I have a very odd circumstance that I need advice on...
12 years ago we moved from Calgary to TX and after going from job to job that I didn't like (and being laid off) I decided that I would fulfill my life-long dream to become a nurse.
Here the community college offers a 2 year degree (Associate Degree in Nursing) which I believe is the same as a Diploma nurse in Canada. The program is very competative, and I worked HARD to get a 4.0 on my pre and co-requisite classes so I could get in in 2 semesters. I actually did so well that I was not only accepted into the Traditional Track nursing, but the new Fastrak nursing program as well (4 consecitive semesters = 16 months). I decided to do the Fastrak because of other circumstances that happened in December:
After bugging my husband to move back to Canada, it finally happened! HE is now working up there, and I decided that since I put 2 years into this already- that I would stay here to finish it.
NOW I find out that soon Alberta will be only registering new BN and not 2 year nurses (I graduate here in Dec 2005).
What the heck am I going to do? I was planning on getting my Post RN-BN degree once I moved back, but I was going to take the NCLEX (RN exam) here and the Canadian RN exam there and work as an RN there until I finished my BN at Athabasca University (or where ever). Now it seems that if this licensing change happens in Alberta (and I would think that there was a pretty good chance that it will), I will fall through the cracks after so many years of hard studying. I will be an RN in the US, but nothing in Canada?? I do not have the option of transferring to a BSN at the University of TX because there are many more pre-requisites that they require- and I have not time now.
I e-mailed the AARN in Alberta the other day, but I have not heard back.
I am so upset that there are so many hurdles being thrown in my way through this whole process (there were several other things that happened here that almost made me quit).
I also can not understand that Grant MacEwan college is still offering the diploma program (if you don't want to transfer to the U of A, you can take a couple of extra semesters and just get a diploma). 2005 is next year and they are still offering the 2 year diploma....
Any advise anyone can offer is much appreciated... I though that I would maybe check into taking the Canadian Boards in another province and transferring into Alberta as an RN... does anyone know how this works right now?
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