NewGradRN2007

I'm so sorry - I should have clarified! I went to nursing school in the US and have now moved home to Ontario so am considered a foreign nurse in Canada. There was no information in my registration package about CRNE at all. In the US, I needed authorization to test from the board of nursing in order to write NCLEX, so I was wondering if it works the same in Canada.

I am a faithful reader of this forum and have learned a great deal here. I do still have problems wrapping my brain around the whole green card process though, and knowing what things mean (like I-140, I-485) and what order they happen in. Can someone point me in the direction of an online primer for employment based green cards for those currently in the US working? I'm looking for a simple step by step guide to help me understand how it all works. Sadly, the one thing I DO understand is retrogression! :) Thank you!

How does one register to take the CRNE? I have a registration application in for Ontario but can only find a list of dates for CRNE on the CNO website. Do you have to wait for some kind of authorization to test from the board of nursing before you register or can you go ahead and do it on your own? Thank you!

I've decided to go with the hospital that teaches scrubbing within the internship program. That was my overriding gut instinct, but I was a little starry eyed about a level one trauma hospital. Based on the posted comments and PM's, my gut instinct was right! Thanks everyone!

Thanks to all the great responses! Does anyone have any feedback about the value of learning to scrub vs experience in a level 1 trauma hospital? This is the main point that has me really conflicted, I change my mind every few hours. Thank you!

I am lucky to have been offered new grad internships at two hospitals, and am completely stumped about which one to accept. I'm hoping those of you with experience might have some insights for a new grad that I haven't considered. - I have job shadowed in OR's numerous times in school and spent a full day in each of these - enjoyed both tremendously. - Both are large (1400+ beds) hospitals in a major city - Both tend to have teams for all specialties (heart, ortho, neuro etc) - Pay and benefits are comparable in both - Hospital A is the Level 1 trauma hospital for the area and I will learn to circulate only. It is a very big, very busy OR dept. - Hospital B is not a trauma hospital but is large and has a full heart section and transplant section (as does the other). They will teach me to scrub and circulate. It is part of the Adventist system. My gut instincts are good about both, although the Adventist hospital has been extraordinarily nice, organized, and has pursued me vigorously. I'm torn between the advantage of learning to scrub vs working in a Level 1 trauma hospital. All thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

YIKES! My letter is 3 sentences. Yup, three. Oh boy, this is going to take some fancy footwork - the recruiter got very insulted when I questioned if the 3 sentence letter was going to cut it. Thank you for the tips!

I am a Canadian graduate of a US nursing school, about to get a TN visa next month. The hospital that has hired me has little experience with foreign nurses and has given me a letter that they "think" is what is required at the border (along with my VisaScreen certificate). They gave me the letter, a job description and a hospital brochure. The issue is, the letter looks VERY basic to me and I'm concerned that it doesn't have the detail required. Can anyone point me to an online resource for TN visa letter formats for nurses? I've searched the archives here to no avail, and have found lots of formats for other occupations online, but none for nursing. Thank you! (also posted to 'International Nurses')

I am a Canadian graduate of a US nursing school, about to get a TN visa next month. The hospital that has hired me has little experience with foreign nurses and has given me a letter that they "think" is what is required at the border (along with my VisaScreen certificate). They gave me the letter, a job description and a hospital brochure. The issue is, the letter looks VERY basic to me and I'm concerned that it doesn't have the detail required. Can anyone point me to an online resource for TN visa letter formats for nurses? I've searched the archives here to no avail, and have found lots of formats for other occupations online, but none for nursing. Thank you! (also posted to 'Canadian Nurses')

Thank you for the advice. Both of my recruiters have said the OR's would accommodate my desire to learn scrubbing if they were able. I think I'm persistent enough that I can learn it if I want to though. I thought there were a number of Canadian OR nurses on this forum too. Can any advise on the requirements to scrub and use of techs in Canada? Thanks again!

Thanks for the tips! I have a recruitment flyer from Fraser Health but the New Grad program doesn't list OR as an option. I will give them a call today. So is that an entirely on the job training, where you are employed/paid during the class and clinical hours? I am trying to avoid any further full-time 'school' (debt) if possible. Thanks again!

Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered taking additional training on my own outside of a US internship that teaches circulating, just because I'd like to know how to scrub. What I'm wondering is, is scrubbing even a necessity in Canada or are scrub techs (or the equivalent) used heavily here too?

I am a longtime lurker and have just graduated from school. OR nursing is the only thing I am interested in, but I'm having difficulty finding Canadian hospitals that do internship/training programs in the OR for new graduates. I have actually been contacted by OR recruiters in the US for internship programs there, but the programs I've been offered don't teach scrubbing. It seems that the trend in the US is to use scrub techs. Is this the same situation in Canada? I'm wondering if I return to Canada in a few years with only circulating experience, would I have trouble finding a job? Thanks in advance!

Thank you Janfrn! I have seen some hospital postings that "will consider new grads", but am looking for a structured program if possible. The internships that I have been offered in the US are Periop 101 that have classroom time combined with preceptored OR time. Does anyone know of anything like this in Canada?

I have just graduated from nursing school and want to go immediately into my one and true love, OR nursing. I'm an older student, know what areas I like and don't, and prefer not to "put in my time" in med-surg before going into the OR. Is this even a possibility in Canada? I already have job offers from a couple of US hospitals but prefer to stay in Canada. New grad OR internships were easy to find in the US but I haven't had any luck yet at home. Does anyone know of any hospitals that hire new grads into the OR? Thank you!