Canadian RN's in the US- How do the countries compare??

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I know that there are alot of you out there............Canadian RN's who left for and are working in the US.

What is it like? Are you happy with your choice? Would you recommend it?

What is it like to work in a system so different to the Canadian system (health care)

What are your concerns? Are you planning on coming home?

What do you miss the most? What are you glad you left behind?

How different are the cultures? Any information would be greatly appreicated!!!!

I am doing long term planning......... getting ready to make the big move and want to do all my homework.

We are thinking of Arizona, Texas or SC or NC.

But I would love to hear from anyone working in the US who is a Canadian Rn.

Thanks! J.

Specializes in ER.

I second fergus' opinion, and add that I would recommend asking the hospital directly if they are not for profit. Also if you have a choice go to a state that does not require CGFNS testing, will save a lot of money and hassle.

Don't forget to keep renewing your health card for visits home. :)

I'm a southern nurse who works w/a lot of canadian nurses. Don't have much of an opinion of canada, other than it's cold. :)

Have heard differing opinions of us vs. canadian hospitals/health systems from canadian nurses here. Some say it's horrible in canada, some say it's wonderful.

I do know there are pickle chips and ketchup chips, which sounds about as disgusting to me as pork rinds. :)

Oh, and a lot of y'all are Catholic. And speak french. And say 'aboot,' 'oot,' and 'hoose.' That's it. :p

Not Southern, but I think Canada's great! We've traveled to Ontario for vacation, and I am always struck by how clean and quiet the towns we travel through are...have met lots of nice people, too.

Hey, JMP, on your way down, could I sweet-talk you into stopping by my house to bring me some Dare's maple cookies? ;)

Melissa

Dare's maple cookies are Sooooooooooooooooo Gooooooooooooood!

Only problem is that it may be awhile before we leave, I am doing my homework well in advance.

Shay- while it is true Canada is a bi-lingual country- French is the first language in Quebec, but the rest of us, are English speaking. Montreal is a great city........but you really need french now to live and work in Quebec.

As for Catholic........ no, not true.........except for maybe Quebec. Sounds like you have been exposed to alot of Quebec RN's.

I live in Ontario, speak English and was raised Protestant, which makes me about as white bread as they come.

Mel- true our cities and towns are clean, violence free ( for the most part) and we do not allow the death penality, to carry guns etc.

We are usually very quiet, polite and mind our manners. We are CANADIANS!!!!!!!! But we usually don't get too excited about how great our country really is!

Well, you will rarely care for a 1:1 patient here in the ICU unless it's like a CAVD or IABP with VRE, or an extremely unstable patient. It's mostly 1:2 and if relatively stable even 1:3 at times (we don't like it but it happens.)

Profit is #1 here in the corporate environment which would be Columbia-HCA, Tenet, etc, even though they deny it, so expect that if you work for a corporate hospital.

Most of the Canadian nurses I have worked with here in the DFW Texas area say that the US is a great place to visit but they wouldn't want to live here (or work here) permanently; they prefer their own country/culture. :)

If you like it hot, come on down to Texas. Winters are mild, summers are bearable but ONLY with air conditioning, and preferably a backyard pool. :) And no state income tax in Texas....

Mattsmom

Thanks for the info....looked at Texas and still thinking about it. We quite liked the looks of Austin........ but then again it is a large urban center........... so we continue to be infactuated with Flagstaff, Arizona.

I have so many questions....... being Canadian and not having income tax.....man........what a concept! You do not have state, but then must have federal tax then? What is your take home pay like? How heavy are fed taxes?

We are taxed up the ying-yang......but then, our country is more socialist than the US. We have many many programs for unemployed, free health care, no death penality ( so lots of inmates to care for, NOT than I am advocated the death penality! Texas still has the death penality and being Canadian, well that is sort of hard to come to grips with......... it would be very hard to deal and comprehend. Guns are another issue also, but then I don't want to go on and on about the differences.

So far the messages seem to indicate......pro for non profit hospitals, don't expect one to one nursing in the ICU's and the taxes are lower. Great input.....keep the reponses coming I am so interested in all of this!

Thanks J.

I worked in Washington State last. It's a nice place to live. I think they're more like Canadians than a lot of other places. I would just reiterate you can't be too careful about picking hospitals. I really think the American health care system is sick. There is way too much emphasis on money. As much as we complain about ours, I would rather get sick here than there. Also you better decide if you want to work in a union facility or not....

Ah Shay, not the aboot hoose thing!!! I swear one of the wierdest moments in my life was when a guy from Kentucky made fun of my accent. Can you say pot calling the kettle black, y'all?:)

Originally posted by fergus51

Ah Shay, not the aboot hoose thing!!! I swear one of the wierdest moments in my life was when a guy from Kentucky made fun of my accent. Can you say pot calling the kettle black, y'all?:)

Now, y'all are fixin' ta make me ma-ad (two syllable word...)...I'm fixin' ta hafta give y'all a whoopin'!!! :chuckle

LOL :D I love how southerners use words like "fixin'" and "reckon"! Those were my personal favorites!

I work with many canadian nurses and they are great. And you are write they are more laid back. Be sure to keep all of your documents up to date so you can flee back home when an emergency arises.

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I like Canada! Always go to the Falls at least once a year to do some gamblin. Liked driving through Niagara on the Lake was a very nice quaint quiet town. Lots of B & B's there. The Canadian side of the Falls is waaay better than the American side. Been to Canada's Wonderland too! Would like to someday go to Toronto! I took French in high school and college but don't remember much.

Anyhow JMP good luck with your decision!

I appreciate all the input.......really.

We are still in the midst of looking at states, comparing stats. When a hospital says non-profit, I gather from previous posts, that is a good thing?

I work in a heavily unionized enviroment now and need to carefully look at what working in a non unionized hospital would be like. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons? Thanks J.

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