IEN Registration in Alberta to become more difficult

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"Immigrants with nursing credentials will soon have a harder time getting licensed to work in Alberta.

Provincial funding for Mount Royal University's Internationally Educated Nurses Assessment program is being discontinued, school officials said.

About 240 nurses from other countries are assessed and registered through the program each year."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/03/19/calgary-nurse-foreign-program-cut.html

Mount Royal University is conducting the SEC assessment until June 30, 2013. Mine was scheduled in October.

What would be your opinion if I would try to register as an LPN for the meantime while the demands for nurses are decreasing? Will it be a good idea?

Why should you register as an LPN if you weren't educated as one?

I will process my documents on clpna..

These are the requirements of clpna..

IF ALL OF THE BELOW STATEMENTS are TRUE, use the IEN Self-Assessment Tool to determine if you are likely to meet CLPNA’s registration requirements and eligible to apply for registration as an LPN in Alberta.

Eligible applicants must:


    [*=left]Have registration as a nurse outside of Canada.
    [*=left]Have never been registered as an LPN in Canada.
    [*=left]Have successfully completed a nursing education program outside of Canada.
    [*=left]Have nursing practice hours in the past four years or have graduated from a nursing education program in the past four years. (In order for worked hours to qualify as nursing practice hours, you must have been registered, hired, and paid as a nurse. Practice hours do not include sick time, vacation or volunteering.)

Is that impossible? You can check on clpna's website for you to gain insight..

Specializes in geriatrics.

The market is tough for LPNs also, and AHS has instituted a hiring freeze, but if you are eligible to register as an LPN, then that is your choice.

Personally, I don't agree...but it doesn't matter since I don't make the policies.

1 Votes
Mount Royal University is conducting the SEC assessment until June 30, 2013. Mine was scheduled in October.

What would be your opinion if I would try to register as an LPN for the meantime while the demands for nurses are decreasing? Will it be a good idea?

LPNs are nurses.

If you want to work as one then you need to realize that.

1 Votes
Specializes in Home Care.

There are no jobs...there's no point in applying to AHS since any job advertised will be taken by someone who is already in AHS.

I work outside of AHS...we're cutting back on staffing hours for our HCAs. Our cutbacks will not affect patient care but the HCAs are sure upset to lose some of their hours.

I'm glad I made my move to Alberta 2 years ago.

There are no jobs...there's no point in applying to AHS since any job advertised will be taken by someone who is already in AHS.

I work outside of AHS...we're cutting back on staffing hours for our HCAs. Our cutbacks will not affect patient care but the HCAs are sure upset to lose some of their hours.

I'm glad I made my move to Alberta 2 years ago.

All I am asking is about the processing of documents. I think that it would be easier to apply for an lpn than an rn with regards to registration. I really do not care about job vacancies. If all of you think that there would be no opportunity for me. Well, I am afraid you are wrong. I am currently residing on High Level and there are a lot of position here for Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse. I even talked to the institution itself and assured me that there is always an opportunity for me. All I really need is to be registered.

Specializes in geriatrics.

True there is always a need for nurses across the North Zone. However, none of us really have much job security right now, especially if you have no seniority.

We are just being honest with you about the situation. For example, if a nurse is laid off within the North Zone and they decide to displace or bump a less senior nurse, they are within rights to do so, at least as far as UNA is concerned. This means that there is a possibility of reassignment, demotion to casual status or layoff. You are not necessarily immune because you're in High Level.

All I am asking is about the processing of documents. I think that it would be easier to apply for an lpn than an rn with regards to registration. I really do not care about job vacancies. If all of you think that there would be no opportunity for me. Well, I am afraid you are wrong. I am currently residing on High Level and there are a lot of position here for Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse. I even talked to the institution itself and assured me that there is always an opportunity for me. All I really need is to be registered.

Unless you have it in writing, I wouldn't believe them. I moved provinces and was told that I would have no problem working in their hospital. Even having all my paperwork in order, and Canadian references, I waited 8 months for a job. And it was casual and I was low man on the totempole.

I know that it sounds like we are raining on your parade BUT with a hiring freeze across AHS, displaced staff moving into vacant lines, and in all probability bumping (when staff with five years of service are being warned to prepare themselves for the worst) but how do you think the ever so kind managers of High Level are going to hire you? Magically morph you into the system?

Specializes in Emergency.

Lots of valid points in regards to supply/demand. On the other hand, there likely is a true need for nurses in the area. A family member nurse manages one of those rural Alberta teeny-tiny-town hospitals and is always understaffed, ready to get down on her hands and knees to recruit staff. I know there is a lot of uncertainty right now and people are stressed and nervous about work, however, I would not discourage an IEN who is planning on staying in Alberta from pursuing registration, especially if already living in an area that has a hard time recruiting/retaining staff.

In a couple years when the pendulum swings back there will be jobs, and sounds like it could take that long to get registration in order anyway :p

Specializes in geriatrics.

No one is trying to discourage her/him. Just presenting honest opinions of the situation, since they asked.

In another couple of years, there will be more jobs, as AHS and their schemes will only last so long. However, based on everything I've read in the papers and accounts from friends (including those working in rural locales), the present climate is terrible.

At the end of the day, people will make their own decisions.

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