Ask a Mentor series: Nurse Trelly on in-demand nursing fields

When newcomers arrive in Canada looking for their first job, they are often asked the question, “have you had Canadian work experience?”

Since they’ve just arrived, they haven’t worked in the country yet, so the challenge becomes how to entice an employer to take a chance on them and give them their first Canadian work experience.

Our nurse mentor, Estrella Mercurio, arrived in Toronto from the Philippines in the summer of 1993. She has a Masters in Educational Management from Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro), and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Silliman University (Dumaguete City).

We interviewed “Nurse Trelly”, about the early beginnings of her nursing career.

What was your first job here in Canada?

“I started as a house cleaner for a doctor from December 1993 until March 1994. I didn’t know any better.

I could have worked as a home support worker while waiting for my nursing exam results, but nobody told me I could do that. I didn’t have a mentor.”

How did you become a nurse in Canada?

“My first nursing job was as a Nursing and Homemakers Inc. (NHI) agency nurse in June 1994, a few months after I passed the nursing exam in March of that year.

My second job was as a teacher at Centennial College in August of 1994. In the Philippines, my background was teaching. 

At the time, Centennial College was in need of an instructor for human anatomy and physiology.

I was interviewed on a Tuesday, called in on Thursday and was told to start the following Monday.”

Did you have any other challenges before you could work as a nurse?

“I arrived in July of 1993, so it was too late for me to apply for the October nursing exam.

I took the test in January and got the results in March of 1994, but couldn’t be registered until May that year. 

My TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language) was apparently expired so I had to retake the exam again. 

If I passed 5 years ago, why would I not pass it now? It cost almost $200 at the time, which was a lot of money.”

What is your advice to new immigrant nurses in Canada?

They should get into the health care fields such as a PSW (Personal Support Worker) or any caregiver work.

By doing that, you can dip into the health care system and you get to know how it works.

Try and upgrade yourself as soon as you know what the in-demand fields are.

However, even if home care is in demand, but you don’t have any interest in it, don’t pursue it, it wont serve you well.

What are some in-demand specialty nursing fields?

I specialized in wound care nursing called NSWOC (Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence).

Not many people go into it. It’s a specialty that’s in demand but the system does not support it in terms of positions available.

It’s best to own your own business as an NSWOC specialist. I can demand my pay and conditions because there are not many of us available.

Nursing Practitioners are also in-demand, but you’ll need a master’s degree.