Hundreds of U.S. Nurses Relocate to B.C. Amid Recruitment Push

Province sees tenfold increase in U.S. nurse registrations as they seek to escape "uncertainty and chaos" in the U.S.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Hundreds of American health-care workers, including registered nurses Alex Alvarez and Ken Swartz, are relocating to British Columbia to escape "uncertainty and chaos" in the United States. The province made changes to fast-track the credential registration process for U.S. nurses, leading to a tenfold increase in registrations compared to recent years. The recruitment push included a $5-million ad campaign targeting doctors and nurses in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Why it matters

The influx of U.S. nurses is helping to address staffing shortages in B.C.'s health-care system, but the BC Nurses' Union says it's not enough to meet minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. The province should also focus on funding more nursing education seats and retaining existing nurses.

The details

Between last April and January, the BC College of Nurses and Midwives approved the registration of 1,028 U.S. nurses, putting it on track for a tenfold increase compared to recent years. The province also launched a $5-million recruitment campaign targeting health-care workers in Washington, Oregon and California. Nurses like Alvarez and Swartz cited concerns about U.S. health care, the rising cost of living, and a lack of social safety net as reasons for their move to Canada.

  • The BC College of Nurses and Midwives approved the registration of 1,028 U.S. nurses between last April and January.
  • In 2023, the college approved 112 applicants, and in 2024, it was 127.
  • The province launched its $5-million recruitment campaign targeting U.S. health-care workers last summer.

The players

Alex Alvarez

A registered nurse from Anchorage, Alaska who is relocating to Nanaimo, B.C. to work as a nurse.

Ken Swartz

A registered nurse who moved from California to Prince George, B.C. around two months ago.

Adriane Gear

The president of the BC Nurses' Union, who says the recruitment of U.S. nurses is a "good news story" but not enough to meet minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

Josie Osborne

The Health Minister of British Columbia, who said the recruitment campaign was B.C.'s way of "taking advantage of the uncertainty and chaos" in the U.S. after the election of President Donald Trump.

BC College of Nurses and Midwives

The organization that approved the registration of 1,028 U.S. nurses between last April and January.

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What they’re saying

“We need to make this move for our future.”

— Alex Alvarez (castanet.net)

“The politics and the culture in the U.S. has dramatically changed in the past several years.”

— Ken Swartz, Registered Nurse (castanet.net)

“It's really a drop in the bucket when you look at what needs to happen.”

— Adriane Gear, BC Nurses' Union President (castanet.net)

“It feels more dangerous to stay than it does to leave.”

— Alex Alvarez (castanet.net)

The takeaway

The influx of U.S. nurses to British Columbia highlights the province's efforts to address health-care staffing shortages, but also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of relying on international recruitment to meet the system's needs. Experts say the province should focus on funding more nursing education seats and retaining existing nurses to build a more resilient health-care workforce.