British Nurse going to NS. Canada

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Specializes in Emergency, Surgery, Community, Medical.

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and am looking for information...

Myself and family are emmigrating to Nova Scotia, Canada from Scotland. I have applied to sit the Nursing exam there, but am finding it a bit difficult to search for an appropriate job.

I am finding the job titles and qualifications required a bit difficult to understand. Do I fit the criteria for that job????

Are there any British nurses out there working in Canada who have made the transition and can give me a bit of insight. It all frightens me even though I have 20+ years of experience under my belt...

Please help....anyone?

Thanks Linda

Practice Nurse:icon_roll

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi Linda

Welcome to the site, I am also in the process of moving to NS but through hubby's job so not sure about finding an employer but will move this to the Canadian forum for more support etc.

Good luck

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Hi,

We met on the "other" site.

Feel free to ask if you need any more info.

Lynn

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Specializes in Emergency, Surgery, Community, Medical.
Hi,

We met on the "other" site.

Feel free to ask if you need any more info.

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

Just putting my feelers out for 'the more info the better' scenario. We have decided to settle in the Annapolis Valley region, possibly Bridgetown/Lawrencetown/Annapolis Royal or around there somewhere!!!

Am just about to send off resume's and covering letters with the hope of an interview 'via webcam or telephone' as we are now thinking of doing our Reccie in May (and I would like a definate job offer before then hopefully)

Is it just you who's going on your March Trip? Or is everyone going?

Any guidance on covering letters would be good. - Anyone???

I have just updated my cv to look a bit more Canadianised.

The UKCC (NMC) have informed me that they sent verification out on 14/01/08, but still waiting to hear from NS whether I am eligible to sit the exam. Waiting is killing me!!!!!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Linda

:nurse:

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I was the same as you when I was waiting. Once I knew that they had all the info from my employer/NMC/nursing school, I phoned them and they told me exactly when it would go before the panel (which was just a few days later) and the woman I spoke to said that having looked at it she was sure that it wouldn't be a problem. It was really reassuring and worth the phone call.

She then took my email address and emailed me within a couple of hours of it going to the panel. She also sent me all the info about the exam and led me through the process.

Have you been to NS before, I can't remember if you told me. I went to the Annapolis Valley the first time I went and when I got there I realized it was not for me. Not trying to put you off, just saying that if you haven't been there already, keep your options open. If you haven't been before and are thinking of staying in the AV, I would recommend that you stay at the top end (Windsor/Kentville) as then if you change your mid you are not too poorly placed to explore other areas such as Halifax and its surrounding coastline or the Northern area

I am hopefully coming over in March with my husband and my 2 younger children. Why don't you make your reccie June and take your CRNE at the same time? I must say that I found employers much more interested once I had my qualification as in NS, whilst you can work as a RN before you take the exam, if you fail your exam, you can't

work as an RN until you pass it. this makes it quite risky for you financially and for them from an employment point of view.

Good luck with the job hunting, Lynn

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Specializes in LTC, public health, School, now Med/surg.

Its a big mess of paperwork but we're all used to that right? I moved here from the states. First thing send the paperwork to the college of regestered nurses. Then you go through an assessment which is like testing out of nursing school. Then you take CRNE ( Board exams) which I'm doing next week YIKES!!!!:sofahiderhttps://allnurses.com/forums/images/smilies/added/sofahider.gif

I go in for my first job interview today at the hospital. I'm looking at an orthopedic unit. One thing is that getting jobs here is much slower than it is in the states. The turnover time from application turn in to job in the states was about 48 hours. Less if the place was really short. I'll let you know how boards went.

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Specializes in LTC, public health, School, now Med/surg.

If you want to sit boards in June you need to get your stuff in now. They'll be doing the foriegn nurse assessments in March more than likely. I hope to take the Bridge to Canadian nursing class this May maybe I'll see some of you there?

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Specializes in ER.

I'm from Nova Scotia- Cape Breton actually, so if I can help just PM me.

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Specializes in Emergency, Surgery, Community, Medical.
its a big mess of paperwork but we're all used to that right? i moved here from the states. first thing send the paperwork to the college of regestered nurses. then you go through an assessment which is like testing out of nursing school. then you take crne ( board exams) which i'm doing next week yikes!!!!

good luck

:sofahiderhttps://allnurses.com/forums/images/smilies/added/sofahider.gif

i go in for my first job interview today at the hospital. i'm looking at an orthopedic unit. one thing is that getting jobs here is much slower than it is in the states. the turnover time from application turn in to job in the states was about 48 hours. less if the place was really short. i'll let you know how boards went.

best of luck for the interview and that you get the job you want. i have now sent my resume to 3 people, so waiting patiently (on the edge of my seat). :up:

let me know how you get on...

linda

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Specializes in Emergency, Surgery, Community, Medical.
if you want to sit boards in june you need to get your stuff in now. they'll be doing the foriegn nurse assessments in march more than likely. i hope to take the bridge to canadian nursing class this may maybe i'll see some of you there?

just wondering... what is the 'bridge to canadian nursing class' and how do i find out about it. is it too late to enrol? it sounds like it would be a good thing to do before sitting the exam. :icon_roll

i just found it on the college of nurses of ns web site. is it the one day course which talks about the questions etc...?

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Specializes in OR, and more recently PACU and SDC.

Just a little FYI about applying directly for nursing jobs. I returned to Canada and sent out 15 applications to HR departments at individual hospitals. Months later (5) I received only one call back from a hospital. It was after that, when I got more aggressive, I learned that the way to get a job is not through HR but the department head/manager of the unit that you want to work. Call the hospital, ask for the name and extension or fax of the manager and contact them that way. Sad but true!

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Specializes in Emergency, Surgery, Community, Medical.

Just want to say thanks for all the useful information I have been getting... and if anyone has the name and number of the head honchos in any hospital or community clinic in the Annapolis valley, feel free to email them to me....lol

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