Norstar

ARRGGGHHHH. I just want to vent my frustration at dealing with the CNO. Has anyone found them to be difficult and on many occassions, incompetent? Not that I want to get into a long post about all the problems I've had with them (the list would be too long) but they really make me wonder at times. No wonder Ontario has a huge nursing shortage! I'm sure alot of it is to do with the lack of administrative professionalism and competence they have shown to me on many occasions. Since they are self regulating, they are accountable to no-one and this is certainly reflected in many of the experiences I've had with them. There should be some kind of government body overseeing them, not to mention somewhere you can lodge a complaint. Hopefully, one day, the provinces align and we will be federally regulated by a body that will be able to get their act together! Vanessa

Hi Mick, I am an australian registered nursing living in Ontario. I recently applied to the provincial board here to write the exam and was refused. Apparently many of the Australian nursing programs don't have enough clinical hours to qualify to write the exam. Unless you have worked as a RN for many years (10+) your work experience will have little bearing on their decision because its not classified as proof of "consolidated learning" as it would be if you completed university based clinical hours. This is what I have been told from the CNO here. So, I'm off to do graduate studies with clinical practicums before I can register here. You'll find it an extremely frustrating process but you never know, you might get lucky in Alberta! Vanessa

Hi AussieRNinHI, I am a new graduate Australian nurse in Canada and I believe we have the same problem here with our lack of courses covered in our undergrad degree (obs, paeds and mental health). Would you mind forwarding me the details for the lady at Deakin that handles these courses as I'd much rather complete them in Australia than Canada. Many thanks!! Vanessa

phc nursing qualities permalink hi there, i am a final year nursing student who will be doing my final practicuum in a remote area for primary health care. can anyone give me some tips on what qualities are needed to practice effectively in this context? what specific skills are beneficial ie clinical and personal attributes. i am trying to get some information together to form some objectives to prepare me before my placement next month. any help is greatly appreciated!! many thanks, vanessa

Hi Again, What an exciting venture you have ahead of you! I would definitely be interested in being involved somehow with your Kenya project. My ultimate career goal is to work in that kind of environment in some sort of capacity. I plan to start my Masters in Public Health next year to give me some theoretcial base into this kind of work. I'm sure your trip to Bourke will be very rewarding too! It looks like my final placement will be outback Australia, possiblity Papunya (spelling??) or somewhere similiar. I've been told it will give me a bit of insight into working with indigenous populations with very limited resources whick will hopefully give me a tiny taste of what it might be like to work in Africa. Do you have an email address that we could possiblity use to keep in touch with. I get very motivated and excited when I meet like-minded future RNs. There don't seem to be alot that are interested in third world nursing Vanessa :)

Hi gertrudeous Unfortunately my uni has now told me that it isn't possible to work in a developing country for our last prac. Something I'm a bit peeved off with since every year until now they have offered placements in Malaysia and Indonesia. Since this is the case, instead of going for my final prac, I hope to arrange something next year as an RN instead. I'm always looking out for other rn's who might be interested in doing this also, or who are already working in the field. I figure its better to go with or meet someone there rather than go it alone. If you know of anyone that might be interested in the near future, I would love to hear back from you. THanks again for your post! Vanessa

Hi Everyone, I'm a third year nursing student with one unit of theory & a clinical block to go until I graduate. I am looking at doing my last clinical block, which is a speciality of our choice, in a developing country but need an Australian registered nurse to work with and to undertake my assessment at the end of the 2 month block. I thought perhaps I could make myself useful in one of these countries while at the same time gaining valuable experience for something I would like to pursue when I graduate. So far I have had clinical blocks in HDU (gaining a High Distinction grade) and Emergency, which I'm currently doing. My final placement commences at the end of August and continues for 8 weeks. If anyone knows a registered nurse or is a registered nurse willing to do this could you please contact me via pm or reply on here. I am able to do a lot of work independently and I'm sure could contribute in some way to this kind of work, even as a student. The assessment process itself is a very basic and easy procedure and is really just a matter of observing me while we would be working together, then circling a grade for each of the 10 ANMC competencies at the end of the 2 months. If anyone can help ... even if its a lead or some info which might be helpful in being able to achieve this, I would be forever grateful Thank you, Vanessa

Thank you so much for your help everyone. It has really helped me to clarify exactly what a nursing diagnoses is and how to construct it and the related rationales. You have put in very detailed answers and it is very much appreciated. What an absolutely wonderful resource this forum is!! Thanks again Vanessa ?

I'm a 3rd year nursing student and was wondering if I could get a bit of help with an assessment task I have. I have been asked to identify nursing diagnoses and rationales for a diabetic patient who was admitted for a foot ulcer debridement. The patient has an amputation from a previous ulcer and is known for his ill management of his condition. So far I have come up with the following; Skin Integrity - due to immobilization & impaired circulation Pain - associated with infection & surgery Infection Risk - Immunocompromised patient; patient also is MRSA +ve Self-Care Deficits - ill management of DM; delayed in seeking medical treatment The patient also suffers depression and some nephropathy and has some complex social issues (single father etc) on top of having financial difficulties. I'm not sure if these extra issues need to be addressed with regard to his immediate condition in terms of nursing diagnoses. I realise they have an impact on his ADLs and have addressed this in a different section. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Vanessa

Hi Kylie, I'm an aussie who has been living in Canada but came back to finish my nursing degree in Australia. I'm in my last year and due to go back in a few months. The Canadian system requires you to have a 4 year nursing degree or equivalent before you can apply to sit the national exam. If you only have the usual 3 year degree from Australia you may have to complete extra study when you get to Canada, bearing in mind unless you are a canadian resident or citizen you will be a full fee paying international student. From what I hear our degrees are deficient in obs, mental health and paeds. The board of registration in the province I live in has advised that this normally takes about 8 months to complete. Once completed you can then apply to sit the national exam. If you pass you are then eligable for registration. You get 3 shots at the exam, which I believe is not an easy one. I live in Ontario and although there is a lot of nursing work available most of the positions are only permanent part time .... and they wonder why all the nurses go south to the US!! Anyway hope that helps. Its a long process if you want to nurse in Canada but if you're keen enough you'll get there. Good luck with it!! Vanessa

Hi there, I'm kind of in the same situation as you except I'm an Australian living in Canada about to return home to finish my nursing degree. I'm definitely not the "be all and end all" of information but from what I have researched so far is that although Australian degrees are highly regarded they fall short of of some of the US and Canadian requirements in the paeds and maternity courses. I'm sure each state in the US has different requirements but generally speaking that is what I have found so far. Not to say you can't complete your degree in Australia and make up the extra courses at the end or even during. That is my plan anyway since I'm in too deep now to re-evaluate. Had I had my time over again I would probably do the same thing. You might even find a program that gives you elective options and you could cover the extra requirements in those, although I know alot of universities are now reducing those more and more with nursing programs becoming more rigid. Not sure if that helps but good luck with it all!!

Hi Everyone, I am new to this board and desperately require some reassurance or advice. I am going to post this in both Australian and Canadian sections in the hope someone can shed some light. I am an Australian citizen with Canadian residency and in 3 weeks will be returning home to finish by B. Nursing degree in Australia. (I have already completed my first year in Oz and for many reasons cannot study finish the degree in Canada) Before making such a decision I contacted the CNO (College of Nurses Ontario) to make sure Australian degrees were recognized so that I could sit the provincal exams when I returned to Canada. I was told yes I shouldn't have a problem. HOWEVER after further research, another phone call to the CNO and alot of reading on this forum, it seems like this may not necessarily be the case. I have noticed quite a few posts indicating that many UK and Australian degrees fail to meet certain requirements i.e maternity, peads etc. I will be completing the degree at the Uni of South Australia and do not have the option of electives. The other thing that concerns me is that the Australian degree is 3 years, while the Ontario (Canadian) requirement is 4. I am now in panic mode! Am I making this huge move back, leaving my husband for 2 years (in Canada) and taking my children to find out my qualification isn't going to be good enough???? Here I was thinking Australia had one of the best education systems in the world - I still think that - but why am I hearing all these scary things? The other frustrating part is that I can't even find out where I stand until after I finish. Why can't someone give me some sort of idea by viewing my study plan so at least I can address the situation, if need be, while I am still studying. Since I will already have a degree are we talking a whole other program to make up the BScN or are we talking just a few units of study? Has anyone else out there made the move to Ontario from Australia and experienced anything like this? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!! Many thanks, Vanessa

Hi Everyone, I am new to this board and desperately require some reassurance or advice. I am going to post this in both Australian and Canadian sections in the hope someone can shed some light. I am an Australian citizen with Canadian residency and in 3 weeks will be returning home to finish by B. Nursing degree in Australia. (I have already completed my first year in Oz and for many reasons cannot study finish the degree in Canada) Before making such a decision I contacted the CNO (College of Nurses Ontario) to make sure Australian degrees were recognized so that I could sit the provincal exams when I returned to Canada. I was told yes I shouldn't have a problem. HOWEVER after further research, another phone call to the CNO and alot of reading on this forum, it seems like this may not necessarily be the case. I have noticed quite a few posts indicating that many UK and Australian degrees fail to meet certain requirements i.e maternity, peads etc. I will be completing the degree at the Uni of South Australia and do not have the option of electives. The other thing that concerns me is that the Australian degree is 3 years, while the Ontario (Canadian) requirement is 4. I am now in panic mode! Am I making this huge move back, leaving my husband for 2 years (in Canada) and taking my children to find out my qualification isn't going to be good enough???? Here I was thinking Australia had one of the best education systems in the world - I still think that - but why am I hearing all these scary things? The other frustrating part is that I can't even find out where I stand until after I finish. Why can't someone give me some sort of idea by viewing my study plan so at least I can address the situation, if need be, while I am still studying. Since I will already have a degree are we talking a whole other program to make up the BScN or are we talking just a few units of study? Has anyone else out there made the move to Ontario from Australia and experienced anything like this? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!! Many thanks, Vanessa