Why Canadian Nurses Are Choosing the U.S. (And What Hospitals Need to Know)

For 25 years, the same four factors have quietly shaped one of healthcare's most consistent patterns. Canadian nurses aren't just chasing higher pay. They're chasing something deeper: career ladders that don't take decades to climb, education they don't have to fund themselves, and the ability to own a home without reapplying for their mortgage every five years.

Lisha Crytzer and Kim England, co-founders of NurseMatch, pull back the curtain on what actually drives nurses across the border. This isn't about which system is better, but about choice, stability, and the kind of opportunity that changes not just a career, but a life. If you're a hospital leader wondering why your Canadian hires stay, or a nurse weighing whether the move is worth it, this episode gives you the unfiltered truth.

This is more than two decades of pattern recognition and hundreds of stories that all point to the same thing: when nurses feel seen, supported, and given room to grow, they don't just survive. They shift the culture around them.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:32] Hospitals & Canadian Nurses

[00:02:18] No Perfect Healthcare System

[00:03:12] U.S. Career Opportunities

[00:03:48] Faster Path to Leadership

[00:05:12] Education & Certifications

[00:07:10] Financial Opportunities

[00:08:14] Beyond the Paycheck

[00:10:27] Working Multiple Jobs

[00:11:27] Rotating Shift Challenges

[00:12:49] Lifestyle & Weather

[00:14:09] Homeownership in the U.S.

[00:16:27] Green Card Sponsorship

[00:17:51] Switching Specialties

[00:19:14] Top U.S. Locations

Memorable Quotes:

"If you're solely want to come to the United States just to make more money, I would say you just need to stay put. Just because I just don't think the financial advantage is that significant." [00:09:01] – Lisha Crytzer

"I know a lot of our nurses are even working rotating shifts, which I know just from visiting with them, that just the struggles they have physically, one week working days, the next week, working nights." [00:11:32] – Kim England

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com