International Nurse needs advice please

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Hi

I am a RN from Australia with only one year cardiac surgical nurse experience. I moved to Canada Sept/07 and havent been working as an RN due to not having nursing education in pediatrics or maternity. So courses will need to be done to meet up with standards.

At the moment I work in healthcare setting like a nurse aide. Its okay, somewhat embarassing but I can bear with it I suppose. However, it would be nice to work as RN again, as other nurses who i work amongst would like me to do that too. Sometimes I feel like I am being badgered about the nursing issue from other nurses and I do understand why they are doing that such as: nursing shortage and doing what I was trained to do in Australia.

However, the nursing registering body in Alberta Canada has recently developed a Restricted License for International Educated Nurses to work on to get familiar with Canadian Nursing and to work toward progressing the nursing education in the deficits such as Maternity & Pediatrics.

It sounds all great but I am having problem with my self, as I am feeling insecure and low in confidence in wanting to go further with nursing in Canada. I am unsure which Nursing Inpatient Unit I would like to work in, and fear I wont get the support with orientation/mentoring needed for me to feel comfortable and gain confidence in. As well as fearing the idea of working on computers that have patient orders, medications, vital signs to be ticked off and inputted in computer.

As well on the flip side, I am wondering if I should bother with nursing in Canada, as I am thinking to return back to Australia maybe late next year???? Therefore, just work in something that is non nursing maybe. I am just very confused about all this. As I hear of nurses travelling overseas or moving overseas and do not work as nurses?

I am very used to the way I was trained on the surgical unit back in Australia as well as my nursing student training. I am unsure how things will be for me here if I have enough strength to do it. I also thought well if I do the nursing, I will give it a few months to work on and if it doesnt work out, I quit???

I do think it would be nice to get the Canadian Nursing experience and get paid a good wage and gain confidence in but I am just feeling scared and unsure whether I can really do it. As I see how confident and secure the nurses are and I hear that they can make new nurses feel like crap and call them names and I hate to be a victim to that.

Anyways, enough said on my nursing career dilemma. Should you have any advice to share, I would be happy to accept.

kind regards

:confused::nurse:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you are planning on returning at some stage to Australia would you be wanting to return to nursing? If so this may be a good way to gain some recent experience and maybe some new skills to take back with you. I am sure not every ward /area will have the name calling that you hear of but as long as you are doing your work then try to ignore them or vent on here

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Specializes in CTICU.

Any chance to extend your skills/knowledge, particularly from gaining international experience would be valuable. Particularly as you are quite new to this. The only way to get confidence in nursing is to do it... I'd say go for it!

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Hi

However, the nursing registering body in Alberta Canada has recently developed a Restricted License for International Educated Nurses to work on to get familiar with Canadian Nursing and to work toward progressing the nursing education in the deficits such as Maternity & Pediatrics.

It sounds all great but I am having problem with my self, as I am feeling insecure and low in confidence in wanting to go further with nursing in Canada. I am unsure which Nursing Inpatient Unit I would like to work in, and fear I wont get the support with orientation/mentoring needed for me to feel comfortable and gain confidence in.

:confused::nurse:

I'd look at the restricted license. From what I've seen so far, they will work with you to find a unit and area, and orientation that you would need.

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Hi Night Flight

Unfortunately, CARNA doesnt find me employer to work with. I have to find one that will take me on. I wish it was that easy eh. Thanks thou:up:

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No, CARNA doesn't help, but in both Calg and Edt there are HR reps that work to get one placed. I'm in Edmonton....

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Hi Nightflight

Any idea who the HR reps are?

Thanks

Kylie:up:

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Yes, if you want to private message me, I will pass them on to you. By your reply you must be in Edmonton.

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Hi Nightflight

Actually I am residing in Calgary;)

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For some reason I can't PM; howver, the contacts I have are here in Edmonton, tus little use for you in Calgary.

I found the Human Resource people very heplfull in sorting me out. You should call the HR department with Calgary Health, and just ask them to put you in touch with nurse recruting. They should be helpfull.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Until you have 15 posts you can not send a pm

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Thought I had been able to PM before! Oh, well.

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