Okay, I asked if I could watch a nurse draw up morphine and sign on book. I was waiting for another nurse to come in and witness the vial that is being drawn up, the date, pretty much the 5 R (Right patient, right route, right drug, right time, right amount). Anyways, things are so much different here in Calgary or if its national wide too. As back in Oz, we get the drug keys for the restricted drug medication cupboard, have another witness and count the drug and sign out how many tablets or vial/mgs used. Check the drug, the order, draw it up, sign the drug book, and we both go to patient and have patient tell us their name, check their patient number and allergies.
Though at the moment I am not nursing in Canada. I am inquisitive and looking at what happens in the units here. Its hard to break a system of what is taught back in Oz and watching what happens here in Calgary.
Pretty much what I witnessed is that one nurse gets drug, draws it up and has another nurse witness how much disposed and sign.
Anyways, I wish there was a booklet with what Canadian Nurses do with medication administration.
Any other info you wish to share with me, I would be happy to know
I actually havent made the transition to nursing in Canada as yet. Like you I moved over to Calgary after my 1 year Grad RN employment. I have to make up for deficits in Maternity and Pediatrics and I havent done that yet either. It hasnt been an easy road.
However I am surprised about your move to Vancouver and how you will be able to sit the CRNE so soon. Anyways I cant share much with you but I wish you good luck on your career in Canada
Maybe I should have put my registration through BCRNA if I only knew my facts better about a year ago hmmmm
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Hi Susan to Vanc
I actually havent made the transition to nursing in Canada as yet. Like you I moved over to Calgary after my 1 year Grad RN employment. I have to make up for deficits in Maternity and Pediatrics and I havent done that yet either. It hasnt been an easy road.
However I am surprised about your move to Vancouver and how you will be able to sit the CRNE so soon. Anyways I cant share much with you but I wish you good luck on your career in Canada
Maybe I should have put my registration through BCRNA if I only knew my facts better about a year ago hmmmm
take care
Kylie
BC does assess its IENs differently from Alberta. As stated many times on these pages, the provinces have relatively autonomous control over their health care. The colleges of nursing, in conjunction with provincial government and other stakeholders have determined the standards they require for new nurses, from within and without. Saskatchewan too has a less rigid list of requirements and competencies.
hi kylie. I got ur message and am happy to give u some info. I feel like im going crazy but i cant find the 'reply' button... anywhere!!!! if u want to email me your email address that might be easier for me.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi kylie. I got ur message and am happy to give u some info. I feel like im going crazy but i cant find the 'reply' button... anywhere!!!! if u want to email me your email address that might be easier for me.
You will not see reply button until you have 15 posts to your name.
I trained in the UK mental health and a lot of our system is similiar to Oz. I too am trying to understand the canadian health system and I am finding it a lot different from UK. We use the pyxis on the unit I am at and that is not so bad but its just getting used to how things are done here. There is a mixture here of nursing on the unit i work ie. IVs on psyche unit and people with kidney failures and we even had to do blood transfusion on the unit. I am finding it all a bit hap hazard and have a lot to learn. Sometimes i think of returning home but its always good to experience how different countries nurse in the different areas of nursing.
Having said this, is this the norm for canadian mental health wards/units in other hospitals. I am working in AB. Any info would be great.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I trained in the UK mental health and a lot of our system is similiar to Oz. I too am trying to understand the canadian health system and I am finding it a lot different from UK. We use the pyxis on the unit I am at and that is not so bad but its just getting used to how things are done here. There is a mixture here of nursing on the unit i work ie. IVs on psyche unit and people with kidney failures and we even had to do blood transfusion on the unit. I am finding it all a bit hap hazard and have a lot to learn. Sometimes i think of returning home but its always good to experience how different countries nurse in the different areas of nursing.
Having said this, is this the norm for canadian mental health wards/units in other hospitals. I am working in AB. Any info would be great.
In Canada Registered Psychiatric Nurses must have medical and surgical nursing modules in their education so that they may care for patients with both psychiatric and medical diagnoses. It's not uncommon at all for there to be patients needing dressing changes, IV meds, blood pressure meds, cardiac meds and other non-psychoactive drugs, and other "regular" nursing interventions. If their psychiatric needs cannot be met on a medicine or surgery floor, they will be admitted to psych regardless of their comorbidities.
AussieKylie
410 Posts
Thanks Fiona
You are very helpful.
I hope with orientation/mentoring when I find a unit to work on, I will get the nitty gritty of learning all about it
Thank you heaps