Is 2-Year RN degree in US recognised in Canada as RN?

[alicia09]

Hi all,

I am currently finishing my ADN-RN program in the US. Say, I wanted to move to canada ( have legal documents to work in Canada), so can I work as a RN with my two-years RN degree from US in Canada or Do I need mimimum of 4-years of RN (BSN) degree from US and then take the CRNE? What is the process like?

Thank you all.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

This is something you need to check with the province where you plan to work. If they require BSN then they may deny your application. Only way to tell is contact them. Either way you will need to sit and pass CRNE to work as a RN in Canada

[Fiona59]

The Degree is the only way for a new grad to achieve eligiblty to write CRNE.

You need to contact the provincial College of RNs for exact information.

Every RN wanting to work here is required to write CRNE.

For what it's worth, many provinces require to years for PN eduction.

[RN_Canada]

It is unlikely that you can work as a registered nurse as a university degree is now required in all provinces. I believe Nunavut and the Northwest territories are moving to a degree requirement in 2010 and they will be the last.

Quebec may still accept a 2 yr diploma for an RN but you have to be fluent in french.

You may be eligible to apply for a license as a practical nurse called either a licensed practical nurse or a registered practical nurse.

Either way you need to apply through the provincial nursing authority. If your education is considered equivalent you are given permission to write the licensing exam.

Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is for RN's

Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam is for PN's

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Is there a difference in patient to nurse ratio between a PN & RN in Canada?

[Fiona59]

Nope.

In Active treatment, we get the same number of patients. In theory the RNs are supposed to get the more complex patients but in reality (in my world) the patient comes to the bed and is cared for by the nurse who has been assigned the room.

In LTC, RNs are basically managers and do the bulk of the paperwork and family liasion. LPNs treatments, meds, wound care. Both are expected to assist with care and toiletting (I can spell for beans today)

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Thanks Fiona. Here in CA where I live, there isn't a patient ratio for LVNs in the hospital where the LVNs are utilized as CNAs. I'm unsure how it is for LVNs in the hospital that are utilized as a nurses.

[RN_Canada]

In Canada we do not have any specified nurse to patient ratios that I am aware of.

However, we do have Professional nursing standards that nurses (both RN and LPN) must meet so ratios are decided often on the ability of the nurses to meet their professional standards.

In theory the RNs are supposed to get the more complex patients but in reality (in my world) the patient comes to the bed and is cared for by the nurse who has been assigned the room.

Actually Fiona59 you and I have exchanged ideas about this before.

RN's are not supposed to get the more complex patients (in theory) this is required by law and by the nursing scope of practice as defined in legislation. If this is not happening it is because the employer is completely unaware of the difference in the scope of practice for these two types of nursing professionals and in fact, if they do not require patient assignments to be made on the basis of the nursing scope of practice then they are open to huge liabilities should anything go amiss.

I have to wonder why the nurses who work there do not set them straight?