Any Canucks "Disappointed" after moving to the US to practice?

World International

Published

Please don't flame me! I am just very interested in other nurses experiences - positive and negative. I've lived in Texas for a few months now, and maybe it is the hospital I am at, but I have found the standards of care so much lower. I was not expecting that. The technology is great, but other things just blow my mind...

For example, rarely do they hang IVPB meds with a line of NS - they will just plain old hang an antibiotic and let it run.... why? I'm told it is because NS bags are too expensive. Now, I was taught to always have a primary line of something "just in case....." Oh, and another thing: I'm in the ER where we of course give many IV push meds. Oh my gosh - the majority of nurses that push morphine (or whatever) straight up into the saline lock! I at least make sure I have a 250 ml NS hanging to dilute the push.....

These are just some examples, but there are many others. I find just find the whole attitude so much more "unprofessional"

I did work back in Canada as an RN, so I am able to compare my experiences. So far, I can honestly say I'm worried about my nursing skills and am considering moving home. The techs and LVNs have such a broad scope of practice here that I am always asking myself (this is NOT a bad thing... it is very helpful)- "what do RNs actually do?" When I get chewed out by a tech for starting my OWN IV (yes), or for taking someone to CAT Scan, I have to give my head a shake.

Please, this isn't a post to "bash" US healthcare. I am sincerely interested in other nurses' experiences. Like I said, maybe it is the hospital.... but I am really curious.

I am also looking at moving to the States..does anyone know a good hospital to work for?...and in what state?

Another question..can anyone tell me what a magnet hospital is?

Thanks

I am still in school (35 days left!) in TX and we are taught to dilute as the IV meds book tells us. For morphine it does say you can give it undiluted or with 5ml SW or NS (which is they way most of our nurses tell us to give it through an IV push)

SASH is for a central line not a regular peripheral IV, but of course saline, meds (diluted or not), saline as you said for a saline lock.

gail

SAS(H) is for any IV site, Central line or peripheral. Whether you use heparin or not is dependent upon your hospital policy. Some hospitals still have heparin locks instead of saline locks. If it is a saline lock, flush first, push your med, and then flush again with saline to push your med on through. If your hospital uses saline locks you stop there. If your hospital uses heparin locks you then push your heparin.

Schroeder, RN

Specializes in ER.

I moved to the USA about 7 years ago because there were no jobs in Canada. I really enjoy the people where I live, and we have better equipment and staffing ratios. Plus the bonus of being paid for education, having a set schedule...

But I really miss home and would go back if they would offer the same benefits. From what I hear hospitals in my home province just hire temporary positions and downsize them as soon as they can. Getting a full time permanent job is a fantasy. So let them go short...I stayed 6 years before I moved, they had their chance.

Thank you for responding but you never mentioned where in the U.S. you work.

Thanking you in advance

Patti

Hi there:

Just read all the threads about RN's disappointed after moving to the states. I will graduate in April/2006. I would like to move to Washington state, Oregon or Idaho...does anyone work in these states that could help me find the right place to practice?

Thanks

I would have to agree that when ever there are those who recognize things going wrong they always want to run in stead of trying to make a difference. Once others in the industry realize and recognize how maticulous you are and that you refuse to do things the wrong way maybe they will move over to the other side. But, it could also be the hospital as well, there are still a few good ones out there. You just need a magnifying glass to find them.

Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Been here since 1987, bUT never wrote the NCLEX. I am thinking of relocating since I have doubts whether or not I can pass this exam. I have been into computers the last nine years. These new rules are just stupid, but nothing I can do, but try to pass the exam. Anyone else in same situation ?

OK, I am a US nurse in the process of moving to Canada.... so granted I know relatively nothing about nursing in Canada yet (not really the reason we're moving), but I want to caution everyone about the "grass is always greener" syndrome. There is a broad spectrum of healthcare and healthcare facilities in the US. One thing it has been very hard to explain to people in Canada is how US hospitals, clinics, etc... are all owned by corporations. Some are "for-profit", some are "non-profit" (ha ha!) but they are all corporations, and all hospitals are run as businesses with money as the bottom line. They all spout their "mission" and brag about how much charity care they provide, but at the end of the day the CEO makes a bonus based on how much $$'s they save the company. Often the people actually running the system are business people, not medical people, and know nothing about medicine. Our CEO made a 6 million dollar bonus this year, but we were told in December that we had to conserve office supplies because there was no more $'s in the budget this year for them, and this week we've been told there is a linen shortage, so only use what is necessary. And we are in union negotiations arguing about a 5% salary increase and better retirement benefits (ours suck!).

There are also alot of government controls over healthcare in the US (odd to me, since the government keeps saying they don't want to manage healthcare). There is a government agency that accredits healthcare facilities (JCAHO). They think of new hoops for us to jump thorough every year, and every year hospitals spend thousands (at least) dollars modifying facilities to comply with these regulations so they can be accredited. You don't have to be accredited to operate, but..... well, you get the idea.

Don't put too much stock in the magnet status either. Our facility got magnet status several years ago, and have been renewed. It is basically a designation that says that your hospital is an attractive place for nurses to work. Well, in our facility 90% of the nurses are dissatisfied with more than 2 aspects of their work environment, and as I said the current union negotiations are not going well. It's all politics....

I have worked many places. I have no illusion that things will be perfect in Canada, but I worry about the people on this list who think they will move to the US and find huge salaries (I will make about the same in Canada as here), sunshine everywhere, great working conditions, supportive employers and great benefits. It is truly hit and miss. I wish some of you would stay in Canada and maybe together we could improve the things that aren't working there!

+ Add a Comment