OMNI College Welcomes Nurses from Africa

Now that you have achieved your nursing license, you are ready to start working as a nurse in Canada. The college assists its students and alumni on finding job opportunities across the country.

Securing a job opportunity will depend on your ability in passing an interview with a hiring manager, but also on how open you are on moving around in Canada. If you are flexible and are willing to move to a different city or province, your chances of obtaining a job sooner than later is very high.

OMNI College students have secured employment not just within the city of Vancouver, but also in the Interior and Northern British Columbia and elsewhere. We have many alumni working in various cities across the country in other provinces as well.

OMNI FACT: OMNI has students and graduates working as nurses all around the country, including British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

An internationally-educated nurse who has obtained a Canadian nursing license and who has gained actual work experience in Canada may qualify for immigration through various application channels.*

Once you are successful in achieving your nursing license, your program at OMNI is not yet complete. You will be eligible to begin a co-op work experience through OMNI’s program. This will give you the hands-on Canadian work experience you need to not only be successful in the workplace, but also to be competitive in the job market. A candidate who has actual Canadian work experience as a nurse will be a much more suitable candidate and more attractive to an employer than other candidates who have had zero experience in Canada.

The combination of a Canadian nursing license, work experience, and a job offer, will greatly improve your chances of remaining in Canada, if that is your goal.

OMNI FACT: Over 90% of OMNI students join our program with the intent to remain in Canada. So far, the majority of OMNI graduates have successfully secured permanent residency in Canada following (and even before) graduation through various immigration application pathways.

*Disclaimer: Any immigration-related information presented is for general reference only, and should not be considered as advice. For up to date information, please consult with a regulated Canadian immigration consultant and visit www.cic.gc.ca

Yes. OMNI College is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) under the International Student Program (ISP) approved by the Government of Canada. International students enrolled in our Canadian Nursing Review programs are eligible to work part-time up to 20 hours per week during studies, and up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks, without a work permit.

However, it is important to note that students must come to Canada with enough money to support themselves during their program. Our students who work part-time do so just to give them extra spending money. The ability to work should not be for you to cover your regular living expenses, as this would require a significant amount of working hours and may distract you from your studies.

The Canadian Nursing Review programs at OMNI are intense and will require a lot of focus in order to become successful. These are not easy programs. They are designed to give you the right kind of training you need to succeed in the workplace. So please ensure that while you are eligible to work during studies, you should also make study time and your commitment to the process as your top priorities.

For your student visa application please make sure to include our DLI number:

OMNI’s DLI # is O19347439002

For more detailed information regarding the International Student Program, please visit the Government of Canada immigration and citizenship website at www.cic.gc.ca.

OMNI FACT: OMNI students have been hired during studies for jobs ranging from restaurants to retail, to gas/petrol stations, and also to jobs in health care such as companions and as actual health-care assistants.

You are not alone — this is a very real worry that all of our international students face. The idea of leaving home can be very daunting, but the payoff is very rewarding as well. Once successful as a nurse in Canada, so many of our graduates have been able to reunite with their loved ones and have brought them over to Canada to live permanently as well.

Every student at OMNI is an internationally-educated nurse, and because everyone has this in common, the friendships that form are very natural and very quick. The college organizes regular social activities and events that students can participate in to meet new friends, join in on group activities, and enjoy the city around us.

OMNI is also a family for you. Students and alumni often refer to the “OMNI family,” specifically because of our homely environment and supportive school culture. Students in the past were asked what one word would they use to describe OMNI, and the most common responses were “family,” “home” and “motivation.”

The city of Vancouver, where OMNI College is located, is known as one of the most diverse, multicultural and accepting communities in the world. You will witness this as soon as you arrive; we have people from all over the world, plus food and restaurants of every ethnicity, and a very accessible Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that serves direct flights to all parts of the world.

OMNI FACT: Almost every month, various OMNI alumni often return to visit the college just to say hello, introduce their families, or join us in regular celebrations with students. Their visits are not only incredibly inspiring to our current students, but are also so welcomed by our staff who get to share in their ongoing successes.

Your very first day at OMNI College is Orientation Day. You will meet all your classmates, the staff and tour the facilities. We’ll share with you all the information you need to become familiar with the services in and around the college that will help you get settled in.

Throughout your studies, the same Admissions Advisors & Student Success Coordinators who helped you during your application process are still available to assist you through your journey. After all, there is a reason why they are called “Student Success Coordinators.” They are not there just to get you in the door, they are there to support and help you become successful!

The nursing instructors themselves also provide a great level of mentorship and support to students. Beyond the classroom, they guide and support students through their journey.

The college has various services, on and off site, available for students’ use. These include free Wi-Fi across campus: printing copying/faxing computers dedicated for student use, and third-party resources such as homestay services, airport pick-up services, discounted medical insurance, to name a few. Often, employers visit the college and set up job fairs looking to hire OMNI graduates; additionally, we offer regular job search workshops to help prepare students for job placement and interviews.

While studying at OMNI College can be intense and will require a lot of study and hard work, we also know students need to kick back and relax some times. Social activities and events are held regularly throughout the school year for students to be able to have some fun and enjoy good times with their classmates.

OMNI FACT: “Support” is one of the for core values upheld by OMNI College. It works alongside our other values of “quality,” “integrity” and “family.” Our relationships with students and staff are extremely important, so the college always aims to provide a very high level of support. Students are supported from the day they inquire to our college, through their studies and the entire nurse registration process. The guidance and advice often continues even following graduation, long after they have moved ahead in their nursing careers. We understand the pressure our students carry on their shoulders and that failure is not an option — so the entire OMNI team rallies behind each student and through their journey towards success.