Aussies working in Canada

chevswife · Jul 7, 2006

Hi, my husband and I have started the process of applying for our BC registration. All the forms are in and we are waiting to be assessed. Has anyone had any experience with applying for canadian registration from australia? Any ideas how long it will take? Also, are we likely to get work in vancouver, me in oncology/BMT, Tim in Emergency. Some posts seem to suggest jobs are scarce, is this true? Also, are people going to want to employ us with just temporary registration before we've done the CRNE? How did the Aussies, NZ and brittish RN's find the CRNE, were realyy worried about it! Oh also did any aussies have to do extra paeds or maternity?:trout: Don't know what this picture is supposed to mean, but I like it!
Thanks a lot ali

Dear Ali

I can not answer any of your questions but am also an aussie now living in canada. I have yet to apply to be assessed and am trying to work out who to apply to and what to apply for. I am recently graduated with a diploma and medication endorsement. In Qld I was classed and an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse but in Melbourne my title would be RN II. SO I am already confused. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Good luck to both yourself & Tim. regards Jen

Fiona59 · Jul 9, 2006

An Enrolled Nurse is an LPN. LPN's can carry specialty designations on their registration. It indicates specialty training post graduation. It usually is for hemodialysis, OR technician, ortho technician, and immunization training.

Medication administration is part of the PN training in college.

So you might want to start with the College of LPNs in your province. They assess credentials and will tell you where you stand. I've met fews UK trained Enrolled Nurses working as LPNs.

chevswife · Jul 9, 2006

Thankyou so much Fiona. I will contact the college of LPN's in Alberta and see how I go.. regards Jen

Grannysmith · Aug 9, 2006

G'day!

I don't know if what I tell you will help, but here goes.

I graduated in QLD in October 05 with a degree in Nursing to work as an RN, (worked in Oncology & Pall. care as an EEN for 3.5 years) came to Canada to be with my husband, doing the immigration stuff here. I went for a job interview at a Pall. Care facility, and got the job, but can't do anything till I am registered here.

Sent application to CRNBC. Got letter stating my nursing education is insufficient in maternity and peads. I have to apply to a college to do these courses, both theory and prac - between 2500 - 5000 dollars. I have a 2 year limit. Once that is done, I need to provide CRNBC with a reference from a Canandian employer for whom I have worked as a Temp (supervised) RN for at least 8 weeks (minimum 250 hours). The temp registration will be given to me once I am eligible to write the CRNExam. I then have to pass the exam. Once you do the exam it can take up to 12 - 15 weeks I believe to find out via mail. I believe the exams are held 3 times a year, Feb, June and October. You also have to pay for a criminal record review, well, I had to for living in Canada.

If I was you, and knowing what I know now, I would contact healthmatchbc (or any other nursing agency) who are able to provide visa and registration assistance, medical and dental coverage, relocation assitance and a fairly good salary package. You could also look around for your own free will with 'nurses canada', 'geneva health international', or 'bbtglobal' - beresford blake thomas (they are interested in ICU/Emergency and Surgical suite Rn's) (http://www.bbtglobal.com)

The one thing that kinda peeved me off about the whole thing, is when I was looking for a college that did peads AND maternity (only one college does it, most only do maternity) I also contacted the University of Victoria Nursing School, and low and behold, they only provide maternity as an elective. So, not even the locals have to do maternity or peads to work as an RN. I find it odd seeing as Canada is in a nursing shortage as well and DESPERATE for nurses. Go figure? Just had to get that off my chest!

Hope some, if any, of this info helps?

Good luck!

P.S, Canada is a beautiful place, you will love it here if you like flora and fauna, wild animals, and very sweet people.

AussieKylie · Mar 13, 2008

Hi there

To work in Canada you need to have Peds and Obstetrics. If I wanna stay here in Canada and I am considering going back to Australia. As I am really not sure if I wanna do the courses.

What peeves me off is that they need nurses in Canada and yet they make it hard for International Nurses who can somewhat cure the shortage. Yet I understand to some point 10% of the reason why they need IENs to do the extra the other 90% I dont.

So for myself I dont know what to do but good luck if you go ahead.

Plus, those agencies from Australia that assist to come over to Canada. I do not get that,because if you apply and come to Canada wouldnt you still need to do the courses to be Registered within Canada?

I need to have serious thought about the courses. Otherwise nothing wrong with being in Oz too.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 14, 2008

This thread is more than 18 months old. I believe the OP has made the necessary choices long ago. Now that the thread has been reactivated I'll be moving it to the International Forum, since it refers to immigration issues.

As for your comment "What peeves me off is that they need nurses in Canada and yet they make it hard for International Nurses who can somewhat cure the shortage."... this has been discussed a number of tiems before. All nurses wishing to be registered in Canada must have education equivalent to those educated in Canada. It's a standard that Canada has chosen province to province and it's for the protection of the Canadian public. The regulatory bodies have a responsibility to the people they serve to ensure that the licenses they grant are to people who are competent to practice nursing in a Canadian nursing environment. That means meeting Canadian standards, no matter what. The decision to obtain a license to work in Canada implies a willingness to meet those standards.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 14, 2008

Would like to add it is the same in the UK. Any nurse trained overseas has to match the same requirements of UK/EU training to be able to work in the UK. Many UK nurses are finding it hard to go to some countries as need to make some hours up

brissygal, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2008

Hey Aussies trying to make it in Canada,

It might be easier to apply to the USA - as we have a great visa to go on called the E-3. The pay is generally higher in the USA. If you get a job around washington state then you are closer to Canada and can take the ferry across. However going it alone is difficult.

The reason for the International nursing agencies like Geneva Health and several others too is that they make sure that your credentials meet the requirements in the country you are trying to get too. They also know the ropes around immigration as most Canadian hospitals or American hospitals are not sure of the process - too scary for them.

Don't despair, there are ways around it but my advice is to go with an international nursing agency first, get your experience and then go as a travel nurse later down the track. There are huge differences in Nursing in both countries.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 15, 2008

Hey Aussies trying to make it in Canada,
It might be easier to apply to the USA - as we have a great visa to go on called the E-3. The pay is generally higher in the USA. If you get a job around washington state then you are closer to Canada and can take the ferry across. However going it alone is difficult.
The reason for the International nursing agencies like Geneva Health and several others too is that they make sure that your credentials meet the requirements in the country you are trying to get too. They also know the ropes around immigration as most Canadian hospitals or American hospitals are not sure of the process - too scary for them.
Don't despair, there are ways around it but my advice is to go with an international nursing agency first, get your experience and then go as a travel nurse later down the track. There are huge differences in Nursing in both countries.

E3 is none immigrant so although you maybe able to extend it you have to prove intent on returning to Australia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa

brissygal, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2008

Yep the E-3 gives you an opportunity to Nurse in the USA but your intentions are not to stay long term. :)

BRISBANERN · Oct 12, 2008

where can I take the CRNE in brisbane/Australia? or do I have to go to Canada & take the exam? then apply for work.