leaving Boston for Montreal?

laurasc · Apr 24, 2005

I trained in Montreal and worked there for quite a few years before moving to Ontario. I don't know what the work situation there is like, but I can tell you one thing...make sure you can speak French. You will have to register with the Quebec Order of Nurses or Ordre des Infirmieres et Infirmiers du Quebec and you will have to write a test. (http://www.oiiq.org/ Don't bother clicking on the English page because all you'll get is a note that says that you should be able to read the French if you're a nurse working there. :mad: ) The test, when I wrote it 20 years ago was really Mickey Mouse...very basic French. I don't know what it's like now tho...

Laura

fergus51 · Apr 24, 2005

Apparently several nurses have actually lost their lisences recently because of an inability to pass the written french test. It is no longer Mickey Mouse, it's apparently really difficult. Some hospitals will pay for you to take classes or have a tutor before you write it though. If I were you, I would make sure I passed the test BEFORE moving there. You can be in quite a tough spot if you don't.

laurasc · Apr 25, 2005

Apparently several nurses have actually lost their lisences recently because of an inability to pass the written french test. It is no longer Mickey Mouse, it's apparently really difficult. Some hospitals will pay for you to take classes or have a tutor before you write it though. If I were you, I would make sure I passed the test BEFORE moving there. You can be in quite a tough spot if you don't.

After I posted the above message, I was talking to my hubby about this thread and what I saw in the OIIQ site. He told me that one of my MIL's friend's daughter is a student nurse in Montreal and said the exam is horribly difficult. Even fluently bilingual nurses are failing it.

Laura

fergus51 · Apr 26, 2005

After I posted the above message, I was talking to my hubby about this thread and what I saw in the OIIQ site. He told me that one of my MIL's friend's daughter is a student nurse in Montreal and said the exam is horribly difficult. Even fluently bilingual nurses are failing it.
Laura

It's a real shame. I think sometimes Quebec's language politics are completely ridiculous. I'm bllingual and I don't know if I could pass it or not (one of the reasons I wouldn't even consider moving to Quebec).

nursesinabox · Apr 26, 2005

Hello Northern Neighbors,
I think we're going to consider a move to Montreal in a year or two.
Anyone who has practiced both sides of the border have advice?
My French is only passable but I will im,prove it. Love to work ina busy adult neurosurgery or head/neck O.R.. I have lots of experience scrubbing and circulating. (Boston-Harvard)
Advice anyone? Passez undbonne journee.
regards, a dandy colleague

Don't forget, not only is everyone right about that rediculous french test, but Quebec nurses are paid the least in all of N.A. Right now, many if not most RN's are leaving to go elsewhere right out of nsg school, leaving us in dire need of nurses. I know, AS IF QUEBEC CAN AFFORD TO BE CHOOSY and decide to implement new barriers, and yet they do. Quebec nurses see American nurses as making more $. Likewise, I'm considering California for a little while just to give me a boost when I graduate. Can't understand why you'd want to move except for the fact that Montreal is the greatest place in the world! I may be partial, but I've never been to any city that compares, so good luck with that!

laurasc · Apr 26, 2005

Can't understand why you'd want to move except for the fact that Montreal is the greatest place in the world! I may be partial, but I've never been to any city that compares, so good luck with that!

You are absolutely right about Montreal! It really is the greatest city in the world. I am soooo homesick but know that we will never go back because of the language issue. My hubbs grew up in the US and doesn't speak French. He couldn't find work there because of his lack of French, so we came to Ontario. We tried to go back last year, but even though his resume and experience is impressive, he was overlooked because of his lack of French.

As for me, if I have to write the French test again to get my OIIQ license, I'll never pass because like Fergus, I'm bilingual (quadralingual really....I speak 4 languages) I doubt I will pass the test.

Teachchildren123 · Oct 10, 2005

I am bilingual (Fr and Eng) and I feel that I would have to study (hard, very hard) the abbreviations and few diagnosis before trying the test from L'Associaton des infirmieres. Even if I am French to begin with, but I studied nursing in English. I can't even tell you what the nurses are allowed to do independently in Quebec. I am pretty independent here in the US. You know, how vast is the scope of practice there. You may want to network with Canadians and get infos on the day-to-day practice.

Yes, the province of Quebec cannot afford to be so strict about the language of the test. It should be offered in English, really. How come they don't accept the US license? Stubborn for notting! I am still Quebecois-Gaspesienne in my soul even if I am in US and working in a different language!!!

There is always the english-speaking hospital such as the Jewish Hospital of MTL., or Royal Victoria... a lot very good hospitals in MTL. I know, I was a pt there!

Contact them (the hospitals). May be they can hire you on probation, in waiting that you pass the test. They might have some practice book themself.

I doubt I will pass the test without studying. Find a practice book or network with other nurses there, it might help.

Good luck! Let us know how you are doing!

A la prochaine!:balloons:

suzanne4, RN · Oct 10, 2005

The US doesn't accept Canadian license anymore, either.:)

lalaxton · Oct 11, 2005

If your interested in Neuro, look up the Montreal Neurological Institute, now part of McGill Health Sciences. I worked there straight out of nursing school and learned so much! That is once you get past the french exam....

rubriam · Oct 15, 2005

I moved here from San Antonio, Texas a year ago. I have been here for one year I have taken the french test and I have passed 2 out of the 4 sections, the other two sections in one I made a 30% and the other I made a 40%. Passing is 60%. I have a total of 3 years to pass the french test since I studied outside of Quebec. I have been taking a french course each semester, the hospital pays for my french classes at Berlitz (you can look it up on line).

If you have specific questions please dont' hesitate to write me. I will be gladly to help you.