Working in Canada and the US

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Just to clear up any misinformation that is being put out there by some agencies: Canada, as well as the US, require that the RN have a "generalist" training for licensure, not the "specialist" that you are now receiving in your programs. Even with the adult branch, you will still need to make up the other hours in Maternal/Peds, as well as Mental Health. Same goes for a specialty in any of the other branches as well. If you are determined to work in the US, it is easier to make up classes when you do have training in the Adult branch, but again, you will need the training.

Several provinces in Canada are now actually requiring a four year degree, such as Ontario.

Please do your own homework first, before trusting what an agency has told you.

i am a third year adult nursing student who wants to work in usa.can someone tell me how to make up hours in psychiatric and pedeatics.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
You know what I would be doubtful if you would get a job as a research nurse here in the US, and I am not sure I would recommend doing it straight off. Nursing in the US is so different than the UK that you should get a few months med/surg nursing under your belt first. I am a pretty switched on, bright person who picks up things really easily-but I have struggled to understand the vocabulary and medical terminolgy.

Gosh Dont I sound like I am blowing my own trumpet:trout: to me

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
i am a third year adult nursing student who wants to work in usa.can someone tell me how to make up hours in psychiatric and pedeatics.

you could try the university and see whilst you are a student making hours up. The other option is find a place at a school of nursing in the US as a guest student and make your hours up but you will have to fund it yourself and also be able to fund your time as you will not be able to work

Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.
Hi Misswoosie [great name!]

I realise it's some time ago since your post, I am a research nurse who is also considering moving to US but I have come across problems as agencies want me to have RECENT clinical experience and do not count research nursing.

Have you tried any research agencies direct? One thing I have found is that research nurses seem to get paid less in the US. There is a separate forum for us research nurses somewhere.

So, I just wondered if you had got anywhere with it, maybe any tips?? I'll certainly tell you anything I know if it can be of any help.

Thanks

Janelola

Hi Janelola

Haven't been around for ages! I have not used an agency for the process so far . I have my NCLEX exam out in North Carolina April 2nd. I have spoken to a magnet hospital near where will be living and they have encouraged me to apply for a stroke co-ordinators post as my specialty is acute stroke. I am not sure about this as I have been told that the adjustment is quite difficult but I have applied and then maybe I can discuss other jobs with them.I have to say looking online I haven't really found research nurse posts except for the big university medical centres (thinking of Duke University-Durham NC) who do loads of clinical trials. Otherwise jobs are CRAs for drug companies and I don't want to be non clinical. Hope this helps!

Can I ask anyone who may be reading this how long the process generally takes after employer petitioning? Also ,do you have to use a lawyer? I guess lawyers come in good and bad-how do you find a good one ?

Specializes in Medical, Diabetes, ICU.
Hi Janelola

Haven't been around for ages! I have not used an agency for the process so far . I have my NCLEX exam out in North Carolina April 2nd. I have spoken to a magnet hospital near where will be living and they have encouraged me to apply for a stroke co-ordinators post as my specialty is acute stroke. I am not sure about this as I have been told that the adjustment is quite difficult but I have applied and then maybe I can discuss other jobs with them.I have to say looking online I haven't really found research nurse posts except for the big university medical centres (thinking of Duke University-Durham NC) who do loads of clinical trials. Otherwise jobs are CRAs for drug companies and I don't want to be non clinical. Hope this helps!

Can I ask anyone who may be reading this how long the process generally takes after employer petitioning? Also ,do you have to use a lawyer? I guess lawyers come in good and bad-how do you find a good one ?

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with the NCLEX, I've got my exam in London early June. I've not gone thru an agency as yet either, I think I'm kind of seeing how far I can get on my own really. The job sounds good! Are you going to go for it? I think I may end up going back to the wards for more recent experience after all, but we'll see. As for how long the whole process takes - it seems to be a pretty sore subject on the forum at the moment due to retrogression, I'm sure a few of the others that are caught up in this will fill you in! I'm hoping by the time I'm 'ready' it'll all have blown over, but there again, it'll have a huge knock-on effect for nurses in the future. So, there you go! My 2 pence worth. Good luck with everything, keep us all posted.

Janelola

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

yep, everyone at the moment is caught up with retrogression and not really sure how long it will last but hopefully some movement to be seen in the summer. Look on average of 12-18 months from petition but only as a rough guideline and with no retrogression

Definitely recommend that you use an immigration attorney, one that specializes in nurses. There are quite a few that know nothing about the nursing field and still are telling all that they are required to write the CGFNS exam before they can do anything. And we all know ho true that that really is.

One wrong item on the petition and it can take you months if not more than a year to get it sorted out.

Same as you normally would not file divorce papers on your own in most cases, this is another time to use the attorney. Most facilities are going to pay a relocation bonus, so that will more than cover the attorney fees, and then some.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

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Specializes in OR.

To all

Dont get so hung upon nursing degrees and hours, firstly the college of Registered Nurses in the province you are applying to verify your transcripts and decided on case by case basis, if you need more hours they will let you know. secondly I emigrated to Canada five years ago I left a Charge position in the UK for a staff nurse in BC, I dont have a degree, I am a diploma nurse, within two years I was Director of operating rooms out in Ontario, and then moved back west to Manitoba, where I took a position in senior management in a rural facility, now I have justed started my own nurse recruitment company here in Canada.

main thing is your school of nursing has to send out your transcripts direct to the relevant college, after that its a wait and see.

Martin

Specializes in OR.

To all

As an expat in Canada,can I first say the College of Registered Nurses in the province you are applying to will be the ones to let you know if you need more hours, each application is done on an individual basis, they first review your transcripts of training which are sent direct by your school in the UK, then they issue you with a grad license or interim permit depending on the province. as for having to have a masters... if you have the experience then it doesnt matter, I have been nursing here in Canada five years, I left a Charge Nurse position in Liverpool, to start as a staff nurse again in BC, two years later I was Operating Room Manager for two hospitals in Ontario, I then left that role for a senior management position in Manitoba, I now have left nursing to start my own Nurse Recruitment company recruiting nurses to canada.

Not bad for a diploma old school nurse.

As for working here, yes you start at the bottom but it doesnt take long to climb. If anyone want smore info about nursing in Canada, just email me.

Martin

To all

I now have left nursing to start my own Nurse Recruitment company recruiting nurses to canada.

Please recruite me, I am about to graduate form ADN program in US and I don't want to move into my car.

Hi all i've applied for registration (to sit exam) in Nova Scotia, they have already queried my (lack of) hours for obstetrics and child nursing which was nil as I trained here in the uk as'adult branch'.

Can anyone tell me how long the original application to sit the exam took?

Has anyone been sucessful/denied due to a lack of obstetric/child branch hours..im obviously not planing on practising in these fields..

How about the exam...im still waiting for my study guide.

Thanks Helen

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