ATTN- Alberta nurses

You are aware of the job situation in Alberta? If not then I suggest you read these threads

Alberta Health Service
For those considering Canada

CARNA has nothing to do with issuing practice permits for LPNs. There is also a backlog at the governing body for LPNs and those people also do a pretty through check of credentials.

There aren't jobs for either grade of nurse in Alberta for the foreseeable future.

Where do "friends" get this information?

Judge Judy would call your "friend's" information hearsay. She doesn't like hearsay.
"I don't want to hear what your friend said, I want the truth."

Advice? If you're determined to come to Alberta, be prepared for a lot of headaches and heartaches. The truth is that unless you're a very highly specialized RN, it's unlikely that you'll be able to find a job anywhere here. In the Edmonton zone there are exactly three RN positions open to the public at the moment; all are ICU positions, one is a 0.8 FTE, one is a 0.5 and one is casual. Of the grand total of four LPN postings currently available, none are open to the public. The cost of living here is far too high for a single income earner to keep the wolf from the door. It's not likely to get better before it gets much worse here as our beknighted President and CEO of Alberta Health Services continues to plan for layoffs in the near future.

I'd really like to know where the notion of RNs registering as LPNs came from. The only way a person educated in a health care program that is NOT a practical/vocational nurse program can be registered as a practical nurse in Alberta is if they come from outside of North America, and even then it's not a slam-dunk. There are a number of assessments that have to be done and a lot of time and money involved. Oh and the Canadian exam still has to be written... unless you're a practical/vocational nurse who has passed the NCLEX-PN. This is the only exception to the "NCLEX-doesn't-count-for-anything-in Canada" rule.

And the rank and file LPNs are NOT at all happy about this. It's not the same education and skill set that arrives with the NCLEX passer. But then since when has CLPNA ever listened to the actual working LPN?

RNdude How long have you been a registered nurse? Saskatchewan has had BScN as entry to practice since 2000, see the entry to practice table on CNA's website

http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents...tice_FAQ_e.pdf

You can try searching allnurses for other posts from iens who have applied to saskatchewan, it seems that those who applied waited many months before finding out their next steps. Also, there is a drop off in posts so it is difficult to know how many applicants actually make it through from applying to becoming registered and working in canada. All you can do is apply and be patient while waiting for answers.
dishes

I would also love to come to Alberta, as I have some family there and have heard good things about it. However, there is no way I would consider it after what I have heard on the news and on this board. I have also done searches and there really are very few jobs right now and that is such a change from even a year ago.

I am also very sad to hear that Stelmach got his 70% approval from his cronies.