Nursing in Quebec

As a Quebecer, born and bred, I find that last post insulting.

Hi Clemmm,

I grew up in Edmundston, NB and went to French parochial schools. I am currently living in Arizona and would eventually like to return to Canada as a Nurse. I will be studying Nursing these next 3 years and hope it is not as difficult as some posters seem to insinuate to work in Montreal.

Any advice?

Marguerite

Hi Marguerite,
Did you keep your french up? You don't have to be completely fluent in French to pass the French exams, but you do need a working knowledge. Understandable since many of our patients are French, even in the so-called English hospitals.

Also, the Order of Nurses of Quebec have established a new type of licensing exam. It's funny because I see many new nurses criticizing the old-fashioned sit-at-a-desk-and-answer-hundreds-of-questions licensing exam, but when the ONQ came out with this new type of exam, there was nothing but wide spread condemnation at it being so different.

What our exam involves is some theory but also practical. Stations are set up with various scenarios and you are supposed to react with your nursing skills. Most new nurses I know passed on the first attempt, the others passed on the second.

Once you are licensed, there is absolutely no problem finding work. All hospitals are hiring and almost in every department.

Good luck and I hope you follow through with your dream. We need good nurses here, just as they do everywhere else.