CDNORRN

When I was searching for a job, I found the best way to get any response was to send the resume directly to the department manager or supervisor,,,NOT to HR.

I have seen lots of chatter on here amongst UK nurses discussing jobs in Canada. Is it true that many are finding jobs in the Maritime provinces? And, which provinces are they? One of my colleagues is wanting to go to PEI. Do there seem to be many prospects there? Thanks!

Not bragging. It's true! I worked there. Do you know how hard it was to get to take call. Seniority always seem to get first dibs on taking call.

Here in Ontario, most OR's will have RN scrubs. And yes, there is a growing concentration of RPN's joining us in the OR. Budgets, I believe are the biggest reason for this. During orientation you will be scrubbing to familiarize yourself with the services and procedures. If you show an interest, most will be happy to help you. RPN's can circulate with an RN (two circulators). It took me 5 months to find a job in Ontario. They key is to send resumes or make contact directly with the OR manager. HR has a habit of not passing them along to the OR. In the US where I also worked, they have surgical technologists. Some have done the time, spent the money and often write an exam that actually certifies them in their specialty. Others, as previously mentioned, have been trained on the job (fewer and fewer) and others military trained. Hope this might be of some help.

It's a dream too, inspired by a colleague who did manage to live in marinas along the west coast of the US. Most were based in CA. We/I just recently sold the sail boat and bought a power boat. The plan in the next couple of years is to do the Great Circle Loop (Loopers) down the Mississippi out from Mobile, Alabama...into the Caribbean...and eventually up the ICW, back into the Great Lakes(home). Contracts or per diem work along the way would help generate some income. Plus, help keep me in touch with my field which changes rapidly. I totally believe it is possible. My colleague would commute to work on her bicycle.

I have seen both tap and sterile water being used during colonoscopies. What do you use in your facility?

Removal of a foreign body - esophagus or rectum or other orfices

Wow, I sure can feel the pain and frustration. I wish we could get a couple of boat loads of UK nurses to help lighten the load over here. If it's any consolation, a new law was passed last week here in Canada. Until now, when you crossed a border to work in another province, you had to "re-qualify" . Not so any longer. An RN, is an RN in every province regardless of where and when you got your license. Maybe this will help the CRNE relax some of their criteria. Who knows!? Almost 2 years ago I was attempting to move to UK, to practise as a specialist, to which I had found several job postings. My stumbling block....the English language proficiency test! Not that I couldn't sucessfully do it, but, why should I have to. I understand the rationalle behind this, however, my mothertongue, education, and entire life has been immersed in the english language. Aargh! One day I might just have the ambition to go ahead and do the test, just for fun.

There are no restaurants open in SLO after 6pm. And, it's a college town, what's up with that? Even Pismo had places to stop into after work. ...just curious...

As Zana2 pointed out, "sorry", is very cultural. If you rethink the way you respond to certain situations where you would instinctively respond with "sorry" you can still reply with sensitivity and respect. Words such as "unfortunately" and "sadly" work well in many instances. It also will relieve you of the responsibility of the situation. ie, "...it's unfortunate that...." or "...sadly..." have worked for me. As far as doing non-nursing duties, I will bend over backwards to help a family member or visitor if time permits. I am an embassador of my facility. I learned at my first corporate job orientation that I have a responsibility to promote a positive image. Every single person in the hospital, staff or visitor, is a consumer/customer or potential consumer. It's all about customer service. Greet everyone with with a smile or hello. Ask, "can I help you find something?" to someone who appears lost. Never walk the halls with your head down, looking at the floor. These are all important niceties that can promote a positive hospital experience.

Both unionised facilities that I have/do work gave me parity for my years experience. I had to provide proof of hours worked from previous employers. This proved to be easier that I thought. The responses were usually in the mail to me within 2 weeks.

Start applying for some of these specialty positions. Take some courses/classes, do some reading. Branching out will only make you more marketable. Many of the comments from LTC are the same or similar. Why subject yourself to a lifetime of misery?!

Palo Alto/San Francisco is pretty much the same area. Just an interstate connecting them. The distances are close in the "Bay" area. SF is an amazing city. I would recommend that for a first assignment you take their housing. It is expensive in the area. Most people want to re-sign, then you could be on the lookout for your own housing.

Hearts are definitely a specialty unto their own. These rooms work like a finely tuned clock. In my experience, these girls (and they mostly are female) almost always only work hearts. The biggest disadvantage to that is, they have really limited themselves if they might be needed in another service (ie, break relief or a sick call) or if they move to a place where they don't have a heart program. Getting a good general orientation to all services will make you more flexible and give you some confidence should you be required to shift to another temporarily. I know well that morbid look of fear when someone comes to do relief in ortho. It can be a scary place outside of your own four walls. You'll know early in your orientation if hearts is the place for you.

I had graduated from nursing school 5 years earlier and then took the NCLEX in NC. I spent 1 week in a review course, F & S Nursing. 3 years packed into 1 week. It just reaffirmed everything I already knew plus helped to "read" the questions in order to chose the correct answer. Expensive but worth it. Kaplan was also my source for practise questions. Sucess the first time. You might want to try F & S if you're anywhere near North Carolina.