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.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

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?

I would suggest you think about the province because each has their own requirement for being a licensed RN and process takes longer if a IEN and if you haven't started the process with the college you could be looking at over 12 months or longer and not being able to work as a nurse in Canada. You only have a certain period to active your PR (if that is the route you have taken) and if you can't work as a nurse are you able to afford activating your PR and return home and wait for the college or look for a job if staying in Canada while waiting (none nursing) and afford to live

[itsmejuli]

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?

Why do you want to work in Canada if you know nothing about the provinces?

[mizen]

hi nataliak

iam applying for the nova scotia..and i want to find the job before comin there..Could you kindly let me know the name of the IEN recruitment agency that assisted you. My email address [email protected]

would really be grateful

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

The OP has not been back on this site since she posted this way back in March 2011.

Best thing to do is look for RN jobs in NS either by looking for LTC facilities and looking at local health authority websites like capital health, or other county health authorities, Cumberland, Annapolis county etc

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Be aware though if looking for a TWP then full time is required many of the jobs on the list are pooling or part time and preference will be given to someone who is internal

[campbe11]

Are there any IEN's currently working in Alberta who could update me on the job status for RN's in this provence? I know they just built the new hospital, but from what I have been seeing on the AHS job website the need is mainly for ER nurses (sadly, I have no experience in that field). I also have seen a few new grad positions available, but mostly the jobs are for experienced nurses (I have 1+ years of inpatient experience in the U.S., but i'm not sure I count as an IEN...).

I am registered with CARNA, will be taking the CRNE in february 2012....all I need ("all"...haha) is a sponsorship from an employer.

However this seems like it will be the biggest hurdle by far.

Thanks in advance! :)

[campbe11]

I should also add, I will be living in Calgary with my boyfriend when I (eventually) am able to move....so I ask about jobs in that area respectively.

[jcpenados]

I had my CRNE eligibility expired last November...too bad..i was sending mails to prospective employers who are willing to sponsor my visa but sadly, no one was eager..tskts :c

[Fiona59]

There are many reasons employers aren't willing to sponsor your visa. The state of our economy being one. Poor results with mass hirings from overseas.

Several provinces have stated they will hire their local new nurses upon graduation. Any nation needs to employ locals first. It's that simple.

The days on a nursing permit being a golden ticket are gone.

jcpenados said:

I had my CRNE eligibility expired last November...too bad..i was sending mails to prospective employers who are willing to sponsor my visa but sadly, no one was eager..tskts :c

[campbe11]

Can any IEN tell me how long it took them to receive their temporary work permit once they requested it from CARNA (where they send it to you by email)?

Thanks!

[sumita]

Hi,

Once you send in all your paperwork to them then in approximately 6-8 weeks time. I sent all my paperwork to CRNBC and it took app 2months to get the email from them. I just met a few IEN's and they said it takes a long time now. My advice call the board and talk to the registration department they will give you the right information.

All the Best:nurse:.

[dikshathapa1986]

Hi Natalia

I graduated from a nursing school in Oklahoma, US on Dec 2011. I passed my NCLEX exam last week. Now I am officially RN, BSN. I also got my OPT to work for an year in US. I am from Nepal and came here to study. Currently I am looking for a job. I was impressed with your message. I really want to stay here in US and work. But I don't know what will happen. I am very interested to move to Canada. Can you plzs guide me? I am overwhelmed with the feeling of moving out but I really want to move on!!!

my email :[email protected]

thanku:)