An immigrant and an RPN having a hard time getting hired.

Fiona59 · Sep 27, 2011

Good day.
This post is for internationally educated nurses who migrated to Canada, specifically in Ontario, and who are undergoing or experiencing problems getting hired as an RPN even though they have already a registration with CNO.
I am an RN in the Philippines who successfully completed the registration as an RPN in Ontario and already registered with CNO. After getting registration I immediately applied to a lot of nursing homes in my area(retirement and long term care) but unfortunately no one will want to hire someone like me, an immigrant with no Canadian nursing experience. Could anyone on this forum give any advice or direction to solve this problem. Thank you.

Have you read any of the posts on this forum?

Nurses across Canada are having a hard time finding employment. It's been this way for the last couple of years. New Grads can't find work, experienced nurses can only find casual or part time.

You will just have to wait it out and compete for the same positions as every other nurse in Ontario.

FilipinoRPN · Sep 27, 2011

Yes I already read a lot of posts here and my problem is not getting hired. If you read my post carefully, my problem is not having any training/experience/placements in any canadian nursing unit/facility like most new and experienced RPNs have. Thank you for your comment but an advice will be much greatly appreciated.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 27, 2011

I work LTC although a different province and I had no Canadian experience. Try volunteer work and getting foot through the door. May not be able to work as a RN but showing eager may help

As long as you are prepared for the long haul due to the high numbers of nurses looking for work then it helps knowing it may take time. Also be prepared for casual work first and that may be something else to think of and again will get your foot through the door

Fiona59 · Sep 27, 2011

Volunteers in LTC can be utilized to feed patients or work in a group setting with activities. No real patient care can be done. So usually it's games or reading the newspaper or assisting with special events. One LTC I used to work at had volunteers come in to do make-overs for Mothers Day and Easter.

It's a violation of union contracts and WCB rules. It's also causes problems with the protection of information acts in force in the provinces allowing for personal information of the patient to be kept confidential.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 27, 2011

Unfortunately, having a permit to practice doesn't guarantee that you'll ever be hired into a job anywhere. It only means that you've met the requirements to hold a permit. Many other IENs have found themselves in the very same situation. The moral of the story is to look before you leap. We've been discussing the employment situation in Ontario for at least 18 months now and there's a lot of evidence that IENs would be far down on any employer's list. Silverdragon has offered some advice, although I don't think volunteering is really that advanageous. It will get your foot in the door and perhaps recognized when you do apply, but it really doesn't count toward experience.

FilipinoRPN · Sep 27, 2011

Unfortunately, having a permit to practice doesn't guarantee that you'll ever be hired into a job anywhere. It only means that you've met the requirements to hold a permit. Many other IENs have found themselves in the very same situation. The moral of the story is to look before you leap. We've been discussing the employment situation in Ontario for at least 18 months now and there's a lot of evidence that IENs would be far down on any employer's list. Silverdragon has offered some advice, although I don't think volunteering is really that advanageous. It will get your foot in the door and perhaps recognized when you do apply, but it really doesn't count toward experience.

Unfortunately what you've said is true but is there any other way where I can get some trainings to gain a little "canadian experience" or something to add on my resume. Placement programs for RPNs are mostly for students and I haven't heard of any course or program that is being offered to IENs who holds a permit to practice.

Fiona59 · Sep 28, 2011

"trainings" are provided by employers to keep their staff up to speed.

You need to keep your CPR current, so check into the community colleges offering this. Some of them offer courses like palliative or geriatric specialties that give nurses more insight into areas of specialty practice.

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2011

Have you checked into care4nurses observational job shadowing program? It is a chance to observe Canadian nursing and network with expereinced nurses.

http://www.care4nurses.org/what-we-do/observational-job-shadowing/#ql-facilities

ceridwyn · Sep 28, 2011

Training is one of those English words that cannot be made plural by adding an 's' s is never needed. Ie: I attended the training. Or I have attended many training sessions on that procedure, or 'Is there any training I can attend? never is it too be called 'training.....s, change the words around 'training' just drop the 's'. Sounds so foreign and poor English skills. Eventhough you may be quite versed in english.

agldragonRN · Sep 28, 2011

training is one of those english words that cannot be made plural by adding an 's' s is never needed. ie: i attended the training. or i have attended many training sessions on that procedure, or 'is there any training i can attend? never is it too be called 'training.....s, change the words around 'training' just drop the 's'. sounds so foreign and poor english skills. eventhough you may be quite versed in english.

yes the op is "foreign". the op is from the philippines. what is wrong with sounding "so foreign"?

agldragonRN · Sep 28, 2011

not advice op but just want to wish you luck with the job hunt.