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"I’ve met so many kind, helpful people — both in the hospital, the community and through the recruitment team. It’s a big move, but I’ve never felt alone in it."
Emily
Nurse
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From Minnesota to Manitoba
with Emily, Registered Nurse
When registered nurse Emily packed up her life in Minnesota to move to Manitoba, she was doing more than crossing a border — she was stepping into a new chapter.
“I fell in love with a Canadian,” she laughed. “My reason for moving north wasn’t nursing-related at first, but it feels like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
After four years at the Mayo Clinic, Emily joined the medicine resource team at St. Boniface Hospital. Within just a couple of months, she says Winnipeg already feels like home.
“It’s funny — people hear ‘you’re moving to Canada’ and think it’s so far. But my parents are only a six-and-a-half-hour drive away. Honestly, it feels like I moved to the Midwest of Canada. It’s familiar — and welcoming.”
Navigating the cross-border transition took time and patience – but once Emily connected in with the Manitoba’s Health Care Retention and Recruitment and Office (HCRRO) everything started to fall into place.
“The nursing license transfer process was completely new to me,” she explained. “It was confusing at first — a lot of paperwork and steps. But once I connected with Shelby and Mohammed at HCRRO everything changed. I finally felt like I could exhale, someone was in my corner.”
“They answered all my questions and were there for me every step of the way. It was more than helpful emails and phone calls, they genuinely wanted to sit down, meet me, and understand my journey.”
Emily now shares the HCRRO’s contact information with her former colleagues in Minnesota who are curious about making the leap.
“I’ve had friends reach out after seeing ads for nursing in Canada. I tell them — it’s worth it.”
Emily’s experience at Mayo, one of the most well-resourced hospitals in the U.S., gave her a strong foundation — but also opened her eyes to a different way of practicing nursing in Manitoba.
“At Mayo, you have every resource imaginable. Teams for everything. But the flip side is that you lose some hands-on skills. Coming here, I’m using more of my nursing license again. It’s challenging — but empowering.”
Emily smiled as she remembered her first day at St. Boniface. “It had been a while, but I had to start three IVs right away. I was nervous, but it reminded me why I love nursing. You’re right there with your patients.”
That connection, she said, feels even stronger in Manitoba. “I’m not just relying on technology. I’m with my patients, talking to them, understanding what they need. It feels good to return to the human side of care.”
Emily shared one of the biggest differences is the health care system itself.
“In the U.S., I used to think about whether a patient could afford their treatment. It was always in the back of my mind. Here, care isn’t tied to someone’s financial situation. That’s huge. It means I can focus entirely on the person in front of me.”
Support for new recruits in Manitoba has also made a meaningful difference for Emily, from relocation assistance to professional development grants through the province’s Nursing Retention and Recruitment programs. As part of her onboarding as an internationally educated nurse, she completed a nurse re-entry course through Red River College Polytechnic — an experience she says has strengthened her confidence and understanding of the Canadian health system.
“That course was great,” she said. “It helped me understand the Canadian health system, Indigenous health education, and how roles differ here. I feel more confident every week.”
Since Emily first applied with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM), Manitoba has made it even easier for U.S.-board licensed nurses to gain licensure — through an expedited registration pathway for applicants educated and practicing in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Ireland or New Zealand.
While Emily gets ready for her first full Winnipeg winter, she said the sense of community has been even warmer than she expected.
“I’ve met so many kind, helpful people — both in the hospital, the community and through the recruitment team. It’s a big move, but I’ve never felt alone in it.”
Her advice to other U.S. nurses thinking about making the move?
“Do it. Reach out early, connect with the recruitment office, and give yourself time for the licensing process. It’s a lot of change, but it’s so worth it — professionally and personally.”
Explore nursing opportunities in Manitoba and connect with our recruitment team at healthcareersmanitoba.ca.