Negative experience with practicing nursing in USA vs. canada

rnthom · Nov 18, 2004

I think that you will find this occurring more often in areas that run along the borders, for example, Detroit and Buffalo. As a nurse in Buffalo, the Canadian nurse I work with state that the money and working conditions are better in the US. Since the US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar, it is a big incentive to cross over the bridge to come to work. The fringe benefits are good in the US, though I don't know what they are like in Canada, but that might be an addtional reason. None of these nurses have stated a desire to return to work in Canada. I am told that mandatory overtime in Canadian hospitals is a big issue.

Thom

Personal negative experience w/ nursing (canada VS. USA)
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Hi! Everybody. I need help. i am currently a 2nd year nursing student in Canada. We have to do a debate regarding recruitment to USA (the good and the bad). I have to do research on the negative side of recruitment. i have thought of many negative effects of recruitment. For example, nursing shortage in canada, worser working condition than before, closing of facilities due to shortages, brain drain, loss of funding from govt, time consuming, a lot of money goes into recruitment, and barriers nurses experience when they go into a new environment/state/country. IF any body has any more ideas it would be very helpful for me. My instructor has mentioned to me, it would be a really strong debate if i had a personal experience from a nurse who was trained or worked in canada and decided to move to the states to work and due to issues move back to canada to practice. Unfortunately i have looked into numerous scholarly journals and have found no personal experience. So, i am looking for help. I need to know what was the reason you chose to go to the states to practice and what was the reason you move back to canada to practice? any info would be excellent. the debate would only include the experience and confidentiality would be kept. i need to know the reasons behind why would you move back to canada to practice if "supposingly" states offer better wages, benefits, bonuses, living etc... If people can email me privately or reply this post, it would be AWESOME!!.
My debate is on Monday so the quicker the reply the better. thanks a lot guys. all help would be greatly appreciated!!
sincerely,
BEEE

saskrn · Nov 18, 2004

Personal negative experience w/ nursing (canada VS. USA)
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Hi! Everybody. I need help. i am currently a 2nd year nursing student in Canada. We have to do a debate regarding recruitment to USA (the good and the bad). I have to do research on the negative side of recruitment. i have thought of many negative effects of recruitment. For example, nursing shortage in canada, worser working condition than before, closing of facilities due to shortages, brain drain, loss of funding from govt, time consuming, a lot of money goes into recruitment, and barriers nurses experience when they go into a new environment/state/country. IF any body has any more ideas it would be very helpful for me. My instructor has mentioned to me, it would be a really strong debate if i had a personal experience from a nurse who was trained or worked in canada and decided to move to the states to work and due to issues move back to canada to practice. Unfortunately i have looked into numerous scholarly journals and have found no personal experience. So, i am looking for help. I need to know what was the reason you chose to go to the states to practice and what was the reason you move back to canada to practice? any info would be excellent. the debate would only include the experience and confidentiality would be kept. i need to know the reasons behind why would you move back to canada to practice if "supposingly" states offer better wages, benefits, bonuses, living etc... If people can email me privately or reply this post, it would be AWESOME!!.
My debate is on Monday so the quicker the reply the better. thanks a lot guys. all help would be greatly appreciated!!
sincerely,
BEEE

I trained in Canada, worked in the USA for 8 years, and just recently moved back to Canada. Money has nothing to do with it, for me anyways. It was all about quality and respect.

fergus51 · Nov 18, 2004

I've gone back and forth more than once (I'm a dual citizen). I trained in Canada, then went to Washington state to work. The hospital was a hell hole, I was not paid the rate I had been quoted, they didn't pay me my relocation expenses like they promised, the orientation was shorter than they promised and the ratios were terrible. I left after a few months and got on in a much nicer place (also in Wash.). I don't think the original hospital knew I was a dual citizen so I wasn't tied to their hospital for immigration purposes. Canadian nurses who come here are usually sponsored by a hospital, so they need to secure another job and inform immigration of it before they can quit. Plus, if the hospital pays relocation or a sign on bonus you have to pay that back if you quit.

I worked for a while at that second hospital then went back to BC. The working conditions were as good or better in Canada, and that's mainly because I usually choose to work in larger centers. The wage wasn't really different between Wash and BC. Even now, new grads usually start at about 22 US in Wash and about 26 CDN in BC. After, I went to Ontario (lower wage) and now work in California (higher wage, higher cost of living). I also have friends who went to the US and found the job was not what they were told and the wages don't go as far as they think. When you're buying things in American dollars, the exchange rate is meaningless. The grass is not always greener.... There are good and bad hospitals in both countries.

oneLoneNurse · Nov 18, 2004

I graduated in 1987 in Edmonton. Have been in the US since 1989. I found the money great when the Loonie was worth .63, but the greenback is losing its appeal.

Opportunities are greater down here as is cost of living when you compare it with Toronto or Vancouver. Thing is the Visa problem and the sense of impermanency when you are from another country. If I could duplicate what I have here in Canada I would move back. I have not been able to duplicate it yet.

Beee · Nov 19, 2004

I trained in Canada, worked in the USA for 8 years, and just recently moved back to Canada. Money has nothing to do with it, for me anyways. It was all about quality and respect.

so what was the reason you moved back to canada? what was so good about canada that attracted you back? ie. respect and quality, family, lifestyle etc.. what was the reason you chose to go to the states in the beginning? thanks for replying