Canadian nurse educated in US

[Lioness67]

This may be a unique situation so I'm helping someone out there can help me with some questions I have. I am a Canadian but I travelled to the States to get my RN degree. I have been working in the United States as an RN since I graduated in 2006. I plan on working here for one more year and returning home, but I'm not sure how smoothly that would transpire. I've heard that Canada is now requiring a BSN to work as a RN and that the process to get my education evaluated is lengthy and tedious. Does any one out there have any input that could help me?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Depends on the Province. Which province are you looking to move back to? Have you checked their website for foreign trained nurses and requirements?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Actually it's not such a unique situation. There are other very similar threads here, such as: https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/going-school-us-canada-304412.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/need-advice-canadian-looking-do-nursing-school-u-s-298994.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/cdn-educated-us-returning-canada-298680.html

You have heard correctly that it can be very time-consuming and tedious to have your credentials assessed. And most provinces ahve moved to a degree for entry to practice, but there are grandfather clauses. There's a sticky at the beginning of this forum with contact information for each of the Colleges of Nursing (regulatory bodies) in Canada, and each website will give you information on the registration requirements in place there.

[night flight]

I’m half way through the process here in Alberta. I’m a Canadian with a US AND. Getting under the wire before the requirement for a BSN, although I have a general degree, and additional experience.

Hopefully you are working on a BSN while employed in the US as many hospitals help pay tuition.

[RNGrad2006]

Lioness67,

Not so unique. I am also a Canadian and also graduated with an ADN in 2006. I am currently working in the US. I applied to BC right out of school but they require a 250 hour preceptorship prior to full registration but I am authorized to take the exam now. I had to submit a lot of extra reasons as to why I thought my US educated matched a BC education even without a bachelors and was accepted. The assessment process took about 6 months. I don't have the desire to move back to Canada anytime soon but wanted to have registration as an option before I forget all the testing type of material. I am currently working on my BSN as nightflight posted since my employer is paying for it. I am only taking one class at a time but that is plenty for me since the classes are 3 credit classes every 8 weeks. I didn't want to limit myself for both here in the US as well as Canada by not having my BSN completed. If you are planning on staying in the US for another year you might want to think about it. Depending on where you live a lot of employers are happy to help with tuition. If you are interested in BC PM me as I have gone through everything but taking the exam and completing the preceptorship. Good luck to you.