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I asked some questions a few months back and got some great answers. I am Irish and I trained in the UK and have been living in the US since 1995. I have dual Irish/US citizenship. I currently work Picu and have for the last 11 years. I am still interested in working in Canada particularly Alberta or BC. A few months ago I read here that there was a hiring freeze on all international nurses in Alberta. Is that true still? Is there now a freeze in other provinces too? I don't want to start the lengthy and expensive process of getting a Canadian license if there are no jobs at the end of it. I read here today that you have to have a bachelors degree for Canada. Is that true? If so that's my answer because I don't have one and am not prepared to get one. Is Jan still around here? I always found her advice spot on. Thanks for any help!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I can tell you that jobs are pretty scarce in Ontario. Yes a BSN is required in pretty much all the provinces now.

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That solves that problem! Thank you!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

There are still some provinces that accept diplomas; Manitoba and Alberta haven't made the final leap to BSN-only as entry-to-practice but it will be coming soon... end of this year I think. My unit occasionally has been able to hire externally because there are no internal takers, so by the time you're finished with the process there might be a little hole for you here. (There are no postings right now but I know for a fact there will be a vacancy coming soon.) I'd advise you to get the ball rolling (yeah, I know there's a lot of $$ involved) because if you wait, you might not be able to get through the door. (Mixing metaphors... how totally me!) Have your eligibility assessed, then decide on the next step. You don't have to write the CRNE in the province you hope to live in, since it's a national exam; you can write in the city closest to where you live to save on travel expenses. There are six PICUs in western Canada: Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria, with Edmonton and Vancouver being the biggest and with the highest acuity.

Think about it.

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Will do Jan. Can I email you thru here?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Will do Jan. Can I email you thru here?

Absolutely. Just click on the pencil and I'll get a private message. Give me your email address in the PM and I'll get back to you...

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