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| No. 10 | 
Aug 21, 2008, 04:46 PM
 Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk Originally Posted by Fiona59  Hey you are talking to the woman who used to leave the stroller out on the porch with her newborns in it (OK they were well bundled). I've walked the dog when even she didn't want to go out and she's a sled dog.
Cold winters win over wet cold winters. Here you can bundle up, on the coast, once you're wet, you'll never be warm again until you get dry clothes.
I just don't enjoy the digging out of the drive way, the six hours of daylight and the fact that Edmonton is too damned cheap to plow residential streets.
I hear that! I've lived on the (east) coast too and the snow would make you weep, there was so much of it. We have an 80 foot long driveway, a 60 foot lot/sidewalk and a 14 by 22 patio outside the back door... Bought a good snowblower a couple of years ago. Had to get a house with huge windows on southwest exposure to survive the Dark Days from November until April. And our streets don't get plowed either. We're on the side of a hill and the snow blows down into the bowl created by the houses. Either end of our street there's a fairly steep slope that can be impossible to get to the top of when there's a lot of snow. Been stuck a few times, even after I bought my all-wheel drive. Not fun!
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Aug 21, 2008, 07:24 PM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
My daughter lives in NewYork City, her room mate is from Florida. Her room mate could not wait for snow. My daughter told her she needed a special coat, gloves, hat, etc. Snow came and her room mate did not have coat, had to buy a coat and very quickly did not think snow was fun.
My point is that if you never experienced winter, I think it maybe a shock, walking to work could be unrealistic. You can't show up with your face red, feet cold, and you will have no time to "warm up".
We have a snow blower, I don't know how to use it, I have been caught several times when my husband is traveling and we have snow. Shoveling is no fun.
| | No. 12 |
Aug 21, 2008, 07:38 PM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk Originally Posted by Alexk49 My point is that if you never experienced winter, I think it maybe a shock, walking to work could be unrealistic. You can't show up with your face red, feet cold, and you will have no time to "warm up".
Wait a second! That's how I am when I walk on my unit after walking from the parkade. Originally Posted by Alexk49 We have a snow blower, I don't know how to use it, I have been caught several times when my husband is traveling and we have snow. Shoveling is no fun.
Oh girlfriend, you've gotta get out there and have an inservice on that puppy. Don't shovel if you don't have to!
| | No. 13 |
Aug 23, 2008, 08:36 AM
 Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk Originally Posted by sknurse07 hi oobie,
working condition in regina depends on your unit, do you know which unit you will be assign?
im assign in general, since you will be coming as an internationally educated nurse and working as a GN here are some tips for you:
i did brought my own uniform, but it will all depend on whatever unit you will be assign, i know for sure here in regina area those assign in C-ICU, Emerge, OR, L&D, NICU, S-ICU were provided uniforms by the district. working hours is 12 hrs a day, 12 shifts a month you can work 3 days straight and off for 2 and back again. it will also be dependent on which roaster you would be put in, so whatever unit you will be in will all depend on your unit manager. you will not go straight to the unit as you will still be orientating in everything. you have to be certified for IV pumps, BT, etc, etc. im telling about the regina qu'appelle health region here in regina - classroom orientation first and then start to the unit. we undergone 7 weeks of orientation and 60 days probationary period, but before the end of the probationary period they will assess you if you can go on your own without mentor, they might extend your probationary period dependent on your performance in the unit. at first it is very overwhelming to learn everything in so short a time. adjusting with your co-workers is 1 issue, another is the equipments they're using, patients, forms to filled up, managers, unit area and many things you'll have to find it out for yourself.
it is sheer determination, hard work and willingness to learn and being able to communicate well with everybody is my best tool for passing my probationary period. i must add you have to have the right attitude as well.
this is big dreams especially for those nurses coming from the philippines, please live up to your employers expectation. being happy is doing things that makes you happy. if you are not happy with what you are doing then you can never be happy no matter what. im just really blessed that this big opportunity was offered to me because the pay is good, i can give a better future for my kids and will be able to enhance my skills here in canada.
housing was provided for a while, we were bellited in a hostel but because it's too far from the hospital where im working i decided to just look for an apartment near my workplace so im walking going and from work. i dont want to take the bus and its better to walk its a good exercise as well. food if you know how to cook you can never have a hard time with that.
i hope to see you here in regina. goodluck!
hi sknurse!
Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. I am very fortunate to read your tips because I know what to expect and surely I will do my very best to live up to our employer's expectations.
Do continue to keep us posted here. We are happy to learn from you.
Godbless in your life in regina.  | | No. 14 |
Aug 23, 2008, 08:38 AM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
Thanks also to fiona and janfrn and alex for the lively discussion about the weather there..
we are surely learning too..
| | No. 15 |
Aug 23, 2008, 08:59 AM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
SK nurse have you passed the CRNE? If you did how difficult did you find it? Sounds like you had a awesome orientation. How many patients are assigned to you?
How are you preparing for winter? In my area, as soon as it gets cool the winter gear prices jump up, so I would start looking now. Better stores will rate the coats. I personally shop at LLBEAN, since they give good ratings. You can find them online.
This winter I bought my son a new coat for xmas, he said he was going to return it since his 5 year coat was fine, then he put on the coat and the zipper broke, he was so lucky to have his new coat.
| | No. 16 |
Aug 23, 2008, 09:41 AM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
Alex,
im gonna write my CRNE on October. I hope to pass it on my first take, i dont have enought time studying when im working because im dead tired so im doing it during my off days.
yes i did have an awesome orientation especially on the unit, my co-workers are so nice, i had a very good mentor and educator who have helped me a lot, everybody's helping me so i could easily adjust to my unit. during days i usually has 4-5 but nights i have 6-8 patients especially when we are short of staff.
i have brought some winter coats that my brother sent me from Australia with winter boots as well. i did bought some here in regina and are still looking, i need extra winter stuffs since winter last for 5 months.
Its nice to know that you bought a new coat for your son just in time that the old 1 broke down. you never know what will happen and better be prepared or caught offguard.
well Thanks so much for the tips where to buy winter stuffs, I appreciate it very much. God bless.
| | No. 17 |
Aug 23, 2008, 11:39 AM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
Sounds like you have a nice assignment,not too overwhelming. Do you have nursing assistants to assist you? Try to study a bit every day it will help you retain the material better. Is this your first fulltime position, it can be difficult but you will adjust.
| | No. 18 |
Aug 23, 2008, 02:40 PM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk
It sounds a lot like the orientation that Capital Health does.
Try Sears for winter wear. The coats usually have ratings on them. Look for "extreme".
Zellers and WalMart usually have the best prices on boots. Kodiaks become a girls best friend. Yes, it hurt to type that. I used to be the queen of highheeled leater winter boots but those belong on the coast.
| | No. 19 |
Aug 23, 2008, 02:50 PM
Re: a nurse's life in regina, sk Originally Posted by oobie Thanks also to fiona and janfrn and alex for the lively discussion about the weather there..
we are surely learning too..
You're welcome, oobie! The extremes are hard to get used to, for sure. For example, it was 36 degrees Celsius here on Monday and we hit a record for electricity consumption. On Wednesday it struggled to get up to 13 degrees Celsius. Yesterday (Friday) it was 22 degrees Celsius. No consistency! Originally Posted by Alexk49 How are you preparing for winter? In my area, as soon as it gets cool the winter gear prices jump up, so I would start looking now. Better stores will rate the coats. I personally shop at LLBEAN, since they give good ratings. You can find them online.
Oh, I'd think twice about ordering on line from LLBean. By the time all the extra charges are tacked on, the item costs twice as much as the price listed in the description... in US dollars. AND if the item isn't 100% made in the US, there's huge duty due. Sure the stuff is fantastic, but we have local stores that can provide as good for much less. It was a good thought though, Alexk49.
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