You could then apply to train as an assistant practitioner or nursing associate. With the appropriate qualifications/evidence of academic ability, you could also train as one of the many degree-level healthcare professionals such as a nurse, podiatrist, midwife or occupational therapist.
Pay and benefits
Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a healthcare assistant, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, typically starting on band 2.
You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.
