Claire_Fraser

As a Canadian RN who just moved to the US, I can name the following differences: 1. Patient load. Heavier in the US than in Canada. I came from an ICU where we had to have our single patient (mostly fresh post-ops) within our sight at all times, so I still get nervous when I'm stuck in one of my patient's rooms for a while and can't visualize my other patient. 2. Lack of breaks. RNs on staff don't seem to have a problem with not taking a break during their 12 hour shifts. Some of them think that eating at the nurses station for 15 minutes is sufficient. There is no clear system of break relief like there was at my Canadian hospital. No one is willing to give me a clear answer on who will be responsible for my patient if I decide to take my union mandated break time. Most of them don't even know how much of a break they are legally allowed to take during their shift. I've had nurses give me snarky "I don't take breaks." when I offer to look after their patients so they can go on break. There seems to be a mentality here that if you take breaks, you aren't a good nurse. Or that you're lazy and don't want to work hard. In Canada, at least on the unit I worked on, we HAD to take a break. It was a scheduled part of our shift. 3. Emphasis on customer service is huge in the US. Almost to the point where RNs will not report being verbally abused or bullied by patients and their families. 4. Larger disconnect between physicians and nurses. To the point where members of the physician team enter orders in the computer without informing you when you're standing a foot away from them. This seems very odd to me since as a nurse, I'm with my patient for 12 hours, and can give important information that might influence their plan of care. RNs presented the patients (head-to-toe assessment) during rounds at my Canadian hospital (teaching hospital as well). 5. Fancy surroundings. It seems like hospitals here are more concerned with aesthetics (I guess it brings in those "customers"). There are new gadgets everywhere and everything looks hotel fancy. I can't help but wonder if that money could be better used to hire more nurses and decrease patient loads. Might benefit the patients more than flat screen TVs in their huge rooms. 6. Last but not least, TEAM WORK: During my entire nursing career in Canada, there is not way people would be sitting and laughing at the nurses station while another RN ran their butt off for 12 hours. You didn't have to ask for help, it was just assumed that we would help everyone until every patient on the unit was settled. I find that no one wants to go above and beyond for a patient that they're not assigned to. There seems to be a larger focus on the individual, as opposed to the general wellbeing of the entire group. Similarities: 1. Taxes. I was quite surprised that I get almost the same amount of taxes and deductions taken off my US paychecks that were deducted from my Canadian paycheck. Maybe it's just my state, but it seems like Canadians get more bang for their taxes than Americans do. 2. I get paid $1 more an hour in the US (although I've been told that this state has higher wages than average for nurses than the rest of the country) than I did in Canada, however overtime was double time at my hospital in Canada, so made more money yearly. The things I do admire about my US hospital is their commitment to evidence based practice and how a lot of the RNs seem to be pursuing research and advanced degrees. I think this has more to do with there being a larger market for mid-level providers in the US. This post wasn't intended to be critical, just stating the differences. Overall, I think Canadians nurses definitely have better working conditions (pay, benefits, workload). Thank you for reading. :)

Thelilbee, that's for the prompt reply. I definitely plan on finding a job before I move. Over the last few months, I've been getting a little nervous about my desire to start a new life in San Francisco. Is it too much to hope for a full-time CVICU job?

Hi all, I'm an RN with 4 years of experience. My specialty is CVICU. How likely is it that I will be able to find a job in the Bay Area by the end of December? I've read all the posts on this board that pertain to relocating to California, but the OPs have been new grads, or RNs with very little experience. Are experienced RNs having a hard time finding jobs in SF?

I'm back. It's been a little over three years since my initial post. Life took me away from birthing, and into the realm of cardiac surgery. I'm currently working as an RN in a cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Pretty much as far from midwifery as one can get. I feel as though I'm ready to start following my dream of becoming a CNM again. Hoping to move to SF within the next year with a plan to enroll in UCSF's CNM-WHNP program within the next two years. Perhaps Frontier's program will be an option as well. So, hello again! I'm hoping to become a more active contributor to this forum.

ucsf salary info as follows: http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?titletext=&tier1=1&tier2=2&Perb=NX&subFOC= i would assume that the midwifery pay would be similar to the pay of an NP

I work in Vancouver, Canada as an RN on a cardiac step-down unit. I have two years of nursing experience. Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I make $29.99. $3.50 night shift diff. $2.00 weekend shift diff. Over time is paid at double time. By the end of this year i'll have made between $75,000 and $80,000. I work about two 12 hour overtime shifts a month. My regular schedule is four 12 hour shifts on (two day shifts, two night shifts), and get five days off. Very easy to pick up OT with this type of rotating schedule. Hope that helps.

i'm a registered nurse (working on a cardiac surgery unit) in vancouver, canada at the moment. i'm hoping to move to australia for a year or two to work. i'm not sure where i'd want to live, though... sydney seems like a safe bet. i'm young (25) and would be looking to meet as many young people as possible. i've heard great things about perth as well, though... can i get some info about cost of living in different parts of australia? i know sydney is expensive, but vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in canada. i'd be used to the high cost of living... any links for cost of living indicators would be much appreicated. how much is it to share a two bedroom apartment in sydney?

Which hospital will you be working at? I live in vancouver.

^ What's the typical patient load like in the UK? In Canada we usually have between 4-6 patients on a typical day shift on a med-surg unit.

I just graduated from UBC. The school of nursing is very focused on their graduate programs, it seems and don't care a lot about their undergraduate program. I'm very unhappy with the education and attention I received from that school, but I made the most of it. Good luck. =)

I live in Vancouver, British Columbia. Currently working on an acute medical unit at St. Paul's Hospital.

I wrote it yesterday at UBC. It was terrible. Poorly worded. Didn't test nursing knowledge at all.

Hi there, I'm a newly graduated RN (baby nurse as i'm often called at the hospital that i work at), who has a passion for all things having to do with birth. I'm currently working on a med-surg floor that has a focus on respiratory illnesses (a lot of CF patients). I'm hoping to start working at one of the best women's hospitals in the country in a few months and would like some tips on how to eventually move into a career in midwifery. In Canada, you don't need to be a registered nurse in order to be a midwife. In fact, the university I graduated from has a Bachelor's in Midwifery program. I don't want to get a second Bachelor's degree, however. So, any tips on how long I should work in Labour and Delivery before going back to school to become a midwife? Thank you =)

Hi all, This is my first time posting on this website, and I must say that it seems like quite the wealth of knowledge! I'm currently living in Vancouver, Canada, but over the last month or so, I've been thinking of moving to England. I'm a bit confused as to the starting wages for RNs on your side of the ocean. Is there a good website that can explain everything in a concise manner? For example: What does an F grade nurse make? What is an F grade nurse? Do you guys have distinctions between nurses who have their university degrees and nurses who have diplomas? Any information you can provide would be very appreciated! *excited*