Job Title

Pediatric Nurses in Canada are specialized registered nurses who provide developmentally appropriate care to infants, children, and adolescents from birth through 18 years of age. They assess and manage acute and chronic conditions, administer age-specific medications, support families through illness and hospitalization, and collaborate with pediatricians, child life specialists, and multidisciplinary teams across a wide range of inpatient and outpatient settings.Demand for Pediatric Nurses is consistently strong due to growing rates of childhood chronic illness, mental health conditions in youth, expanded childrens hospital services, and a persistent shortage of nurses with specialized pediatric training expected to continue well beyond 2026.### Key Facts* **NOC Code:** 31301 (Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses Pediatric nursing specialty)* **Work Settings:** Childrens hospitals, pediatric inpatient wards, Neonatal ICUs (NICU), Pediatric ICUs (PICU), pediatric oncology units, outpatient clinics, community child health centers, school health programs* **Regulation:** Each province/territory has its own nursing regulatory body (e.g., CNO in Ontario, BCCNM in BC); Pediatric Nursing certification through the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is highly valued---## Popular Canadian Cities & Regions Hiring Pediatric NursesPediatric Nurse opportunities are concentrated at stand-alone childrens hospitals and large academic medical centers with dedicated pediatric programs. Demand is particularly strong in provinces with growing youth populations and under-resourced pediatric specialty services.| City / Province | Key Highlights || --- | --- || Toronto, ON | Home to SickKids, one of the worlds leading childrens hospitals; diverse roles across pediatric oncology, cardiac, NICU, PICU, and general pediatrics. || Vancouver, BC | BC Childrens Hospital is the provincial hub for pediatric specialty care; strong demand for NICU, oncology, and developmental pediatric nurses. || Calgary, AB | Alberta Childrens Hospital offers roles across all pediatric specialties; above-average salaries driven by Alberta Health Services funding. || Montreal, QC | Montreal Childrens Hospital (MUHC) and CHU Sainte-Justine are major pediatric centers; bilingual roles available, French proficiency typically required. || Ottawa, ON | Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is a leading pediatric and adolescent center; stable government-linked employment. || Edmonton, AB | Stollery Childrens Hospital is a major referral center for pediatric cardiac and complex care across Western Canada. || Halifax, NS | IWK Health Centre serves as the regional childrens and womens hospital for Atlantic Canada; relocation incentives available for newcomers. |---## Popular Companies & Healthcare Organizations Hiring Pediatric NursesCanadas leading healthcare organizations actively sponsor LMIA applications for qualified Pediatric Nurses. Demand is strongest at stand-alone childrens hospitals, pediatric specialty units, and community child health programs.### Major Public Health Authorities* Alberta Health Services (AHS) Operates Alberta Childrens Hospital (Calgary) and Stollery Childrens Hospital (Edmonton)* Fraser Health Authority (BC), Vancouver Coastal Health (BC) BC Childrens Hospital network* Ontario Health / Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) Pediatric programs across Ontario* Nova Scotia Health IWK Health Centre pediatric services* Shared Health Manitoba, Saskatchewan Health Authority Regional pediatric inpatient and outpatient programs### Top Hospital Networks* The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Toronto (NICU, PICU, Oncology, Cardiac, General Pediatrics)* BC Childrens Hospital Vancouver (Pediatric Oncology, NICU, Developmental Pediatrics)* Alberta Childrens Hospital Calgary (General Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Neurology)* Stollery Childrens Hospital Edmonton (Pediatric Cardiac, Complex Care, PICU)* Montreal Childrens Hospital (MUHC) Montreal, QC (General and Specialty Pediatrics)* CHU Sainte-Justine Montreal, QC (Neonatology, Pediatric Oncology, Mental Health)* Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Ottawa, ON (General Pediatrics, Mental Health, Emergency)* IWK Health Centre Halifax, NS (Neonatal, Pediatric, and Adolescent Care)### Private & Specialized Pediatric Care Organizations* Grandview Kids Oshawa, ON (Pediatric rehabilitation and developmental services)* Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Toronto, ON (Complex pediatric rehabilitation)* CBI Health Group Pediatric community rehabilitation and therapy programs* Bayshore HealthCare Pediatric home care and medically complex child programs* Kinark Child and Family Services Ontario (Community pediatric mental health nursing)### Staffing & Recruitment Agencies with LMIA Programs* Healthforce (Pacific Blue Cross) BC-based pediatric nursing recruitment* FlexStaff / HealthCare Support Staffing Pediatric ward and NICU float pool placements* Nursefinders (Aramark Healthcare) Specialized pediatric and neonatal staffing* S&K Human Resources Specializes in IEN pediatric nursing placement---## Salary and Employee BenefitsPediatric Nurses are compensated in line with general RN salary grids, with additional premiums for specialty units such as NICU, PICU, and pediatric oncology. Salaries are governed by provincial collective agreements and reflect shift differentials, specialty allowances, and charge nurse premiums.### Salary by Province (Annual, Full-Time CAD)| Province | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior / Specialist || --- | --- | --- | --- || Ontario | CAD $68,000 | CAD $87,000 | CAD $110,000+ || British Columbia | CAD $71,000 | CAD $91,000 | CAD $115,000+ || Alberta | CAD $74,000 | CAD $96,000 | CAD $122,000+ || Quebec | CAD $58,000 | CAD $75,000 | CAD $96,000+ || Manitoba | CAD $63,000 | CAD $82,000 | CAD $104,000+ || Saskatchewan | CAD $65,000 | CAD $84,000 | CAD $106,000+ || Nova Scotia | CAD $61,000 | CAD $79,000 | CAD $100,000+ || New Brunswick | CAD $60,000 | CAD $77,000 | CAD $97,000+ |## Qualifications and Skills RequiredTo work as a Pediatric Nurse in Canada under an LMIA, internationally educated nurses (IENs) must meet general RN registration requirements plus pediatric-specific competencies.* **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) or equivalent; post-graduate pediatric nursing certificate or child health specialty training is strongly preferred.* **Credential Assessment:** Apply through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) for equivalency evaluation prior to provincial registration.* **Licensure Exam:** Pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain RN registration in the relevant province or territory.* **Pediatric Nursing Certification:** Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification in Pediatric Nursing (CPN(C)) is highly valued and increasingly required for senior and specialty unit roles.* **Experience:** Minimum 2 years of pediatric nursing or child health experience; employers in NICU, PICU, and oncology typically require demonstrated competency in age-specific assessment, weight-based medication dosing, and family-centered care.* **Language Proficiency:** IELTS, CELPIP, or French equivalent (e.g., TEF) with minimum scores (typically 7.0 in speaking/listening for English); clear communication with children and anxious families is essential in all pediatric settings.Essential skills: Pediatric and neonatal assessment, age-specific and weight-based medication administration, neonatal resuscitation (NRP), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), family-centered and trauma-informed care, play-based therapeutic communication, pain assessment in non-verbal children, IV access in small patients, and collaboration with child life specialists and social workers.---## How to Apply for Pediatric Nurse Jobs in Canada #J-18808-Ljbffr