Bridge to Canadian Nursing 2013 Update

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Hello everyone! I am a 2013 fresh graduate (meaning with no experience, yet, at all! and it's now 2014 already. *sobs) from the Philippines.

However I passed the PNLE already and subsequently, already got my license too (which is idly sitting pretty in my wallet for a couple of months now *sobs again).

Anyway, here's the brief summary of my story:

My plan is to get a BCN course @ Mount Royal University [MRU] in Calgary, Alberta because I know that having no experience at all means I can't readily work as a nurse in Canada and that's super fine with me. After all, what I am really targeting ever since day 1 is really to study first (so as not to shock myself with the work setting there in Canada). I contacted MRU already as to how I can apply to their university and they've redirected me to the CARNA. So, I contacted CARNA and checked the requirements for a prospective Internationally Educated Nurse [iEN] like me.

I already took the IELTS examination and unfortunately I got the following grade points: 8.5 Reading, 8.0 Listening, 6.5 Writing, 7.0 Speaking. I was .5 short due to the writing subpart. And of course it crushed my heart... :cry: However, that is not what's bringin' me down. *I'm ready to take the exam again and ace it! :up: (band score of 7.0+ in all four subparts) :up:

Some says that there is no use in taking a BCN course in Canada nowadays because of some economic reasons and the scarcity of workforce employment there after finishing the program. But I don't care about that, I believe in the saying: "seek and you shall find". So, it is also not what's bringing me down.

What's bringing me down is that I found a forum somewhere and there's this someone who says that the BCN program is no longer in effect or is already nearing to be closed or something? Is there any truth to this? As far as my understanding is concerned in this issue, I checked the MRU's website, and there are no clear indications of this matter. However, just to be sure so that all of the efforts won't be futile and all the tears that were shed wouldn't be in vain, if this is true. If any one of you knows about this matter, can you kindly clarify on this? Pleaase. Thank you.

And is there anything you know that would give me a "Applicant not Eligible" assessment from CARNA?

You guys, thank you for taking the time to read this thread and replying to it with whatever knowledge you have of the matter. It may be redundant for some, but some of the threads regarding a bridging course to Canada is dated way back 2010 until 2012 only. I haven't seen an updated 2013 thread yet so I started a new one. I hope this can be of help too to those newly lost souls, just like me before (the difference is I had researched a bit already but I am definitely still a lost soul about this).

For more questions I will answer much to my knowledge's capability. Also, your personal experiences are also worth the read, so if you may, kindly post them too. Thank you so so much.

_________________________________________________________________________

For all the newbies like me, if you're interested too in being an IEN, here's the link for CARNA's requirements for us hopefuls: http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=1918

while here's the link for the specifics of IELTS requirement by CARNA: http://www.nurses.ab.ca/carna-admin/uploads/2011_english_language_tests.pdf

here's the link for the possible outcomes of CARNA's assessment: http://www.albertacanada.com/registered_nurse_fqr_december_2010.pdf

and here's the link for the BCN course all-you-need-to-knows (basically) if you're interested too in applying at MRU: http://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/HealthCommunityStudies/Programs/BridgetoCanadianNursing/

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Specializes in Home Care.

Sorry to pop your bubble but here's reality.

The first thing you need to be concerned about before spending your money on a bridging is how are you going to legally work here in Canada. What route will you take for immigration?

Then there's the cost $525 right now for assessment by CARNA, things are changing in August 2014 so the assessment fee may increase. Plus from looking at the MRU website the bridge program will cost at least $4000.

And after all that you need to consider that there are very few jobs here in Alberta. Employers will hire local grads before IENs.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Some says that there is no use in taking a BCN course in Canada nowadays because of some economic reasons and the scarcity of workforce employment there after finishing the program. But I don't care about that, I believe in the saying: "seek and you shall find". So, it is also not what's bringing me down.

That very sentiment has led to many IENs arriving in Canada with absolutely no assurance of anything... eligibility for registration, employment or even permission to remain in the country. Then they can't understand why nothing is going the way they expected it to. There are numerous threads here expressing desperation and bewilderment, just have a look. There are those who believe it's reasonable to jump off the cliff and build one's wings on the way down, but they tend to have a rather sudden crash landing.

What's bringing me down is that I found a forum somewhere and there's this someone who says that the BCN program is no longer in effect or is already nearing to be closed or something? Is there any truth to this? As far as my understanding is concerned in this issue, I checked the MRU's website, and there are no clear indications of this matter. However, just to be sure so that all of the efforts won't be futile and all the tears that were shed wouldn't be in vain, if this is true. If any one of you knows about this matter, can you kindly clarify on this? Pleaase. Thank you.

Nearly a year ago (March 18, 2013), the Alberta government eliminated funding for the provincial IEN assessment centres administered by MRU. At that time MRU released a statement indicating that they had no information as to how this would impact on the BCN program. Mount Royal University - Office of the President - Calgary, Alberta, Canada With ongoing budget cuts to post-secondary education and the currently dismal prospects for nursing employment in Alberta, there's every likelihood that the BCN program will be suspended for the 2014-2015 academic year, although there has been no statement to that effect at this time.

And is there anything you know that would give me a "Applicant not Eligible" assessment from CARNA?

The obvious answer to that is you haven't met the IELTS requirement. The reasons for ineligibility should be included in the decision letter sent to applicants.

You guys, thank you for taking the time to read this thread and replying to it with whatever knowledge you have of the matter. It may be redundant for some, but some of the threads regarding a bridging course to Canada is dated way back 2010 until 2012 only. I haven't seen an updated 2013 thread yet so I started a new one.

The most likely reason that there aren't any new threads on this topic is that there is NO demand for IENs anywhere in Canada at the moment. So there is no need for threads on bridging. Some would say, "What about Québec?" To that I say: it's difficult enough for IENs to work their way through the process outside of Québec without adding in all the distinct-society requirements (French language fluency). The brutal reality is that there are Canadian-born and Canadian-educated nurses (both RN and LPN) who can't find jobs in Canada. In time, all this will swing back to a state where there will be nursing job vacancies but it's not going to happen any time soon. By that I mean years.

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Oh my...:nailbiting: Haha.

Thank you guys so so so much!~ Although it's rather a really sad news to hear... but at least now I know better. Haha. I'm quite sad about the bitter truth (huhu) but I'm happy I asked first and didn't ventured into something that will turn out as a fiasco (and would waste a lot of my folk's hard earned money).

Well, I guess I'll just have to find another feasible way to achieve my goal.

Thank you guys so so so so so much! You are such an enormous help~ :)

[itsmejuli and janfrn]

(can we tag people here? Hahaha. I don't know. I just registered yestereday. But I sure hope you'll be able to read my thanks!~)

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