How about anyone from Canada moving to the USA?Thats my plan in 2 years.

maple · Feb 8, 2003

Not looking goood for BC.maple

kmaryniak · Feb 13, 2003

Hey, ME! I miss you guys, too! Probably more than you know!

igloorn93 · Feb 14, 2003

I left Canada 10 years ago when there were few to no jobs for nurses and I've never looked back. I got lucky with my Greencard. I just managed to get it before they changed all the laws and tests etc. I would recommend that you ask for a tour of the place at their expense before you consider moving so far away. Some places offer you a week in the town or your moving expenses. I took moving expenses and don't regret it, but the ones who took the week didn't regret that either, so I guess it really is just a personal preference. I was tired of waitressing and looked at it as 1 year out of my life and I could deal with what ever came my way. (I mean how bad could it be to stay somewhere for 1 year?) Needless to say, it has been pretty good, as here I still am, at the same hospital even almost 10 years later. In the USA I find that you have the possibilty to advance faster than you do back in Canada. I'm in the south so I do miss snow, (It's weird putting up ones Christmas tree while wear shorts), but am getting used to it. My family loves to have somewhere to come and visit, and are glad that I am happy, although if given a choice I am sure they would prefer me just a few hours from home instead of more than 24. Check out job fairs if they still have them. There used to be a huge annual one in Toronto every year. Good luck to you and let us know what you decide.

TraumaNurse · Feb 16, 2003

Hello all,

I also left Canada 8 years ago when there wasn't even casual jobs to be found. I have lived in several states and have enjoyed my experiences as a nurse here. As an ICU nurse, the patient acuity and ratios are different and you will work harder in some ways, but you will also make more money! I could never make the $$$ I do now in Canada, especially with the exchange rate. My CDN equiv. would be about $40/hr. Also, in the US there are many more opportunities to work away from the bedside. You can make good $$$ as a consultant, sales rep, ARNP or CRNA just to name a few. I now live only an hour from the border, but my standard of living is much better than what I could have just a short drive north.

As far as the travelling thing goes....it is a great way to see the country and not have any long term committment, but travelling is not all that it is cracked up to be. As a former traveller, I can tell you that travellers get treated differently in most places and you always get the dirty end of the stick. The money is pretty good and you do get to see the country...it's a great option if you don't care about your work environment and just want to see different places and make some $$$.

I'm not saying I would not like to move back to Canada some day...I wish I could....I just could not afford to make what Canadian nurses are making.

One of the best things about being a nurse is the ability to have a great career and the choice to work almost where ever you want. There are pros and cons everywhere, just find what fits for you.

maple · Feb 16, 2003

Hi ,would you tell me what ARNP and CRNA stands for?maple

fergus51 · Feb 16, 2003

Advanced registered nurse practitioner and certified registered nurse anesthetist. Both require Masters degrees I think, and I know the CRNA schools are very competitive, but the wages when you finish are beautiful.

TraumaNurse · Feb 18, 2003

Both Nurse practitioner and Nurse Anesthestist require masters degrees, but both routes allow you to have much greater autonomy in practice in the US than you could in Canada. Nurse practitioners specialize in family, adult, critical care, pediatric or neonatal care. They can work in many areas, side by side with physicians or in independant practice. Nurse anesthestists work as anesthesiologist do and provide anesthesia for surgery patients in hospitals or clinics. They can work with MDs or can also practice independently in many states. The salaries are great for both professions, but CRNAs are on a higher scale. I hope this helps.