Some questions for those who recently became an RN or a CPN in Montreal, Quebec.
1) OIIQ now states on their website that regardless of one's studies and work experience, all applicants outside of Quebec must complete at least 30 days of clinical integration training. From your personal experience, is it true? Also, did you feel that with your level of nursing education (Bachelor of Science or "Etudes universitaires de premier cycle completees, Sciences infirmieres" in my case) and your work experience (3 years in Russia, 1 year in USA in my case) you were required to complete more than the bare 30-day minimum training? I, of course, bombarded OIIQ with these questions over the phone, but they're playing deaf and dumb, as usual, and just keep reciting their "formulaires", which I can freely read on their website, without the luxury of the lengthy international phone call!
Basically, what I'd like to know is how long would it take me from the time my application is approved by the OIIQ to the time I complete integration training and become a CPN? I've done some preliminary job interviews, and this is the first question they ask. Again, I have a Bachelor degree in Nursing and 4 years work experience.
2) Do I even need to mention my work experience to the OIIQ? From the recounts I've read, it seems that OIIQ doesn't really look at your work experience and you still have to pass that 30-day integration. But the question is, if I don't submit my work experience for OIIQ's evaluation, is there a risk that even with a Bachelor degree in Nursing I will be required to complete more than those 30 days in a clinical setting? Is there a chance OIIQ will drop some theory training req's on me as well?
Oh, and the reason I don't want to mention my work experience to OIIQ is because it's gonna be very expensive for me. While there's no problem with the American hospital I work at, my former Russian employers are gonna have a field day milking me for money for every piece of documentation they'll be required to fill out, translate and send by international mail. I've already gone through this when I received my US license - paid a hefty sum to each Russian employer just so the OIIQ's applications won't end up in the trash can. They call it "processing expenses", I call it "racketeering". So, does your work experience make any difference in the amount of integration training OIIQ requires you to do?
3) At what point during the application/integration/registration process will you need to have a Canadian work permit? Is it before you can begin you integration training? Or is it after you complete training and can become a CPN? If I understood correctly, one is not paid during the integration training, right? So, is it still considered work for which you need to obtain a work permit? Or can I, as a US citizen, just move to Montreal for the 30-day training period and worry about getting a work permit only after I'm eligible to become a CPN?
4) Was it easy to find work as a CPN? Or, if that were the case, as a trainee? Please, share your experiences and suggestions.
