Nursing in Quebec

Allo Marie!

It will about then for me to, if not a little longer. I would love to study for the OIIQ exam with you, even from a distance when it is time. For now, Nursing core and French refresher courses at NAU will be "mon voyage".

I hope we stay in touch to encourage each other along. With proper motivation, we can do ANYTHING!

Bon courage!

Marguerite (à Tucson, AZ poour Montréal bientôt!)

Hi Noon, I'm Mariam....after reading your email, I just wondering as to whether I will be able to register myself here in Quebec....Quebec is part of Canada and you are graduated inCanada even though it is not in Quebec and you have been experiencing this kind of difficulties......oh gosh...just imagine as it to me......As you said they are short of nurses and yet it took so long for them to process your application...now I'm just wondering whether I should go through the hassels.....anyway thanks for sharing your difficulities at least I have a n idea of the process.Thanks again andhave a nice dayMariam

To register as a nurse in Quebec you have to be fluent in French. No ifs, ands or buts. And instead of passing the CRNE, you have to pass the exam administered by FIQ which is written entirely in French and pass a clinical assessment. There are even more hurdles to obtaining registration in Quebec than there is in any other province. Their nursing shortage isn't going to shrink any time soon...

Dear Janfn,

Thank you for your kind information, actually I'm ok even though I am not working.......that's why I only wanted to work as a part timer just to keep myself update and in contact with clinical skills......

I am not going to make myself like a fool just to work here in Quebec....afterall I don't think any nurses should make themselves a fool, there are so many other countries who are much better.

Well I don't think God will do that......plans are plans and not necessary to be working here and I guess God will bless whatever we do and I believe that God will always there for us for help.....

So my plan is to be a full housewife.....

Mariam

I am a registered nurse assistant, I have been working in this field for 2 yrs now. I work in a long term care facility in Quebec. Yes I know there is shortage of nurses in the hospitals here but our quebec gouvernment cut backs dont make it easy on a person. They usually minimize the hours per nurse or work overtime so much you have a burn out. I believe if the gouvernment made it interesting for the professional workers they wouldn't have shortage of nurses. Dont get me wrong I love doing what I do the money is only a reward, I cant explain it.

Hi NurseRNA,I can understand what you are trying to tell because I feel the same way too...back in my home country - MALAYSIA......I was awarded 3 times - Excellence Award for all my achievements in my work...I am very dedicated and love my work so much.....from Registered Nurse( Surgical Ward ) to Registered Midwife ( A & E, Labour Room ) then promoted as a Nurse Manager in again surgical ward. Went to Hong Kong for my WOCN training, leaving behind my 3 little kids at that time.....back opened up an ETN centre, promoted as a CNS then promoted as a Nursing Officer in the In - patient department then same position in the Ambulatory Department.I involved with all the wuality aspects of the Nursing division, planning all kind of workshop and seminars and even managed to conduct an intrnational attachmnet around the Asia Pacific region on wounds and stomas up to 5 batches......Came here because my husband got to work here and was thinking to do part time job a a RN...good enough....coz I miss all the work I do back home and at the same time to keep up with clinical skills BUT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE HASSELS THAT I NEED TO FACE...I just told myslef forget abt it...there are so much to contribute and yet we are unable to do so.....it is quite frustrating but as you said we love doing what we have doing all this while and the money is a reward form God...But I guess in contributing to the healthcare industry...not necessary to work in the hospital, with the knowledge and skill we still can contribute to whoever that need it.....All the best to youMariam

I am an American and have an interest in moving to Montreal. As far as jobs, will the hospitals help you through the process or are you pretty much on your own?

Hospitals will help but I don't think the paperwork was too dificult (we didn't find it) but you do need to be fluent in French

Silverhalide,
You have to contact the OIIQ (get the info on the web, phone number and all, very poor info in English!)
They have to send you the paperwork to fill out, it is a real nightmare to accumulate the info in general... It is a test of perseverance!
In my case, it might have been more difficult since they need the hours of clinical, lab and class and my nursing school being a hospital-base school as closed down, therefore the only person that had this info was a 70s some y.o. teacher that is in the Alumni... lucky her phone number was in the book...!
Then, they send me the wrong paperwork asking for the last 3 years of hours worked in nursing but they needed the last 5 years...
You have to call them frequently to see if they received your paperwork, what is needed...
By the grace of the superior being, one advice:
get a number for your file from them so they can find you easily when you call, because, you will never talk to the same person!!!
Have them call you back with answers, so you save the long distance... if you have problems, ask (like I did) to talk to their supervisor.
If I can do it, so can you!
Don't waste time faxing: it has to be mailed.
I purchased their Study guide for the examination to study... I had to brush up on peds and mother-baby stuff.
I started to send my papers last may, and now they were supposed to call me 2 weeks ago, to tell me if my education was recognized by them.... I am calling them Monday...
I have been a critical care nurse for the last 7-8 years... and NY state has been recognized to make good nurses....
Well, good luck!
Marie
PS The exam is not offered everywhere in English in Quebec, I think that they offer it only in Montreal. Put this question on your list!

Be ready for a huge cut in pay: I meet with the DON of an hospital and I will lose at least 10$/hr plus shift differential, and specialized rate (ICU: RN2). Besides the exchange rate from US to Canadian!

I just applied with the oiiq, and submitted all forms to nursing school here in Florida, the FL Board of Health,and
my employer. I just hope I dont get fired. I thought the form to be filled out by current employer is really strange, because my job may just fire me because theythink I'm leaving. The application for Ontario is worse. First of all, the form to submit to your employer is more detaiiled and also asks A LOT of detailed questions about you personally, for the employer to answer. Secondly, the Ontario board requires you to take the actual licensing exam before you can practice, they dont have an equivalency license. So first you have to prove your education(in my case, in the US), JUST to be able to sit for the nursing board exam. At least in Quebec, they give you equivalency and you are given a temp nurse license for up to 3 years, or until you pass their French equivalency exam. So far the OIIQ have been very friendly to deal with, but now I'm waiting to see how they process my application. I hope it goes smoothly. I'm a little discouraged by what I have read on this forum, but I'm trying to stay positive, .I'm from Montreal and want to return after living in the US for 25 years.