Moving from Canada to US to Nurse????

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Hi there,

Myself and my roommate are both nurses in Canada. Recently, we heard about Nursing in North Carolina... it sounds fantastic! We're both quite nervous though. Just wondering if there are any other nurses out there who've done this type of move before? What's it like nursing in the US? What's it like working for a private institution vs. a public healthcare system? What are health benefits like for nurses? Are there any pointers or tips you may have for us?

We're both relatively new in the profession, I've been working for two years in acute Neurosurgery and my roommate graduated this year and works at a local cancer centre. So, skill-wise, we're both very different... however both love surgery, aren't afraid of new things, and are very enthusaistic about the profession. We just figure if we're going to move and get out and try something new, we're better off doing it while we're young and relatively responsibility-free rather than wait it out when we may be involved or have important commitments.

Anywho, we're just both kind of nervous and would like to have some advice or information from other nurses or professionals who've been there.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Just out of curiosity, what have you heard about nursing in North Carolina?

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Well, there was a trade show the other day with a recruiter.

We heard that they'll relocate us, offer us a trip down for a week just to "check out the scene." They're offering a 10,000 dollar signon bonus for two years. The salary is similar to what we're making in Canada except we'll lose less in taxes in the US. Apparently 80% of the nurses at this hospital (Pitt Memorial?) are from Canada, and the mean age is 26. The town, Greenville, is a University town with about 180,000 people. The weather is nice.

Nursing itself is apparently medsurg nursing, with lots of opportunity to specialize (cardiac, emerg, ICU...), the maximum number of patients you'll have in your caseload is 2 at a time...

Not sure what else to tell you, any specific questions?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

No, I just hadn't heard that anyone was recruiting. Good to know. Good luck to you and your friend!

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Medsurg with a two patient to one nurse ratio? :smokin: Hope a member from NC validates this offer for you before you go further.

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not to offend you, but I wonder why they're recruiting Canadian nurses when there are a ton in the US who can't get jobs... This sounds too good to be true.

I would try to talk to actual nurses who work there first. See how it really is vs. what they try to sell you.

North Carolina is a nice state though. Good weather, nice people. At least that's been my experience.

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I know, right?! I can't imagine working just a regular medsurg floor with only two patients! What would you do with your time? I could see ICU or something. This is something I will definitely be confirming before moving. It all sounds really great, almost too good to be true... but I guess we don't have a whole lot to lose if we hate it. We can always just come back to Canada?

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EDnursetobe, I agree. That's how it's been here too, lately. Our particular corporation is on a hiring freeze, however if we go more rural... jobs are available hand over foot. I wonder if that's perhaps how it is in NC... Maybe they're recruiting for a smaller hospital or something? I mean, in some Canadian Provinces right now, new grads are having a tough time finding positions at all... so it's hard to believe that I can move just into the US and find this golden opportunity.

I hope it's as good as it sounds. I'm skeptical, but I'm willing to give it a go if they follow through on their promises.

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I have to say, that sounds really strange. The employment market for nurses in this country is in the toilet. There are thousands upon thousands of nurses in this country who are desperately looking for work, it doesn't make sense to me that a facility would be recruiting from Canada. Is it a Canadian company?

The 2:1 med/surg ratio and the $10000 sign on bonus are also sending up some flags. There was a time when a sign on bonus was the hallmark of a facility looking for high quality nurses; nowadays, a sign on bonus means that they can't find anyone who will work there. Also, they are usually tied to a time commitment -- if you commit for two years it will be porificed out over that time period in bits and pieces, and you will be paying taxes on it.

I would suggest you head over to the North Carolina forum on this board to get a sense of the job market there. Maybe someone over there can even give you the poop on the facility you are looking at.

Well. I wish you the best of luck, and if you find out anything good, pass it on!

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Thanks Mazy! :)

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Specializes in Home Care.
What's it like working for a private institution vs. a public healthcare system?

I recently moved from Florida to Alberta. The big difference I've noticed is that every patient I care for here in Alberta is treated equally. And of course here in Alberta I'm in a union, make better money and have health insurance.

As for other pointers....do a lot of research before thinking about relocating. You may find that the cost of your health insurance premiums and out of pocket is greater than what you're paying in monthly taxes in Canada. I also find it really odd that a hospital would spend the money on recruiting in Canada rather than in the US.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Another way to verify is to go to the hospital's web page and check if they do have job opportunities in the career section. Or better yet, call the nursing recruiter from the said hospital or health system. I have worked with Canadian nurses back when I lived in Detroit and a few of them worked as a traveler in NC hospitals (UNC, Duke) and loved the experience. But that was back when there were so much jobs in nursing everywhere.

http://www.uhseast.com/pittcounty/

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