British Nurses emigrating to BC

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Hi all,

I posted in the Student area but it all seemed to be aimed at the US, so I thought I would try my luck in here.

My wife and I start college here in the uUK in September, and in four years will both graduate with a Bsc in Adult Nursing.

The degree now allows for candidates to experience rotations in all departments despite the course being titled as ADULT Nursing.

We both want to move our family to BC, and want to know apart from the CRNE, what are we looking at as far as time scale, extra exams and estimated costs (educational costs) to be eligible to work in BC.

If there are any ex-pats who have done what we are doing, I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

Simon

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We have no idea of what the job market will be like next month, never mind 4-6 years down the road.

Which part of BC are you looking at? The lowermainland is expensive and currently a hard place to find work.

Provincial governments are giving priority to hiring large %s of new graduating classes and that is ultimately who you will be competing with jobs for, local new grads.

Finally, the term "ex-pats". I was born in the UK and hate that term. If you do move to Canada, you need to think of yourself as a new Canadian or do you plan to find the nearest UK themed pub, read the International Express and moan about the lack of M&S out in the colonies.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Even if your program has rotations in all the areas you would have to make sure that it gives you enough hours of theory and clinical in each area.Each province has a requirement that states hours needed for each area.

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I use the term ex-pat because it appears in loads of threads.

I intend to immerse my family and I in Canadian culture and lifestyle, other wise why the hell would I bother moving in the first place.

Thanks for your advice.

I would like to live a bit further in to the interior, as I prefer the climate, so probably Vernon or similar.

I will try and find out the required hours from BC and see what i can do whilst at Uni.

I am willing to do what it takes to secure work in a good area if possible.

I am under no illusions that it will take hard work and that there may be some tough times ahead.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Be prepared that the university may not help you achieve the hours required they are after all training you for the UK not to go abroad. I have seen comments posted in the post where universities have told students this. Another thing to be aware of if going the FSW route one of you will be required to have 12 months full time paid experience and no telling if nursing will be on any list of acceptance. All I can suggest is keep up to date on information

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After doing a lot of reading on forums etc, I have seen that most of the successful applicants from outside of Canada have indeed had at least 12 months clinical experience.

So my wife and I are prepared to put in 12-24 months of work here in the UK, in order to make us a more attractive package.

Thanks for the help and advice.

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Specializes in OR.

Dear BRITMALE79

Do not be discouraged about successful immigration and working in Canada as a nurse!

I happen to have worked in Canada for some time and do work with foreign trained nurses

and do think that there will be job prospects in the future.

It is the nature of the beast!

In the Interior, there will be a requirement for Cardiac nurses, a new unit is opening.

Many of the nurses are nearing retirement, and I don't think that there are enough Canadian

nurses being trained to fill all of these spots.. If you have your hearts set on the interior of

BC you will get there!... Communicate with Interior Health Authority and pose your questions

to them, as well as CRNBC and BCNU.

Good luck and Happy Valentines Day to you and your wife from a Canadian nurse.. who has worked in Britain!

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Thank you for taking the time to post.

I have decided, along with my wife, that we will get a couple of years experience before making our move to Canada.

In the intervening six years, we will then have time to research and apply for our visas, jobs and training courses.

There is just so much information about emigration as a Nurse, it is hard to tell fact from fiction.

I will post as I make progress through college and University.

All the best.

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To fiona59 not a very friendly reply,are you not happy in canada ?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Fiona was only pointing the realities.

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To fiona59 not a very friendly reply,are you not happy in canada ?

Lori's correct. The "ex-pats" tend to moan the most and do the least to adapt to the new environment.

They honestly embarrass the rest of us who have been here long enough to marry, raise our families, etc.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

OK I consider my self an expat however I have settled in well into the community and love to get comments on 'Why here' and 'love your accent'

What I do see and it annoys me and not necessary from the UK is people posting wanting to meet others from their country or want a doctor/nurse or even TV channels from their home country.............. You are not in your country anymore...... get on with what you can there is good and bad in all areas and no one asked you to move country.

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