nursing practise in canada

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2007

Welcome to Allnurses. I'm going to move this post to the International Nurses forum where perhaps you'll get some response. Best wishes!

RGN1 · Nov 19, 2007

Suggest you check out the Canadian Board of nursing in the province(s) you're interested in because each area has it's own criteria.

From what I've seen they do want foreign nurses with experience though, 1-2 years minimum seems to be the norm.

abiola07 · Nov 19, 2007

Thanks RNG 1.I am actually registering with the college of registered nurses of british columbia And have just started the registration. I have 3 yrs experiences in critical care and emergency unit,so hopefully that shouldn't give a problem.I just want to know which organisation i can apply to for employment with my status.

RGN1 · Nov 23, 2007

Again it seems to depend on the province. It seems that in some areas you need to contact the regional health authority (for want of a better name). Again I don't think there's anything that goes for the whole of Canada - you'll have to check your province.

I'm sure someone on allnurses can help you better with this.There are also some websites too about working in Canada and the Canadian Embassy has information on their website.

BagwisRN · Nov 24, 2007

Capital Health Inc. based in Edmonton, Alberta flew by here in the Philippines just this November. They hired hundreds of Nurses. I tried it just to know what they were offering.

They've got great hospitals-- Univ of Alberta, Royal Alexander was it?, and they're opening up a new Cardio hosp--- the thing is, they hired me as Cardio ICU nurse but I've to go there as Nurse auxillary then take the CARNA (is it?) for the next 5 months before I become an RN.

Is that the true process goin there? Ive got pending US green card with PD of Mar 2006. Thgis canada contract will take 1-2 yrs. I think i'll kill time with this while waiting for US.

Does anyone smell something fishy with their offer? Or does it ring the right tune? Goin there as Nurse Auxillary?

RNGrad2006 · Nov 24, 2007

Capital Health Inc. based in Edmonton, Alberta flew by here in the Philippines just this November. They hired hundreds of Nurses. I tried it just to know what they were offering.
They've got great hospitals-- Univ of Alberta, Royal Alexander was it?, and they're opening up a new Cardio hosp--- the thing is, they hired me as Cardio ICU nurse but I've to go there as Nurse auxillary then take the CARNA (is it?) for the next 5 months before I become an RN.
Is that the true process goin there? Ive got pending US green card with PD of Mar 2006. Thgis canada contract will take 1-2 yrs. I think i'll kill time with this while waiting for US.
Does anyone smell something fishy with their offer? Or does it ring the right tune? Goin there as Nurse Auxillary?

Every state like every province has different rules. I would try to get it clarified but if it is anything like BC where I have attempted to register you are not considered a full RN until you are registered, have taken the CRNE exam etc. and passed. While you are on a temporary license maybe that is just the title because it would probably be like nurse extern in the US while you have graduated but havent taken NCLEX yet. In BC they require you to work 250 hours for a Canadian employer as a registration requirement. I would call the college of registered nurses for the province where you intend to work to get the necessary information. There may be some info on their web site but I learned the most about the process when I actually had applied and had a contact person to ask questions of. Hope this helps.

BagwisRN · Nov 28, 2007

Tnx...that's just what I lack...sombody to call and clarify some issues. Our contact persons are here in the philippines (agency) and they function only as pawns in gathering our requirements. Nobody really answers concrete explanation as to time frame, options, alternatives, etc. Even if they do try to answer you to the best of their knowledge that "hey, we're gonna take care of you. if you don't like it, you could just go home to Manila. No strings attached." Hello? That's too good to be true right? They spend on your processing and papers and stuff then you could just call it quits when you want to? And besides, the real employers in Canada could only refute what the team in the Philippines said saying "we didn't say that." That's why I was hoping sombody on this site has undergone the same process that I am abt to take now. Experience beats out promises written in the air at anytime. Maybe someone can tell me if this is the right way. I heard people taking CRNE 1st before goin there and work as Graduate Nurse before taking Carna to be an RN. Why is my employer gonna make me work Nurse Aux then take CARNA straight to be an RN? Is that better?

suzanne4, RN · Nov 30, 2007

To clear up a few things, always be suspicious when you do not have contact information for the employer, that is a red flag right off.

Then the fact that there is no such thing as an auxillary nurse in Canada, you will be working as a nursing asst and nothing more than that. You will not be using your training at all that you have and will not be able to do anything that requires RN licensure to do as far as skills. Your salary will also be about 25% of what the RN makes there.

Exam for licensure is only three times per year there, and the exam is nothing like the NCLEX exam in the US. Be aware that you need to check out any contract that you have for the US before you agree to another contract, you could be subject to stiff penalties if it is stated in your contract that you agreed to abide by.

Most hospitals are not going to be interested in training you if they are aware that you are planning to leave as soon as you are able to. If you are not planning to remain there, then you should not even consider going to Canada to work. It is not a stepping stone to work in the US.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 30, 2007

Thanks RNG 1.I am actually registering with the college of registered nurses of british columbia And have just started the registration. I have 3 yrs experiences in critical care and emergency unit,so hopefully that shouldn't give a problem.I just want to know which organisation i can apply to for employment with my status.

There are links at the top of the Canadian Forum for working there. Would suggest a good read there as there are discussions about various employers there.

Will move this thread to the Canadian Forum as it is specific to working there.

mctina_20 · Nov 30, 2007

i have no idea how is it to register as a nurse in Alberta, but i would like to believe it is almost similar with British Columbia.

We came from the Philippines too, and here in Canada, you can practice as a nurse even without taking the CRNE yet thru the Interim Permit, and i believe same is true for Alberta. I work in maternity but the Job Description in my contract is that i am a GENERAL DUTY NURSE. You can only be called RN once you pass the CRNE and completed 250 hours of working as a nurse here in Canada.

I have no idea how the agency work things but you can contact Capitol Health thru their website for your concern. So far, our employer here has been very supportive and we have no reason to complain. Chances are Capitol Health is just as good as our employer.

BagwisRN · Nov 30, 2007

Mctina----why do you think I'm being asked to go there directly without taking CRNE to be a Nurse Aid then take CARNA eventually? CRNE makes perfect sense to work there as a grad nurse then take CARNA after right? I asked them before and they just told me that it's the way they're gonna bring us there.