Advice for U.S. RN going to AB, Canada?

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Specializes in Psych, Eating Disorders.

I will be taking my NCLEX exam in a few months and after obtaining my RN license (fingers crossed!) will be spending time in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Can anyone give me advice or break down the steps involved in working as an RN in Canada from the US?

Do I apply for a certain visa? Do I need a visa before applying to the regulatory body? Do I need a job offer before I can do neither of these? Where do I begin?!

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I have to ask why Edmonton? Our winters suck.

AHS (the main employer of nurses) currently has a hiring freeze.

Hiring preference is given to new grads. So a new grad from a foreign country is at the bottom of the pile. The four year degree is the entry for RNs up here. So no degree, no registration papers

There are no sponsored jobs and no hiring bonuses.

Do you understand how unions work? Probably 98% of nurses in Alberta are union nurses.

Are you a US citizen? Look at the NAFTA agreements.

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Look at CARNA's instructions on becoming a registered nurse for internationally educated applicants.Your education will need to be assessed for equivalency to a Canadian BSN through NNAS. If you need further education, be aware that not all American ASN/ADN to BSN programs are equivalent to a Canadain BSN. You might be better off taking an online RN-BSN through a Canadian university that accepts American nurses such as the University of Victoria.

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Look at CARNA's instructions on becoming a registered nurse for internationally educated applicants.Your education will need to be assessed for equivalency to a Canadian BSN through NNAS. If you need further education, be aware that not all American ASN/ADN to BSN programs are equivalent to a Canadain BSN. You might be better off taking an online RN-BSN through a Canadian university that accepts American nurses such as the University of Victoria.

ADN's from the US are only "grandfathered" as RNs if they graduated prior to 2009 (the year the diploma course ended in Alberta)

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Specializes in Psych, Eating Disorders.
I have to ask why Edmonton? Our winters suck.

AHS (the main employer of nurses) currently has a hiring freeze.

Hiring preference is given to new grads. So a new grad from a foreign country is at the bottom of the pile. The four year degree is the entry for RNs up here. So no degree, no registration papers

Are you a US citizen? Look at the NAFTA agreements.

Edmonton because my boyfriend lives there. Yes I'm a US citizen. I don't really know anything about unions :/ Sounds like its going to be very difficult for me.

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Specializes in Psych, Eating Disorders.
Look at CARNA's instructions on becoming a registered nurse for internationally educated applicants.Your education will need to be assessed for equivalency to a Canadian BSN through NNAS. If you need further education, be aware that not all American ASN/ADN to BSN programs are equivalent to a Canadain BSN. You might be better off taking an online RN-BSN through a Canadian university that accepts American nurses such as the University of Victoria.

Does CARNA accept Univ of Victoria? I was seriously considering but I dont know how to find out for certain that CARNA will accept it.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

As a US citizen you have advantage of using NAFTA but you do need a employer and letter of employment before you can live and work in Canada. Suggest getting education and registration sorted first before worrying about work visa because the registration process is not quick

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Does CARNA accept Univ of Victoria? I was seriously considering Western Governors University but I dont know how to find out for certain that CARNA will accept it.

Yes, CARNA accepts Univ of Vic nursing degrees (I believe your ASN would still need to be assessed by NNAS). You cannot predict ahead of time if NNAS will consider Western Governors equivalent to a Canadian BSN. I have a Canadian RN-BScN and when I compared Western Governors course outline to my course outline, I found is somewhat different, so I would error on the side of caution and obtain a Canadain degree if I were you.

Also, look at the nursing job market for new grads in Canada, we currently have a surplus of new grads, it is very unlikely a new grad from the US would be hired under the NAFTA agreement. Consider staying in the US and working as a RN while obtaining your BSN, that way you will have nursing experience by the time you complete your degree.

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Nightflower,

Did you make it to Alberta as an RN? How long did NNAS take to complete the application before you could finally apply to CARNA? How long did it take you to receive an employer offer in AB once the above was completed?

I hope you respond :)

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