American LPN with question about licensure in Alberta Canada

Fiona59 · Oct 3, 2009

NOPE. All PNs must write and pass CPNRE.

Where are you thinking you will work. Alberta Health Services has a hiring freeze. Local new grads can't find full time employment even in walkin clinics and doctors offices.

dishes, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2009

hmm.... I can see why it seems confusing, since you use the same application as the canadians, maybe american practical/vocational nurses are given the same consideration as the canadian practical nurses. I guess you won't know the cplna's answer for a few weeks, maybe you can post the answer when you receive it?

regards

dishes

5cats · Oct 4, 2009

Indeed it does look that you will be treated like an out of province applicant, what would mean, no exam for you. Have you emailed that person from the college and asked her (link is on the CLPNA site)?

5cats

irish_rose_73 · Oct 4, 2009

Thanks for your reply Fiona. I am not looking for work in a hospital. My experience is psych, ( which I think I have to be certified for), community nursing, assisted living, nursing homes, corrections, basically anything but hospital work. Can you please take a look at this site http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/working/lpnurse.html this is where I got the information re the exam. Am I missing something?? Why would they mislead people? CLPNA sent me an "out of province" application and I have already sent the application in. I guess I will await for them to contact me once they have received all the documentation to tell me what I have to do next. The PN exam is written 3 times a year is that correct? Anyone else here apply to CLPNA? Comments are welcome! As for a job I'll apply to all the postings when it comes time and I plan to also send out my resume to facilities that are not advertising as well. Maybe things will look up by the time I'm ready to apply who knows. Thanks again

irish_rose_73 · Oct 4, 2009

Thank you dishes and 5cats. Do you see why I am confused?! CLPNA indeed DID send me an "out of province" application. I did speak to someone there and I was told that after my documents were evaluated they would contact me. So I will wait until then. And I will post when I get an answer from them. I contacted New Brunswick too they too told me the same as Alberta but added that it most likely will change very soon. I am just trying to be prepared as to whether I have to take the test or not as it will obviously involve travel and time to and take the test.

dishes, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2009

irish rose 73

I wish you luck and look forward to hearing about the response you recieve from clpna

dishes

Fiona59 · Oct 4, 2009

http://clpna.com/Applicants/LicensedinAnotherProvinceorUSA/tabid/74/Default.aspx

is the CLPNA link. As far as is understood by my coworkers, your application will be assessed and then it will be determined if you meet the educational requirements to work here and then you will be given permission to write the exam. The wording in the link you provided is as far as we can understand misleading. We can't go work in the US without writing NCLEX.

The exam is only written three times a year on set dates. Fail it three times and you are required to do remedial education.

Now this is where it gets tricky. Some working LPNs from other provinces have had to remedial courses to work in Alberta despite having passed CPNRE. Alberta has a two year diploma programme for LPNs. Nurses from other provinces were found to be "lacking" in their A&P education and a few other areas.

Psych LPNs can be hired fresh out of college and there is an educational enhancement available but NOT required to work in the Psych units.

Again, have you researched working in Alberta? Our Psychiatric Hospitals fall under the control of Alberta Health Services (yes, the one with the freeze). Psych beds are being cut and there appears to be no plan in place for what to do with the displaced staff (who are all unionized and will have bumping rights).

Corrections are provincial and federal and I believe you have to be a Cdn. Citizen to work within the system. The provincial jail system employees are members of the same union as Alberta Health employees.

Assisted Living facilities and LTC (we rarely use the term Nursing Homes) are all funded to a degree by the government and are facing similar funding cuts. Many LTCs are under the same union as hospital LPNs (just different bargaining units).

Doctors offices are non-union as are medi-centres but they have their hands full hiring local new grads.

The employment picture isn't rosy for nurses right now in this province.