advice from u.k nurses in canada on relocation

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 16, 2008

We shipped over a lot of boxes and found everything to be reasonable. We didn't bother with a lot of furniture as ours in the UK needed replacing and decided to do it here, we did budget for it and thanks to a good £/$ exchange rate didn't do to bad. We did find it expensive but there again we have found the quality excellent and took us hours to get the bedroom furniture upstairs as was so heavy. Electrical I wouldn't bother unless it is dual allocated and you can buy leads in Canada like laptop/PC electric replacement leads

sabrino76 · Dec 16, 2008

We shipped over a lot of boxes and found everything to be reasonable. We didn't bother with a lot of furniture as ours in the UK needed replacing and decided to do it here, we did budget for it and thanks to a good £/$ exchange rate didn't do to bad. We did find it expensive but there again we have found the quality excellent and took us hours to get the bedroom furniture upstairs as was so heavy. Electrical I wouldn't bother unless it is dual allocated and you can buy leads in Canada like laptop/PC electric replacement leads

Thanks silverdragon. This will help settle the arguments:yeah:.

RGN1 · Dec 18, 2008

I agree with SD. My hubbie & I + 3 kids moved here in August. We just packed boxes (ok there were 65 said boxes) of personal items & kitchen stuff. No furniture. We found local prices good considering we pretty much got top of the line everything!

We used the moving company recommended to us by SD (thanks again) & they were great. Didn't break a thing!

Stuff got delayed by Atlantic weather but can't blame them for that.

So c'mon - where you going & when do you start?

sabrino76 · Dec 18, 2008

I agree with SD. My hubbie & I + 3 kids moved here in August. We just packed boxes (ok there were 65 said boxes) of personal items & kitchen stuff. No furniture. We found local prices good considering we pretty much got top of the line everything!
We used the moving company recommended to us by SD (thanks again) & they were great. Didn't break a thing!
Stuff got delayed by Atlantic weather but can't blame them for that.
So c'mon - where you going & when do you start?

Thanks RGN 1. We are going to edmonton and my guess is you live in Alberta. If yes how did you find the adjustment period? We have been to canada before but settling is different from just a holiday so we would appreciate any information epecially schooling and overall cost of living. Our kids are 5 and 2 years old. Did you find your kids are coping well?

Also how is nursing over there compared to here, like ratios and expectations. we start in march '09.

Too much questions so far ........ :up: :loveya:

Oops name of moving company you used . thank you

RGN1 · Dec 19, 2008

I'm in Calgary & I'm really happy we made the move -despite the hunk of snow that's been dumped on us & the -40 with win-chill that we've had this past week! Oh & Edmonton is way colder for way longer than Calgary because we have the warm chinook winds that blow through & thaw us out from time to time!

The kids are also happy (even the teen) & we feel very settled - surprisingly!!

Canada doesn't seem so different - you can get most things that are familiar to you & you'll discover a whole heap of nice things that aren't!:)

I suggest that you check out the schools - there are sites like the Fraser Institute (yes I know it's not prefect but it's a start) to see how local schools fare. We've been happy with our kids schools here.

Cost of living is not majorly different but is a little cheaper than most of the UK (& much cheaper than London.) The wages for RN's are better than London (unless you're in one of those high paid management jobs.)

Nurse to patient ratio depends on where you are, so I won't comment - though I suspect Jan will:chuckle For my unit we have 4 pts each as a rule & 2 if you're in the HDU. I'm in surgical Oncology.

Oh& I just got my full RN licence through the post yesterday - I passd the CRNE this Oct. So I'm fully fledged now!

I'll PM you the company as it might me in breach of the TOS.

sabrino76 · Dec 19, 2008

I'm in Calgary & I'm really happy we made the move -despite the hunk of snow that's been dumped on us & the -40 with win-chill that we've had this past week! Oh & Edmonton is way colder for way longer than Calgary because we have the warm chinook winds that blow through & thaw us out from time to time!
The kids are also happy (even the teen) & we feel very settled - surprisingly!!
Canada doesn't seem so different - you can get most things that are familiar to you & you'll discover a whole heap of nice things that aren't!:)
I suggest that you check out the schools - there are sites like the Fraser Institute (yes I know it's not prefect but it's a start) to see how local schools fare. WE've been happy with our kids schools here.
Cost of living is not majorly different but is a little cheaper than most of the UK (& much cheaper than London.) The wages for RN's are better than London (unless you're in one of those high paid management jobs.)
Nurse:patient ratio depends on where you are, so I won't comment - though I suspect Jan will:chuckle For my unit we have 4 pts each as a rule & 2 if you're in the HDU. I'm in surgical Oncology.
Oh& I just got my full RN licence throught he post yesterday - I passd the CRNE this Oct. So I'm fully fledged now!
I'll PM you the company as it might me in breach of the TOS.

Thanks alot for the reply and PM. Very helppful and we feel all the more enthusiastic. Our clearance from yhe embassy just came in through the post today!!!!!!!!!! So we are starting to tidy up loose ends i.e house, packing, resigning etc. It is a shame you live in calgary (lol) as we would have a guru to show us the ropes. Anyway will look into that company and set the ball rolling.

congrats on passing the exam.... :yeah:

next time

bye

RGN1 · Dec 20, 2008

All the best & let us know how things are going for you!

Fiona59 · Dec 20, 2008

Ratios kind of depend on which area of nursing you will work in.

At RAH in Edmonton a day shift on a surgical unit will see you with 3-4 patients. Evenings goes to five, and nights around seven. Depends on staffing as well.

The entire province is undergoing a cold snap. This weekends high is predicted to -35C before the windchill. Usually April is nice, we start to thaw out then.

Schools depend on where you live. Be prepared to see a lot of Ukrainian immersion courses. Edmonton has a high population of Ukranian descent and are very vocal about it. You'll see more than a few perogies....

Did I mention it's cold today...

sabrino76 · Dec 20, 2008

Ratios kind of depend on which area of nursing you will work in.
At RAH in Edmonton a day shift on a surgical unit will see you with 3-4 patients. Evenings goes to five, and nights around seven. Depends on staffing as well.
The entire province is undergoing a cold snap. This weekends high is predicted to -35C before the windchill. Usually April is nice, we start to thaw out then.
Schools depend on where you live. Be prepared to see a lot of Ukrainian immersion courses. Edmonton has a high population of Ukranian descent and are very vocal about it. You'll see more than a few perogies....
Did I mention it's cold today...

That is not a bad ratio. With the weather it sounds unbelivable and i suppose we will have to wait and see. We are all excited even the kids. Heading to UAH and ooops.... thanks for your advice. Much appreciated. will run now to do some packing. C u soon........

Fiona59 · Dec 21, 2008

RAH and UAH are the two "biggies" in Edmonton. All the fun trauma's go there. Patients from the far north as well. RAH serves the inner city as well.

We always say the U gets the classy patients. We get the stabbings, overdoses, and GSWs from downtown.

You'll probably see Jan somewhere in the UAH complex. Let us know when there is a citing.

RGN1 · Dec 21, 2008

That is not a bad ratio. With the weather it sounds unbelivable and i suppose we will have to wait and see. We are all excited even the kids. Heading to UAH and ooops.... thanks for your advice. Much appreciated. will run now to do some packing. C u soon........

It really does depend on what type of ward you're on & which hospital you're working in. The more acute the area the lower the ratio will likely be. You will work hard though, whatever the unit but the work is different in content to the UK. Many more IV meds (with very few IV pushes, if any -mostly hung in bags & put through pumps) & different times of meds - you can find you're doing meds on the hour every hour the entire shift! You constantly have to be on the look out for new orders from the docs but on the whole the work is much more nursing related than punitive & ward cleaning related, as my UK experiences were!

Personaly I like it better here. I know there are issues in Canada too & that not everyone has a positive experience but I have had on the whole, for which I'm truly grateful!