I moved to Canada as a nurse!!!!!

[NataliaK]

Originally I am from Russia but I received my Associate of nursing degree in USA. After graduation from Denver School of Nursing, Colorado I had been working as a registered nurse (RN) for almost one year.

I really liked to live and work in USA. But unfortunately I was urged to move from USA due to the fact that I did not have bachelor of Nursing and with ASN I could not get my US work visa. It is funny to see all these ads after that claiming that USA needs nurses. May be it does but it is very difficult for foreign nationality to stay in USA.

So I have less than 6 months to find a good alternative for my US nursing job. Canada was the first on my mind.

There is a flood of information on Internet but it takes forever to read through all these governmental websites trying to decide what province of Canada I am suitable best and I did not really care what part of Canada to go. All Canadian provinces have their own requirements for licensing of foreign nurses. Now I know that they are pretty much similar but at that time I did not know anything about nursing requirements in Canada. I choose Nova Scotia (Atlantic province of Canada) because I always wanted to live near the ocean.

I applied as a RN to the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia to find out that my Associate of nursing degree from US is not enough to be registered as RN here in Canada. I was suggested to come to Halifax, Canada for assessment. For me it was simply impossible.

First I needed a Canadian visa and besides that I would not be able to return to USA (where I could officially stayed only for short 5 months) and I am not saying that it is a LOT of money to travel to Canada, staying in the hotel plus I still could not be sure how this assessment would go.

Close to a nervous breakdown I found a local consulting and recruitment agency for foreign-trained nurses in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I was suggested do apply as LPN to the College of Licensed Practical nurses of Nova Scotia. Thankfully my application was approved. I was offered a job by this recruitment agency (everything was FREE) and they found me a place to live in the apartment complex located on the territory of my future work. So it was really convenient. I did not need to buy a car right away everything was close.

So to summarize my experience: I started looking for the ways to go to Canada in October 2009. My RN application was refused in November. In December I applied as LPN and by April 2010 I was able to come to Canada. By the way my family came later.

I was just blown away by Canadian Hospitality. I was met at the airport by personal of the agency . They also helped me a lot during my first week in Canada plus found me place to live.

Some more interesting facts from my Canadian experience:

1/ It happened that I came already pregnant to Canada. To my big surprise I was eligible to have one year maternity leave after full time of work during my first 8 months in Canada.

2/ Being an American graduate I even was not asked to go through the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE).

3/ I applied for permanent residency after one year of staying in Canada through Nova Scotia Nominee program though I am still waiting for it. Hope to receive it soon.

So it will be soon almost 2 years in Canada. It seems to me that People at work are more relaxed compare to US.

But I finally got use to this "Canadian slowness ". I love Canada:redbeathe and I think I found my new home.

[lou_din, BSN, RN]

Fiona59 said:

Canadian health authorities are NOT recruiting overseas. They are filling jobs locally with new grads and under employed nurses.

Your use of the words "willing to work as an LPN" because it's hard to get hired as a nurse is offensive to Canadian and US LPNs.

Oh sorry.. I didn't mean to.. Now I know... Thanks for the info ?

[shel589]

i want to work also as LPN,pls share me your ideas heres my add [email protected]

[bonsai_25]

Congratulations Nataliak!!

I am also an IEN who recently passed my CRNE this June and I just got a full time job. As an IEN before you come here in Canada and apply for registration just make sure you have the details beforehand and plan plan plan!! Nothing is easy in life, you have to think about the problems you will face so that you can plan for it.

I was a nurse for Texas in 3 years before coming here and contrary to what some of you think, they do credit US experience. I am not sure about the other working experience since I can only speak for myself. I was also scared that they will not credit my US experience but surprisingly all my interviews were regarding my US Experience.

I applied for my registration and my immigration a year before my US visa expired. So when I went back home in the Philippines last November 2010 I was already an immigrant and I got the decision from CNO that I can take the exam this June. I was applying for a job everyday through the internet since I passed my exam and they all called me after 3 weeks until this day. But I grabbed the first full time job offer because I know how hard it is to get a full time job even when I am getting calls from Big hospitals in Toronto.

Goodluck everyone, I wish you all the best and will pray for your success.

[simonep]

RN_Canada said:

Welcome to Canada eh!

The immigration cap for registered nurses under the skilled worker program was reached last December so no more new applications until June 2011.

However, the cap for LPN positions has not yet been reached so that is probably why you had an easier time.

I wish more IEN's would consider the possibility of registering as an LPN first . You can always work on your RN registration while you are working as an LPN.

Really?

I did not know that IEN can also apply under LPN for FSW. If that is true, thanku so much for your enlightment:bow:. I had already lost hope as this year's cap for RN can be expected any day from now and unfortunately I missed this year's opportunity too:cry:.

If we also can apply under LPN, hopefully I can again start dreaming of working in canada as a nurse in future:yeah:..

Thank you so much my friend but please tell me what you are saying is true :icon_roll

[Fiona59]

Alberta doesn't do this. RNs and LPNs are governed by two separate bodies. Alberta tried this once and it was not a success.

The provincial government has promised to hire 70+% of a new grad nurses educated here due to the unemployment and underemployment of local nurses. They are not recruiting offshore.

[loriangel14, RN]

Ontario doesn't do it either I believe.Jobs are scarce in Ontario as well.

[CarribRN]

Simonep,

I have not seen an RN applied as an LPN for FSW application. It's a question being asked by many RNs since last year from many different Canadian immigration forums but nobody was able to provide a concrete answer. I guess nobody has tried it for fear that their application might just be rejected since the job description of an RN is really different from that of an LPN. Remember that CIC would ask for a job letter, and if your job letter says that you are working as an RN I doubt they will consider your application as an LPN. This is just my personal opinion though. I suggest you ask a reputable immigration consultant to find out the answer to your question.

[Kit2hime]

Following this thread. I am in the same boat

[ingenue19]

Guys, is anyone of you familiar witg Reynayds immagration firm? They are assisting PH nurses to migrate in Canada using their profession?

Nataliak, wat consultancy did u consult?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

ingenue19 said:

Guys, is anyone of you familiar witg Reynayds immagration firm? They are assisting PH nurses to migrate in Canada using their profession?

Nataliak, wat consultancy did u consult?

Never heard of them but would be interested in the route seeing as the cap for RN's is now closed for this year. also what province because jobs aren't too great at the moment for Canadian nurses never mind International nurses

[ingenue19]

I havent thought of a particular province yet. For now, il just have to wait for possible opportunities that may come a long the way. Where u at right now?

[Fiona59]

ingenue19 said:

I havent thought of a particular province yet. For now, il just have to wait for possible opportunities that may come a long the way. Where u at right now?

Have you done any research on Canada? There are very limited opportunities right now even for Canadian educated nurses.