trix_ctrn

Even if you work in a state that requires CGFNS, you don't have to take CGFNS. You could take NCLEX from a state that doesn't require it and apply for reciprocity thru endorsement to that state.

that's in ontario. i don't know about BC. they need to review your nursing credentials first. every province in canada works differently.

i'm a nurse educated in the philippines, but have been a nurse in usa. i'm now applying in canada, but i still have to go back to school to sit for the exam. do you know if i can work as a nurse in canada (ontario) while working on all the requirements?

from what province are you? are you able to take the exam right away?

I don't have a contract...run?

I just know coz 2 of my friends are coming from the Philippines to work there...arriving April 26.

WHAT? I didn't get it. Sorry.

The apartment that they are mostly 2-bedroom. They also have 3 bedrooms and studio. Each bedroom has 2-occupants. They are all furnished. We don't have to pay for utilities, only if we want extra channels or internet. For the internet, we go to the hospital's library. When I started I was in a 3-bedroom unit. Then when my free rent was up, I tried to applied for subsidized housing from the hospital. Of course, there was no slot for me because every month a batch of nurses came. I was with the 2nd batch of nurses. But after almost 2 years, it kinda slowed down, since most of them are already here. I was able to get a unit- studio. I asked to be move to a 2-bedroom unit, coz legally we have to have 2 bedrooms if there are 3 tenants. I just gave birth then.

I am still working in this hospital. And they still recruit nurses from the Philippines. The recruiter told me that.

I'm not about sure about other foreign nurses, but they'd been hiring in the Philippines ( 5 years ago, and 15 years ago too) and now they're hiring again, I think. I don't know if they also go to different country to recruit, I'm only aware the recruitment in the Philippines. A lot of employers I know does it, but of course offers different packages. I think this is the best so far. About Canadian nurses, they get sign-in bonus which is equivalent to the employer's expense for Filipino nurses' and the agency fee. When I started I got free housing too, and sign-in bonus.

Now I realized that I am so lucky to work in a very good hospital, not only they're excellent, but also generous and supportive. I know business is business. Think about this, instead of giving sign-in bonus to nurses, they spend it for nurses' requirements and also would cover for agency's fee. That's how they do it. All new hired nurses are given the option: free 3 months housing or relocation fee. Our hospital doesn't have to worry about expenses with housing coz they have a lot of apartments for nurses. And a lot of hospital in our area, offers almost the same benefit. They all offer sign-in bonus, and also referral bonus. I don't know if it's just our area. I'm sure other states offer the same package too, others might not be that generous. I know in Texas, they offer $50,000---but that's for 10 years contract. Ours is just 2 years, but of course is less than that. Nurses from the Philippines don't get sign-in bonus...duh, they got everything for free ( a part of the supposed-to-be sign-in bonus goes to the agency. This relocation package is not for Mexican nurses...as I said, to Filipino nurses. I don't have to make-up stories. I thought you guys will be happy if I share this experience. A lot of nurses in our hospital appreciated that. At first, most agencies does this. I guess not. Probably, the only ones serving tri-state area.

Earned my Bachelor's Degree from the Philippines. Worked in the USA for 5 years. Want to give it try here in Ontario, but they're too much. After reviewing my credentials...they want me to go back to school for 1 year full time (2 years in other schools, same program, i don't know the difference). Just because I only had 6 years of elementary education...I want to tell them, "Fine I'll take elementary subjects". It's not so fair. So I went back to US where I earn more.

my point is...this agency doesn't charge you of anything. so what's wrong with hiring a lot of nurses? all i know is this hospital excels, and has low-turn over. a lot of nurses who works here was here for 20-35 years. we are all satisfied with the working condition. and be it what hospital, there are always conflicts. our hospital's goal is patient satisfaction...that's why they're aiming for 1:4 nurse patient ratio. lastly...just be happy for those who are happy & contended with what they have. i can say...this is land of milk and honey. so happy with it!

i know this is true for sure because almost 100 nurses in our hospital came from the philippines thru this agency (12 of them work in the unit i'm working)...and didn't pay for anything. i know it's too good to be true ...and it is. there is also no salary deduction. there's this one nurse who was also a new grad who got paid the same with me. even some of them have to take nclex again, they still paid for it. all they have to pay is their family's immigration fees and fares. but the nurses are well covered. if they break their contract, which is 2 years, they just have to pay a little amount (pro-rated). with this they also get free housing for 3 months and food stub from our cafeteria (i think good for 2 weeks). but of course they don't get sign-in bonus (since the employer paid for everything). of course, they have to pass nclex and ielts before they can come here. but one of them came here and took the exam here (she had visa to us prior to applying). and this is not just any hospital...it's a planetree, magnet teaching hospital that is also a regional center for health in new england. i know a lot of agencies that charges a lot for this, and the nurses even have salary deduction to cover all their expenses.

our goal is 1:4 on a day shift. it happens sometimes. we're the only unit in our hospital that's fully staffed. considering there's nursing shortage, it'll be hard to meet this .

Good nursing schools in the Philippines: UST, UP, St, Paul

all those areas that you mentioned are really bad...bad neighborhood. don't generalize it. ct is a very nice state. considered one of the best state to live. the city where i live is nice, and affluent. try fairfield county...greenwich, stamford, darien, new canaan...ring a bell!

it depends where in ct you'll stay. ct is one of the richest state in us, and also one of the smallest. the cost of living is also expensive, but if you're a nurse you'll survive. there's a lot of job oppurtunities for nurses, be it with hospital, nursing home or home care. salary is also competitive. hospital pays more than nursing homes. a lot of nurses here do second-jobs, since sched here is flexible. apartments are expensive. cost of houses are expensive, especially fairfield county ( area close to new york). a lot of people working in manhattan lived in ct. with all places there are good and nice neighborhood.

I know one agency that recruits nurses from the Philippines where the applicants don't have to pay for anything...as in $ 0. Applicants will be interviewed via video conference/ or one-on-one. If hired, agency will manage all the requirements. Employer will pay for everything...as in everything ( reviews, plane fare {for exams and going to US}, NCLEX/ IELTS fees, immigration fees). Then the employer also pays the recruiter per head, once the nurses gets here.

you get the application @ cgfns too.

I think you need to contact College of Nurses in your province. Every province in Canada works differently. In Ontario, you should have had 16 years of education (12 elementary/secondary & 4 college years or 10 elementary/secondary {like in the philippines}, 4 college & masteral). If this is the case, here you have to go back to school. They call it Bridging Programs for Internationally Educated Nurses. Program is 1 or 2 year long, depending on the school you go to. After that's completed, you'll be ready for licensure exam. It's different here, unlike US where our curriculum is equivalent.

When I was a new graduate, I applied in a nursing home first and was hired right away. I thought of it after, and realized that as a new graduate I have to gain more skills and knowledge. I applied in a teaching hospital, and was hired. I am glad I did the right move, and now is very skillful and knowledgeable. Remember, as a fresh graduate you want to be well equipped with knowledge and skills. If you're goal is to work in a special area, it's a must.

in response to your query, as long as you earned a bachelor's degree and passed the local nursing licensure, you have nothing to worry about. our curriculum in the philippines and here in us is equivalent. having a masteral degree is a plus. hospital experience is also a plus. i was a fresh graduate when i landed a job here. they also hire a lot of rns here that just graduated from their associate's degree ( a 2 year program for nurses, which pays the same with bsn graduates, some places have incentives for bsns).