a nurse's life in regina, sk

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hi there! :heartbeat

anybody who have lived, worked or visited regina? please share the working conditions, living conditions, nurse- patient ratios, etc..

any comments would be helpful...

thanks!:nurse:

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

My point is that if you never experienced winter, I think it maybe a shock, walking to work could be unrealistic. You can't show up with your face red, feet cold, and you will have no time to "warm up".

Wait a second! That's how I am when I walk on my unit after walking from the parkade.

We have a snow blower, I don't know how to use it, I have been caught several times when my husband is traveling and we have snow. Shoveling is no fun.

Oh girlfriend, you've gotta get out there and have an inservice on that puppy. Don't shovel if you don't have to!

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Specializes in critical care.
hi oobie,

working condition in regina depends on your unit, do you know which unit you will be assign?

im assign in general, since you will be coming as an internationally educated nurse and working as a GN here are some tips for you:

i did brought my own uniform, but it will all depend on whatever unit you will be assign, i know for sure here in regina area those assign in C-ICU, Emerge, OR, L&D, NICU, S-ICU were provided uniforms by the district. working hours is 12 hrs a day, 12 shifts a month you can work 3 days straight and off for 2 and back again. it will also be dependent on which roaster you would be put in, so whatever unit you will be in will all depend on your unit manager. you will not go straight to the unit as you will still be orientating in everything. you have to be certified for IV pumps, BT, etc, etc. im telling about the regina qu'appelle health region here in regina - classroom orientation first and then start to the unit. we undergone 7 weeks of orientation and 60 days probationary period, but before the end of the probationary period they will assess you if you can go on your own without mentor, they might extend your probationary period dependent on your performance in the unit. at first it is very overwhelming to learn everything in so short a time. adjusting with your co-workers is 1 issue, another is the equipments they're using, patients, forms to filled up, managers, unit area and many things you'll have to find it out for yourself.

it is sheer determination, hard work and willingness to learn and being able to communicate well with everybody is my best tool for passing my probationary period. i must add you have to have the right attitude as well.

this is big dreams especially for those nurses coming from the philippines, please live up to your employers expectation. being happy is doing things that makes you happy. if you are not happy with what you are doing then you can never be happy no matter what. im just really blessed that this big opportunity was offered to me because the pay is good, i can give a better future for my kids and will be able to enhance my skills here in canada.

housing was provided for a while, we were bellited in a hostel but because it's too far from the hospital where im working i decided to just look for an apartment near my workplace so im walking going and from work. i dont want to take the bus and its better to walk its a good exercise as well. food if you know how to cook you can never have a hard time with that.

i hope to see you here in regina. goodluck!

hi sknurse!

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. I am very fortunate to read your tips because I know what to expect and surely I will do my very best to live up to our employer's expectations.

Do continue to keep us posted here. We are happy to learn from you.

Godbless in your life in regina.:heartbeat

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Specializes in critical care.

Thanks also to fiona and janfrn and alex for the lively discussion about the weather there..

we are surely learning too..

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SK nurse have you passed the CRNE? If you did how difficult did you find it? Sounds like you had a awesome orientation. How many patients are assigned to you?

How are you preparing for winter? In my area, as soon as it gets cool the winter gear prices jump up, so I would start looking now. Better stores will rate the coats. I personally shop at LLBEAN, since they give good ratings. You can find them online.

This winter I bought my son a new coat for xmas, he said he was going to return it since his 5 year coat was fine, then he put on the coat and the zipper broke, he was so lucky to have his new coat.

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Specializes in medical-surgical/OB-Gyne.

Alex,

im gonna write my CRNE on October. I hope to pass it on my first take, i dont have enought time studying when im working because im dead tired so im doing it during my off days.

yes i did have an awesome orientation especially on the unit, my co-workers are so nice, i had a very good mentor and educator who have helped me a lot, everybody's helping me so i could easily adjust to my unit. during days i usually has 4-5 but nights i have 6-8 patients especially when we are short of staff.

i have brought some winter coats that my brother sent me from Australia with winter boots as well. i did bought some here in regina and are still looking, i need extra winter stuffs since winter last for 5 months.

Its nice to know that you bought a new coat for your son just in time that the old 1 broke down. you never know what will happen and better be prepared or caught offguard.

well Thanks so much for the tips where to buy winter stuffs, I appreciate it very much. God bless.

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Sounds like you have a nice assignment,not too overwhelming. Do you have nursing assistants to assist you? Try to study a bit every day it will help you retain the material better. Is this your first fulltime position, it can be difficult but you will adjust.

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It sounds a lot like the orientation that Capital Health does.

Try Sears for winter wear. The coats usually have ratings on them. Look for "extreme".

Zellers and WalMart usually have the best prices on boots. Kodiaks become a girls best friend. Yes, it hurt to type that. I used to be the queen of highheeled leater winter boots but those belong on the coast.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Thanks also to fiona and janfrn and alex for the lively discussion about the weather there..

we are surely learning too..

You're welcome, oobie! The extremes are hard to get used to, for sure. For example, it was 36 degrees Celsius here on Monday and we hit a record for electricity consumption. On Wednesday it struggled to get up to 13 degrees Celsius. Yesterday (Friday) it was 22 degrees Celsius. No consistency!

How are you preparing for winter? In my area, as soon as it gets cool the winter gear prices jump up, so I would start looking now. Better stores will rate the coats. I personally shop at LLBEAN, since they give good ratings. You can find them online.

Oh, I'd think twice about ordering on line from LLBean. By the time all the extra charges are tacked on, the item costs twice as much as the price listed in the description... in US dollars. AND if the item isn't 100% made in the US, there's huge duty due. Sure the stuff is fantastic, but we have local stores that can provide as good for much less. It was a good thought though, Alexk49.

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And if the stuff comes up via UPS or FedEx the brokerage fees are fantastic. My kids ordered some stuff from Bungie and the brokerage fees were 50% of the price they paid for the stuff ($120 merchandise with brokerage fees of $64)

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Are you saying that the "brokage fees" are similar to shipping fees? That seems like highway robbery!

Sears has great stuff too!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

No, brokerage fees are ON TOP of shipping fees. The company charges a fee for "brokering" the purchase and shipping, for services such as filing documentation with Customs and collecting the duty and taxes owing. Their fee is often two or three times as much as the money they collect for the government. I ordered some hobby supplies once and they were delivered by UPS. The duty was zero, the taxes were $5.00 and the brokerage fee was $30. I refused to accept delivery and told them to send it back to the shipper. A couple of months later I got a collection notice for the fees! I won't buy anything online or by mail from the US unless they ship USPS. Any time I've had things delivered that way has come to my door in the hands of my letter carrier and I pay her the duty and taxes. Actually, some packages have been deemed duty and tax free and I haven't paid a cent.

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Specializes in medical-surgical/OB-Gyne.

alexk,

no im working on my own now, i used to be with a mentor until they assess me and was able to pass the orientation phase. almost a month and they let me work on my own.

yup i am studying, reading at least 2 hours a day whenever im off and whenever im on my breaks in the hospital. thanks so much.

Fiona,

im not with the Capital Health, im with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region here in regina. Im assign here at Regina General Hospital.

thank you also for the tips on where to buy winter stuffs, i'll try to look in the internet or probably dropby at sears here in regina.

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