American going to Canada for BSN, then working in American ICU? Canadian BSN valid?

[sixthwannabe]

I am an American and Canadian Dual-citizen. My ultimate goal is to be a critical care nurse and I had everything in line until my nursing school that I was planning on attending this fall withdrew my admissions due to a late transcript. Apparently, all public universities in my state did that this year becuase more people enrolled then excepted.

I've researched and there is nothing that I can do to get back into the fall admissions for this bsn program in America.

However, I still have an offer for a canadian BSN university that starts this fall. I could go here and finish in two years, or if I really wanted to go to an american BSN program i would have to wait a whole entire year to apply and then that two more years of school==> 3 years!

At this point there is no more classes left for me to take--ive taken all nursing pre-reqs, and even finished all my organic chem series and physics series, various other un needed courses etc. Logistically there's really nothing I can do to get a BS or BA while Im waitin for the BSN and ive made up my mind not to do that.

1.)So, I was wondering, if I go to Canada and get my BSN there (At Queens university, one of Canada's top 5 universities), and then come back home to America to go into Critical care/ICU, how hard will it be??

I have American Citizenship so that's not a problem, but since I only intend on working in the USA, will hospitals be less likely to take me?

Passing the NCLEX/jumping through those logistical hoops should be ok im willing!! as long as they are fair!!!

I grew up in the United States and want to say in the States as my whole family is here! I just want to get a bsn in canada so I can get in and get out faster to be a critical care nurse

[m_aidez]

There are Canadian nurses that work in the US so I think the answer would be yes, the BSN programs in Canada are acceptable in the U.S. In fact, I think nursing schools here have to be accredited in order to open its doors to potential students. I've heard that some nursing schools in the states are not even accredited which is not good. Anyway, you have to take the CRNE first before you take the NCLEX if you plan on taking your BSN in Canada and vice versa (if the situation were flipped).

[m_aidez]

As to being an ICU nurse most new grads start @ med-surg to build their basic nursing skills. There's only been a few lucky ones that went straight to ICU. Also, ICU is a specialization so you have to take extra courses. In Canada and I think the States, there's different levels of ICU. You have to be quick on your feet. One ICU patient is like taking care of 2-3 patients in one because they got a lot of tubes and are hooked up to many machines.

[shasta17]

Your Canadian BSN is valid after passing the CRNE and then the NCLEX. You would then have to get licensure from the Nursing Board in whatever state you will be practising. Plan on working in acute care med/surg initially while exploring critical care certifications. Check with potential employers about what they offer for education as many will fast track and pay for your education as aprt of their recruitment strategy.

[sixthwannabe]

HOw similar is the CRNE to the NCLEx?

[Fiona59]

Nothing like each other.

[sixthwannabe]

Could I skip the CRNE and then go directly and take the NCLEX?

-side question: do you know how I would go about shipping fiveboxes from the states to Ontario? Most shipping companies only do large, numerous boxes meant for households that move. I'm only one person : ]

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Some states don't require you to have been licensed in the country where you were educated (a huge mistake in my mind). You need to check with the boards of nursing in the states where you might wish to live and work to see if they're on the list. If they are, then you can skip the CRNE. But if they're not, you will have no choice but to write the CRNE and register in the province where you were educated.

Try the bus for your boxes. It's usually cheaper than any other method.

[RNGrad2006]

Where does your family live in the US? Have you checked into fast track programs? Have you done part of your Nursing already and just wanting to do RN to BSN or are you starting from the beginning? Contrary to Canada I have seen new grads go straight into the ICU. I personally do not feel I would have been up to the challenge but some have done very well. Here in Arizona we have nurse extern programs. You only have to work one day a week while in school and 3 days in a week during vacation periods (that is if you have any depending on the type of program you are in). And I have noticed that it is easier to get into places like ER as a new grad than as an experienced nurse...at that point they dont seem to want to invest into the training. It does seem strange. I bought into the whole "you need the med surg experience first" too and do think it is valuable but it is a strange world especially in the US right now with the economy and jobs. Hopefully by the time you would finish things will be different but right now jobs are really scarce for new grads period...but the ones that seem to get hired are the ones doing nurse extern programs. But if you are worried about getting your education accepted into the US...don't. It is well recognized and accepted throughout the US from my experience...and vice versa too. I was accepted to UBC RN to BSN program after doing my ADN in the US but we decided to move to Arizona so did my further education in the US. The one thing you might not be familiar with is that if you did your ADN (equivalent to former diploma program in Canada) is that many employers are willing to pay for tuition to upgrade to BSN after you are finished your ADN. However, with this current economy employers can afford to be picky and are opting to hire BSN grads...given a choice that is what they are doing. I have heard this from friends who are having a very hard time finding work right now. If you need more info...I am a Canadian living in the US. We love it here especially the weather. We are hoping to be dual someday too...but it is a super long process. Good luck to you!!!!