Good Critical Care Nursing Programs in Canada

[Hopeful Angel]

Hi all! I am a Registered Nurse currently employed outside of Canada. I've been an RN for 6 yrs and i've been working in ICU for almost a year. However, my country only has 1 ICU program and it's not very reliable. I'm interested in pursuing my certification in Critical Care nursing in Canada but i'm lost as to which schools are the best. Can anyone help me?

[Hopeful Angel]

oh wow! Thank you. i will be mindful of it. i don't intend to get my Canadian licence at the moment since i want to practice at home so i searched for schools that don't require it. I live i the Caribbean. Jamaica is the only island right now with a credible ICU course but getting information has been hell and it's not the safest place to study. I would have much preferred to stay in the Caribbean if i could have. The other smaller islands don't really have ICU courses and if they do, it's small and more for locals.

[Hopeful Angel]

They don't require Canadian Registration. I am registered in my country. Conestoga requires proof of registration in your country of practice for international students and Confederation requires proof of a BScN from an accredited university. both conditions i fulfill. You can check the websites for confirmation. It's perfectly safe for them to accept professionals who may have been trained and certified elsewhere once there is sufficient proof of such.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

But how do you get around the clinical practicum part of the course without a local license?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

They don't require Canadian Registration. I am registered in my country. Conestoga requires proof of registration in your country of practice for international students and Confederation requires proof of a BScN from an accredited university. both conditions i fulfill. You can check the websites for confirmation. It's perfectly safe for them to accept professionals who may have been trained and certified elsewhere once there is sufficient proof of such.

I have looked at the admission requirements on Conestoga's critical nursing program a current CNO certificate of registration as a RN is required

Part Time Registered Nurse - Critical Care Nursing Continuing Education Program & Courses | Conestoga College

As for Confederation, I think you were looking at the admission requirements for their two year 'academic pathway' program not a 'critical care nursing' program.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

But how do you get around the clinical practicum part of the course without a local license?

If an IEN did not have a local license they would not be allowed to do a clinical practicum in a hospital or any type of health care facility with real patients. Niagara college has a critical care nursing certificate program for IENs who are not licensed and the 'clinical' involves assessing standardized patients (actors) and practicing skills with mannequins in the school lab. The program is an unethical cash grab and is one of the reasons the school has a slimy reputation.

[Hopeful Angel]

I figured it would be the same way a student nurse without a licence would have to. As a student under the supervision of seniors

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Student nurses in undergraduate nursing programs, are not the same as students in post RN critical care nursing programs.

[Hopeful Angel]

This is the course i found for Conestoga. perhaps they have different courses for locals and international students

Post Grad, Enhanced Nursing Practice - Clinical and Critical Care Program | Conestoga College

You were right about looking at the wrong course in Confederation. Found the Critical Care course but i'm still not seeing where it states i must have a Canadian Licence.

[Hopeful Angel]

Ok, thank you all for your advice and information. dishes, i appreciate the time and effort you have put in and while i didn't appreciate your negative attitude towards me, i am still grateful for the help. You have allowed me to see a different side of the Canadian Health System. I have always respected Canada for it's Health system and attention to providing proper education for all. But obviously that is not to be accessible to anyone besides a Canadian. I'm still confused by it, but i am not in a position to change it.

I'm not going to let this stop me from seeking my education. I will look elsewhere, to which i'm sure at least you, dishes will be glad.

Thank you all again for your input and aid.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I think we have different communication styles and you perceive my linear communication style as a negative attitude towards you, but if you do not 'read into' what I wrote, you will see it is just information that you can use to make an informed decision.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

This is the course i found for Conestoga. perhaps they have different courses for locals and international students

Post Grad, Enhanced Nursing Practice - Clinical and Critical Care Program | Conestoga College

You were right about looking at the wrong course in Confederation. Found the Critical Care course but i'm still not seeing where it states i must have a Canadian Licence.

Did you look at courses in the Conestoga 'Enhanced Nursing Practice' program? If you compare that program to a critical care nursing program, you will find the Conestoga enhanced nursing program covers basic Canadian nursing. It contains only one critical care course and one course will not the provide the depth and breadth of knowledge that a critical care certification program would provide. Also, the 'clinical' component is in the lab.