Canadian nursers leaving to work in the USA.

moia · Feb 22, 2004

I also went straight to the US after grad and it was a great experience. I got my critical care program done for free and with pay . I worked in critical care immediantly and gained a ton of experience. When I came back to canada I had over 10 job offers.

I would encourage all new grads to go and get the experience and all the extra qualifications that canadian hospitals refuse to pay for.

In the US nurses are very well respected by all professions, the culture shock when I returned to cnada was bad. It took along time to break alot of doctors out of the habit of being disrespectful. The families are a perfect horror here after the US. In the US patients and families were deeply respectful. Here in canada nurses are not valued so expect a real shock when you come back. The other thing about working in the US is your nursing collegues are respectful too..they do not believe in eating their young there.

When I came back I couldn't believe the attitude of senior nurses...thats another thing..no unions..so nobody calling you junior.

I look back at my US experience as the best thing I ever did.

fergus51 · Feb 22, 2004

Wow, I don't know where you were in the US, but that wasn't exactly my experience. I found a lot of young eating, and a lot of disrespect from families and other staff. I think it's more dependent on the particular facility than on the country as a whole.

RNFAlex · Feb 23, 2004

I am a 2nd year nursing student in British Columbia. My concern is that so many nurses are leaving to work in the US (5,400 Ontario nurses). We are losing trained nurses and this may result in a worse shortage than we already have. How do you feel about this trend?

It is a very very disheartening fact that more and more nurses are leaving to work in the US, even today, 2004! This is due to the fact that our healtcare system does not recognize advanced practice nursing soon enough. We are behind the times. I am an RNFA that's unemployed at this time. There are several offers in the US for this position. Why would one waste the expanded/advanced education here in CAnada? when it can be put to actual clinical/practical use elsewhere? $$$ & weather are factors here too. I am very frustrated and angry that I am not able to practice here in Canada. I love Canada! Oh, Canada! :crying2:

RNFAlex · Feb 23, 2004

I left Canada after 6 years per diem. If they wanted me they had their chance. No sympathy here.

I totally agree with you. If the gov't or your employer doesn't do anything to retain you, why stay? Moving on up to the east side! No sympathy here either sister:rotfl:

lomid · Feb 25, 2004

I, as well, went straight to the US, following grad (no jobs here) and it was an experience I will be ever grateful for - my orientation and preceptor was just fabulous and I will always credit this person with my ability to quickly acquire confidence in nursing. I agree with you - the level of respect and the "team" approach was just an entirely positive experience there. When I returned to Canada 4 years ago, I felt like I was in a time warp - nothing had changed - I was almost appalled. There is such a severe shortage of nurses and yet, it seems that they make the positions impossible to acquire. What I see as one of the major differences between here and the US is that our system is unwilling to bend - to be innovative. When I worked in the US, they were constantly searching for ways to improve nursing and accomodate nurses - to be flexible and "listen". An example - where I worked, nurses only worked one shift - none of this rotating stuff - I was astonished and inquired about it. A staff member told me that they had done a poll, to determine what nurses wanted and discovered that there were many nurses who only wanted to work evenings or nights (the typical problem ones), and that they would be more than willing to accept this, if it meant not having to rotate. When they added up the numbers, they had their full complement of staff. Not everyone wants to work days. Why couldn't they look at this in Canada? There are many nurses who not only don't want to rotate (it is difficult to adjust), but also can't due to family concerns (hard to find day care / sitters for varied shifts; no spouse). If they are really, really concerned about the nursing shortage - as they keep professing to be - they need to WAKE UP to the times.

I am another one who has a hard time having much sympathy - the US treats us better!! Sorry Canada - but it IS your loss (and I Love Canada, too).

I also went straight to the US after grad and it was a great experience. I got my critical care program done for free and with pay . I worked in critical care immediantly and gained a ton of experience. When I came back to canada I had over 10 job offers.
I would encourage all new grads to go and get the experience and all the extra qualifications that canadian hospitals refuse to pay for.
In the US nurses are very well respected by all professions, the culture shock when I returned to cnada was bad. It took along time to break alot of doctors out of the habit of being disrespectful. The families are a perfect horror here after the US. In the US patients and families were deeply respectful. Here in canada nurses are not valued so expect a real shock when you come back. The other thing about working in the US is your nursing collegues are respectful too..they do not believe in eating their young there.
When I came back I couldn't believe the attitude of senior nurses...thats another thing..no unions..so nobody calling you junior.
I look back at my US experience as the best thing I ever did.

monie2004 · Feb 27, 2004

I am trying to get my papers to move to the US this summer too.! I've worked here 1 yr and already am sick of the way nurses are treated! :angryfire

fergus51 · Feb 27, 2004

Just be careful of where you go, there are a LOT of American nurses being treated like crap as well.

Joshua21 · Feb 28, 2004

All the previously mentioned (that is positive) is true by my experience. I love working in the states and at this time have no intentions of returning anytime soon. True, the money is nice but the respect, training (free) and opportunities for advancement are what keep me here.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 28, 2004

A friend of mine moved back to Canada a few months ago. She talks of disorganization, nurses not practicing to standards, lack of equipment, and docs not willing to come in for their patients. The nurses at her hospital actually defibrillated a guy half a dozen times in one night and the doc STILL refused to come in.

Plus when I look around on visits they are still just hiring per diem staff or 0.4 positions (which inevitably get downsized to 0.2). Who needs that kind of stress? Plus they pay equivalent money in Canada as I get here- that's a 30% pay cut with the exchange rate, and 10% more with extra taxes.

I remember how I was treated while I was there and coming in on a moment's notice to help out. My coworkers were excellent, they treated me as a full fledged staff member. But the thrill of seeing my name on a regular schedule has not yet faded, plus I am asked to participate in decision making here. In Canada our unit had 5 nurse managers in 6 years, and it was a full year before I could pick out the last one, because she was holed up in meetings. In the USA I was introduced to ALL the managers and the DON within a couple of days, and they remembered my name!

I do my best to help them out in a crunch, and in return I get the vacations, or assignments I am interested in, within reason. It's not all sunshine, but at least everyone is doing their best for our patients, and the staff.

marymary · Feb 29, 2004

I listened (eavesdropped) the other day as a 4th year student narrated a letter she was writing (recipient unknown) discussing the current shortage. She talked about whether the shortage was genuine or a fiction of the media and governments. She asked why, when governments talk of nursing as a way to return something to our communities, do they make it so difficult for new nurses to do so. Nothing but part-time positions available in our province for new grads, as I understood her to say. Her frustration was more and more evident as she reviewed her letter. I am considering my own future, even though I am only in the 2nd year of my program. Do I want to return to my own province, at the age of 40, to work part-time paying off a student loan and rebuilding the RRSP I will have depleted? No. Does the idea of a full-time job in another province/state sound appealing? Hell yes! As the other poster said, "No sympathy here."

Well I guess the United States is not so bad after all. The government will pay off your loan here and give you a job with decent benefits. Maybe it's time for a change.

agoddess · Mar 6, 2004

I am a 2nd year nursing student in British Columbia. My concern is that so many nurses are leaving to work in the US (5,400 Ontario nurses). We are losing trained nurses and this may result in a worse shortage than we already have. How do you feel about this trend?

I have had great experiences working in the US. I have done research and been aware of pitfalls. So much depends on where you go and your expectations.

I found I was treated as an asset and not as a cost in the US.

Canada has to realize our value and start treating us with more respect. The working conditions in Toronto suck, which is why I am going back to the US in April.

shearernurse · Mar 21, 2004

I currently work in both places, Alberta and Montana. I wanted to work in the U.S. in order to somehow avoid strike measures in Alberta. NO resolution there yet either. Lets face it, when you are hired in the states you are wanted. THEY WANT YOU! and usually are appreciative to have you. The pay may not be what it is in Alberta, but figure the exchange rate and its pretty even. On a nightshift you have 5-6 patients not 15. They have a union here in Montana and are in contract negotiations as well.

I graduated 15 years ago and there weren't any jobs in B.C., so I went to Texas with a full-time job and recieved 3 month orientation and sign-on bonus and relocation bonus'. Now in Canada it seems we are just happy to have a job.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox

Keeping warm in Montana