Hows Nursing in the USA I'm a Canadian Thinking of Relocating

[Near Done Nurse]

hey,

I'm from Canada and I'm thinking of heading down to the USA after graduation. I was just wondering if anybody could give me some info on what nursings like down there. It saddens me to say that I spoke to over 30 recruiters from different hospitals in Canada and only 1 could offer me fulltime work. The USA seemed to offer many fulltime positions and from I was told many hospitals have excellent orientation programs especially for new grads. What are the working conditions like, What is California like for cost of living and even just to live? What are the educational opportunities like down there? I would appreciate any information that anyone can offer cause this is a very big choice for me and its rather scary...:roll

Thanks

[nurse come late]

I relocated to California in 1990 as an experienced Nicu nurse. The hospital paid my expenses and provided housing for 6 months. They sponsored me for my permanent resident card and hired me full time after the 6 months. I stayed with them for three years and then transferred to another hospital. I became a US citizen in 1998 and am married to an American. I started working part-time in the US in 1988 as a seasonal traveller with all expenses paid. The catch to all of this is that I wrote the NCLEX exams in the US in 1987 ten years after getting my RN in Canada. I don't know if the situation has changed since then, but my Canadian credentials were not enough to work in the US. I also had experience in hospital nursing in Canada. Your best bet is to get in touch with a Travelling Nurse agency and find out what is required as a new grad. I have never regretted my decision. I am now semi-retired but still keep up my credentials and work free-lance for registries and part-time in a cosmetic surgery facility. Good luck in your pursuit.

[pickledpepperRN]

Many local hospitals give credit for acute care RN years regardless of the country.