Nursing and couples.

[Willh]

Hi all,

I'm new to this board so first I'll introduce myself.

I'm 20 years old, turning 21 in a month or so, and am currently engaged. I do not attend college, but that is because I'm trying to save up for it now(I'm going to have to put myself through it.)and I got sort of side tracked coming out of high school.

The reason i'm here is to learn more about becoming a nurse.

I also have a few questions.

My goal, something i've wanted to do for years, is to become a rural nurse, preferably in northern Alaska/Canada and to work with the Inuit.

It's also one of my fiance's goals as well.

But the other day I was thinking about something related to this, and it caused me to worry a bit.

So here's my question, hopefully someone can offer me some help with it.

Will my fiance and I have much trouble finding jobs where we work at the same place?

I know that where I live now(central Maine) most places don't like to hire family members of their employees and I'm not sure if that's something that would include nurses.

The reason it's a problem is because the areas I'd like to go tend to be fairly small and the only nurses are employed by the government.

It's not that we're desperate to work at the same place, it's more that I don't know if there'd be much of an option.

So basically that's my problem.

Hopefully someone can help me with it.

Also, I'm wondering if anyone has any stories about attaining jobs in Canada under NAFTA, what it was like and how the process would work if I decided I'd like to stay...would I have a decent shot of gaining permanent residency?

Thanks!

~ Will

ps...

I've read a lot about the pro's and con's of nursing, listened to people complaining and telling me not to do it; it's not worth it they say. But this is what I want and I'd really appreciate if those pessimists or other who don't enjoy their career would refrain from trying to bring me down. I'm set on this. If I end up hating it; then that's ok. But I want to find out on my own.

I don't mean to sound harsh when I say this either.

Thanks. :)

[nurseman]

I got back from up north a few months ago. Our hospital loved getting a nursing couple because it made a great difference in staffing. We had space/funding for 11 staff nurses at our wing. Most of the time we had about 6 or 7 and were always on the lookout for more. Most of the James Bay Coast was on the look out for nurses and we were still in Ontario.

For jobs in the Canadian north go to.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnihb/chp/nursing/jobs/index.htm

This is the government site and would have outpost opportunities at Indian reservations.

Sorry I only have one northern hospital book marked my last employer (and the most northern hospital in Ontario) http://www.jamesbayhospital.org

Try http://www.canadianrn.com/jobmart/nurses.htm for immigration info. I can't say how good the info is going from USA to Canada but other way around was useful.

Will were you looking at getting into an outpost or a northern hospital?

[christianRN]

Congrats on your plan, Willh. All the best to you and your fiance. My husband and I are both nurses, but he is in medical sales. From the sounds of the other replies, you shouldn't have a problem getting a job or working together. Just wanted to give my .02 of encouragement for you both being nurses. My hubby and I have so much to talk about, as he calls on local docs, etc. that I deal with daily. I feel like we have so much in common to share. And we share all of our nursing knowledge!!! Best wishes on fulfilling your dreams together!!!

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Be sure to check this out fully before you make a commitment to do it. My wife and I are both nurses, and one facility we worked in together would not even allow us on the same shift, even though I would not be in a position of supervising her (I am an RN, she is an LPN). They were good about coordinating our days off so that they fell together, but it is still tough when one of you works 7A-7P and the other 7P-7A. We used to joke about spending "quality time" by the med cart at shift change.

Best of luck to you both.