Canada's nursing supply outpacing national population growth

According to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, from 2009 to 2010, the nursing workforce increased at nearly twice the rate of the Canadian population. In 2010, there were 354,910 regulated nurses working in Canada, an increase of 8.8% since 2006. The report notes that BC, Alberta, and Ontario are the top 3 destinations for work for Canadian-educated regulated nursing graduates who moved away from their jurisdiction of graduation. In 2010, a total of 104,105 registered nurses (RNs) in the workforce had obtained a baccalaureate as their highest education in nursing. Those returning for a post-diploma baccalaureate constituted the largest proportion of the workforce seeking advanced education, following entry-to-practice education. Of these, 37.7% initially earned a diploma in nursing, then went back to school for a baccalaureate. 68,847 RNs had already received a baccalaureate before entering nursing practice. In addition, 9,508 RNs obtained either a master's degree or a PhD as their highest education in nursing following entry-to-practice education. CIHI News Release | Read the report