Hello everyone! This is my first post. I have been trying to collect information on what my plans are for my life in the next 10 years. I thought a great place to do it is here.
I am a 23 year old who is currently an EMT-B in the states with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. My plan was always to become a police officer, but after becoming an EMT I found my passion for the medical field. I know I have a long road a head because of the fact of having to go back to school again to become a nurse, but I think it is better for me to get started now while I'm still somewhat young.
With my discovery that I want to be in the medical field, after many trips and time with friends that live there, I really would like to move to Canada. Specifically Toronto or Ontario in general. My plan was to apply to a nursing school in Toronto so I have the right knowledge to take the CRNE(I think this is what the nursing exam in Canada is called) however, I have some questions.
1. Can you take the CRNE if you are not a Canadian PR or applying for it? Basically as a U.S citizen, after I would finish my degree in Canada, would I be able to take it and try and get a job in Canada, or would I have to return home, work, and than apply to take it and get PR. With that comes question
2. If I cannot find a job offer right away in Canada, will my degree from Toronto transfer to NYC? Would I simply have to pass the NY state nursing exam and be able to work? Or does schooling from Canada not count.
Thank you all for any help you can give me. I have a lot of thinking to do and am trying to collect as much information as I can.
Be careful about making plans to attend school in Canada and then possible work as an RN in the US. I know this is not the same in every case (I'm in Northeastern Florida) but there is an ER nurse I work with who had to go through the entirety of nursing school twice because the hospitals around here would not accept his Canadian nursing education.
Seriously?
Since 2009, the four year degree has been the entry point.
I thought it was your State Boards of Nursing that decided if a nurse was qualified to work, NOT individual hospitals.
I wouldn't worry about a US BON accepting a Canadian BSN, there are thousands of Canadian educated nurses who hold concurrent licenses in Canada and the US. According to the CNO Membership Statistics Highlights (2014) the top ten concurrent registration locations within the US for Ontario RNs are; Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina,Vermont, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I wouldn't worry about a US BON accepting a Canadian BSN, there are thousands of Canadian educated nurses who hold concurrent licenses in Canada and the US. According to the CNO Membership Statistics Highlights (2014) the top ten concurrent registration locations within the US for Ontario RNs are; Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina,Vermont, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Considering some states like Virginia will give a reciprocal license endorsement to licensed Canadian RN's I'd venture it's the BoN NOT individual hospitals/facilities that determines equivalency of educational qualifications.
Yes, I am aware that it is the BON that licenses the nurses, what I am saying is that US BONs accept Canadian educated nurses. On second thought, justbeachy, maybe we're both saying the same thing?
Be careful about making plans to attend school in Canada and then possible work as an RN in the US. I know this is not the same in every case (I'm in Northeastern Florida) but there is an ER nurse I work with who had to go through the entirety of nursing school twice because the hospitals around here would not accept his Canadian nursing education.
I've never heard of this, I know a couple of Canadian RNs who went to the U.S. It seems very strange and unlikely considering our entry to practice requirement is a 4-year BScN, and we don't even have an ADN option!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Maybe the ER nurse in Florida was never licensed in Canada and wasn't eligible to be licensed, so had to do repeat nursing school.
Yes, there's definitely more to that story. If the coworker graduated from an accredited nursing school in Canada, he'd be eligible to write the NCLEX and be licensed in whatever state. He'd only need to repeat nursing school if his transcripts somehow didn't pass muster. Seems unlikely.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes, I am aware that it is the BON that licenses the nurses, what I am saying is that US BONs accept Canadian educated nurses. On second thought, justbeachy, maybe we're both saying the same thing?
Yes exactly. The Canadian nursing education program and U.S. nursing education programs are extremely similar with the exception that RN has a minimum BScN entry (US still las diploma, ASN and BSN) and LPN/RPN is a 2 year/ASN vs US has some LPN/ASN but mostly 12-18 month diploma programs. Hence how so many Canadian educated nurses are passing the NCLEX-RN at a high rate. I think the national enforcement of no nursing license unless a citizen, PR or valid work visa in Canada should be national in the U.S. instead of a select few states.
The story (urban legend) of a FL hospital/ER requiring a Canadian nurse to return to school in the U.S. is ludicrous to say the least.
The U.S. & Canada are similar but two different countries. While there are NAFTA work visas and more leeway to go back & forth across the country borders, Canada is not a northern state nor is US Southern Canada. Friendly neighbors but if you want to cross the border and take advantage of what the other country has to offer you need to meet the qualifications...whether it is to attend school, live, work or otherwise. The OP wants to cross into Canada, attend school, and work but didn't realize that the CRNE is done and that without work rights is ineligible for a Canadian nursing license (information clearly spelled out on the CNO website).
I apologize that I'm not able to provide more information. I had just repeated what I was told by a hospital administrator and the nurse I was referring to. He did not mention if he was actually licensed in Canada, just that he was educated there.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I apologize that I'm not able to provide more information. I had just repeated what I was told by a hospital administrator and the nurse I was referring to. He did not mention if he was actually licensed in Canada, just that he was educated there.
Then it's also possible he didn't graduate or failed the CRNE 3x and as such would have had to return to school. Either way a facility is not to determine educational qualifications as that is a task legally left to the state board of nursing.
Then it's also possible he didn't graduate or failed the CRNE 3x and as such would have had to return to school. Either way a facility is not to determine educational qualifications as that is a task legally left to the state board of nursing.
That would make sense to me. I'm certainly no expert on the legality of these situations. Perhaps it's the case that my hospital just preferred to hire US educated nurses and informed him of that? And he took the initiative to go back to school?
I would think if you had a BSN, passed the NCLEX, you can work in either country with some hoops to jump through. Definitely a need for rural nurses i know here in BC, northern BC nurses are highly sought after. If you are willing to work in a remote community there are many opportunities. It is probably easier to go through a recruiter who could set up the visa etc. :)
Fiona59
8,343 Posts
Seriously?
Since 2009, the four year degree has been the entry point.
I thought it was your State Boards of Nursing that decided if a nurse was qualified to work, NOT individual hospitals.