Canadian RN moving to california

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Hi, I'm a RN in Canada moving to California to do travel nursing. I have my licence in Minnesota and I am looking to work in Southern California. I have applied for my licence to be transfered to California through Nursys. I got confused when I applied for my licence in California, because I noticed you need to send school transcripts, licence validation....I figure I didn't have to do that, since I have my visa screen with CGFNS and my licence with Minnesota?? I've tried calling the California board of nursing, but I can't get through. Also, how long does it take before you get your licence when transfering from Minnesota?

Thanks!!!:)

Hey!

i know this thread is a few years old, but I'm just wondering if any of my fellow Canadians made it to California?

I've had such a stressful year with this whole process of getting to California because everything is so so so slow.

Long story short, I have a job offer in LA that keeps getting delayed because I don't have my license yet. So I'm stuck in Toronto. I sent my application in to the BON in February. I have a feeling they're going to decline me based on a lack of pediatric hours.

Did anyone find a school that accepted you for just peds courses? What did you guys do? My hearts been set on California since the first time I visited family there over ten years ago.

Any advice on this topic would be extremely helpful and appreciated!

thanks!

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

It takes 3 to 6 months for US citizens with degrees from top rated US schools to get licensed in CA. That is just how it is. Unless you have inside information that they are going to deny you other than taking their sweet time, I wouldn't worry too much.

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While it can take that long for US trained nurses (some US state curriculums and specific schools such as Excelsior will cause trouble in California), some who are Livescanned in California receive their temp license in under a week. By law, the California BON must take no longer than 3 months to issue a license or have some other type of decision, perhaps requiring additional academic work or documentation related to a criminal or BON record. When they were audited by the state several years ago at the highest backlog, they were still meeting the legal three month legal standard. Things have improved tremendously in the last year and a half due to the Breeze software finally functioning as promised, and not because they have any more staff to process applications. In fact, since they met the legal standard during the audit, they were denied extra personnel obviously needed then (and perhaps now) to any outside observer.

I believe the audit came about because of frequent consumer (nurse) level complaints, and interventions on behalf of applicants by California political representatives (which is in part why new grads are prioritized).

For US citizens, complaining to a politician does get results. Most applicants don't think of that, but enough do that complaints about the BON are a sore spot for many politicians, but it is difficult politically to raise the BON budget when there are so many other pressing needs.

Even for Canadians, I suspect a complaint to a California politico may be effective if there is some friction not due to waiting for documentation. For Mwood06, her application is apparently complete but no feedback from the BON. The obvious argument would be that California has a nurse shortage that is raising the cost to facilities and the cost of healthcare to California residents.

I might imagine that in the absence of paid consultants to review foreign applicants to US BON (never heard of such consultants), the larger agencies such as Cross Country and American Mobile - the latter is California based (and some smaller ones like PPR and PHP that have recruited overseas nurses extensively in the past), will have the knowledge to tell a Canadian applicant from whatever province what is likely needed for an applicant to be approved, whether it is a peds course or whatever. I'd strongly suggest to any Canadians to talk to these large agencies and see if they have resources to help (sound super interested in becoming a traveler). They will certainly help with immigration status after gaining a US BON license. I suspect they will suggest getting a license somewhere besides California first as a bridge to lawful US employment and a Social Security number.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Good info there. I did get my temp within a week with the livescan. My permanent license took almost 4 months from the time it was hand delivered to them.

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Ah yes. The three months legal requirement for BON decision does refer to the permanent license, not the temp. Do you know a specific issue why your perm took four months?

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

No reason given. I just assumed it took that long after hearing everyones horror stories. I actually didnt think i would get the temp that fast and did an extension the week I applied for CA, I would have taken a CA contract had I known......

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I got rejected for deficient pediatric hours so I'm thinking I will apply to Dominican University to make up the deficiency.

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HI, currently in the process of CGFNS waiting and looking at state of Cali (bfs job change)

I am curious for the California BON, along with the application & live scan - I can forward a report, and transcript, course breakdown from CGFNS once I receive it correct?

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Do you mind telling me how much hours you put! I want to do the same thing as you but I only have 80 peds/ob hours!

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HEY I know this is a late response! Thanks for this post I also want to do what you are doing. Do you mind telling me what your OB and Peds clinical hours were? I have 80 and I'm not sure if that is good enough! thanks

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Hello, don"t know if you will see my post as it is a year later but I am going through the exact same thing right now! CBN has told me I am deficient in my OB training. Got my degree from U of Manitoba in 2003 and two other girls that graduated my year and class have CA licenses! Beyond frustrated. Trying to sort this out with U of M and then planning on appealing but I haven't been getting a lot of help from U of M. Seems they have better things to do then help their past Alumni. Anyways, what was the outcome for you and where did you have you're original degree from?

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Hi Shaunzy7:

It's a couple years later but if you see this reply please respond! I also graduated from U of M. In 2003. I just finally got a letter from CBN saying that I am deficient in OBS clinical and theory hours. Did you get a license?

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