Jacqueline’s Story
Registered Nurse
Specialized Medical Unit
Vancouver Coastal Health
“It was a long journey to get to where I am today, but it was all worth it,” says Jacqueline, who currently works as a Registered Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health.
Jacqueline first became acquainted with British Columbia in 2018, when she visited as a PhD student on an exchange from Brazil. She returned home to complete her studies, but less than a year later she had come back to BC, looking to start her nursing career! Jacqueline then enrolled in a bridging program for IENs (internationally educated nurses) called Nursing Practice, in order to fill the gaps that she was lacking. In 2022, she received her provincial license to practice as a registered nurse in British Columbia.
Now in her current role, Jacqueline works with patients who require acute rehabilitation after surgeries. Every day, she feels fulfilled as she sees her patients recover. She finds her working environment to be understanding and welcoming. When asked about plans in for future, she shared that she aims to become a nurse practitioner and potentially become a nursing instructor so that she may pass knowledge on to future generations of nurses.
Jacqueline shares that the road to where she is today was not easy. It involved a lot of hard work – and paperwork – to make her dream come true. Throughout her nursing and immigration journey, Health Match BC was a great resource to her. “They will help you in the process of becoming a registered nurse, the immigration process, and the job search,” says Jacqueline.
Now that Jacqueline is a Permanent Resident of Canada, she plans to stay in BC for the long term. She finds comfort in her stable employment, and the security of living in Canada. She plans to continue exploring British Columbia and continue pursuing her hobbies. When not at work, she participates in a few volleyball leagues, plays a lot of tennis, and enjoys hiking. She is looking forward to welcoming her parents when they visit, and showing them all that beautiful BC has to offer.
For prospective nurses who are looking to move, Jacqueline encourages them to take a chance and follow their dreams. However, she also advises them to plan ahead thoughtfully, as the immigration process can be a long journey.
