YassKween

I would also contact your university where you trained and ask for a copy of the form they filled out. It's possible someone inexperienced may have written the numbers wrong. They are pretty strict about the hours so if they want acute care, it has to be strictly acute care.

I don't know how you do it in Florida but in order to do the live scan in California (where I am licensed and working), you need to be in the state in order to do the live scan. I am guessing it is the same for Florida. When I got licensed for Texas, I did the finger print card which took about a month to get results. I had to go to a private notary to get fingerprinted and mailed them myself.

Just thought I’d share my successful licensing journey with the CA BRN to help other nurses out there in the same situation. A little background about me, I am foreign born and did my nursing education in Canada. I hold Canadian citizenship, licensed in a Canadian province and initially licensed via Minnesota back in 2016 via the NCLEX. I currently hold a license in Texas and have let my MN license expire. I did my CGFNS visa screen early last year (required for the TN visa) which by the way took way longer than CA BRN. It took almost 6 months to receive my VS certificate so get started on it ASAP. My CA licensing journey began with landing a job in CA and used the job offer letter to obtain a visa and SSN. Side note: I have a former classmate from nursing school working as a RN in CA and gave me advice re: CA BRN educational requirements. It turns out our nursing education was missing the microbiology course requirement so I took a microbio class through a local university and completed it in early Dec 2018. I made sure it included a lab component. Make sure your nursing education meet the CA requirements to avoid delays. Timeline: Nov 1 - called my Nursing school and requested my school to fill out the breakdown of courses and prepare transcripts. I knew from applying for the visa screen last year that my school takes about a month for them to get all documents filled out and signed. The school mailed out my transcripts on Nov 25 without my knowledge. Nov 30 - Luckily, I received my SSN in the mail and I immediately applied to California BRN via Breeze website. Canada Post was on strike around that time so I know my Uni transcripts wouldn’t reach CA BRN before my application. Dec 7 - I wrote my microbiology final exam and had my transcript sent to CA BRN a week later via courier. I also requested my provincial licensing body to send my license verification via courier. I have read from previous post that mail gets lost occasionally so I didn’t want to take chances. Dec 17 - Flew to California to meet my employer and at the same time I got my live scan done there. The live scan personnel required a US address for some reason but luckily my friend gave me his address. Dec 19 - The Breeze website allows you to attach documents to your open application for any other required documents. Back in October, I called the CA BRN for tips and advice and the representative said to attach all documents that proves your identity and your credentials. ie passport, SSN, etc. The following documents that I attached were: SSN card, old and current passports from time in university to present, CGFNS certificate, RN degree, live scan copy/receipt, Texas and Minnesota license, and provincial RN license. I highly recommend attaching these docs to avoid delays. It doesn’t say in the application instructions but have read from previous posts multiple times that they’ve asked for these documents. Jan 2 - CA BRN processing time website states my application date is current. Jan 10 - Did not contact CA BRN at all anytime after submitting my application back in Nov 30. I checked breeze that evening and found my license number at the top right hand corner. I am an international applicant and was able to get my license just a day short of 6 weeks! Hope this helps someone. Thanks to everyone who posted their tips and experience as it certainly helped me. Best of luck to y’all!

Did you do your finger prints via live scan or mail?

I've gotten a few positions at AHS through referrals/networking. I agree that it is online applications only but if the manager likes you then he/she will ask you to apply to the posting online. I know others who have also landed jobs because they have a friend moving to Alberta etc...but who knows maybe it only happens in Calgary.

I agree with everyone above. And I hate to say this but sometimes but it helps to have connections with someone who works for AHS and can refer you to a hiring manager etc. Do you have any friends/neighbour that works for AHS that can refer you?

@ westcoastlife Did you work outside California first or did you get your TN and SSN, moved back to Canada for a bit, and then applied for your CA license?

CGFNS or visa screen certificate is required to obtain your TN visa at the border/point of entry. There's no way around this now unfortunately.

It takes another 8 weeks or so from that date forward for them to say your account is up for review. Once the status changes to up "for review", it takes another week or two and it should say whether you're certified or not. Once certified, it took another week for them to mail my certificate. Someone must be home to accept the certificate. To answer your question, I don't think they change the exempt status until your status says it is up for review - so 8 weeks from when all the required documents were received.

Ryan, You're in Canada, why not get all your schooling done in Canada first before making another move to another foreign country. I am a Canadian nurse who went to nursing school here and it took 6 months in total for US licensing and visa screen. Visa screen took the longest, you will need to arrange to have your nursing school send your transcript to them. Why go to all the trouble you've done in Canada and start all over in the US?

Took NCLEX-RN yesterday and found out today via MN BON that I passed. I didn't have to go through quick results or the so called PVT. Maybe it's just MN that post their results so quickly. I read everyone's study strategies when I was studying for the NCLEX and I thought I should share mine as well to re-affirm what all successful NCLEX takers have done. What I used to study: 1. Hurst Review (online edition). Follow the instructions they give you to study. Make sure you know your core content well and are able to explain a topic when presented to you (eg. Explain what nephrotic syndrome is w/o looking through your notes). I went through one topic per day in a period of a month and a half. I went through each topic again 2 weeks before my exam. 2. UWorld - 1 month subscription. I was doing about 75-150 questions a day but I would only do 10 questions a test in tutor mode. Closer to the NCLEX exam date, I started redoing all my wrong responses and I found that helped me retain information and evaluated if re-reviewing my Hurst notes helped to master the core content. I only did about 1200 questions. I got an email from UWorld stating that they will also include a new NCLEX self-assessment test in the new year so that sounds like a good deal. UWorld is really hard but it definitely tests your knowledge and critical thinking skills. I was at 50th percentile when I started and ended close to 80th percentile near the end (after re-doing all my weak subjects). 3. LaCharity - I did only about 4-5 chapters. I found that it contradicted what I learned from UWorld so I didn't continue and went back to UWorld. Exam Day: I am a morning person so I did the exam in the morning. Had a good breakfast and arrived at the testing centre 30 mins early. I felt comfortable writing the exam as it felt similar to UWorld but the questions were really hard. I was getting nervous as the questions seemed to get harder and harder but once in a while I will get a question where I knew what the answer was for sure. At about an hour and 50 minutes into the test I got to question 75, I read the question so many times and picked my educated guess/selection. I closed my eyes and click submit, the computer closed the exam and I was out of there! I didn't know what to think after the exam but I just went out to celebrate with friends as I felt that I honestly did my very best to prepare for the exam. I logged in to BON this morning and got the green light saying I passed the exam! Good luck to everyone writing the exam next year!

My advice is what worked for me and I was actually hired and interviewed the same day when I walked up to the unit manager. This was also the time of Stephen Duckett where he was laying off nurses. I worked in various units in Calgary and the times I've mentioned were always the best time I found time to talk to them. Not all managers are the same. Take everything with a grain of salt. You can choose to be pessimistic or optimistic. I know optimism attracts positive things! For the new local grads, contact a recruiter and see what they can do to help. I think if you do everything in your power to get a job (whether it applying online, in person, or whatever) you'll be successful. All I'm saying is try! I have a feeling that most of you will get a job as long as you're not picky! Good luck!

I know they frown upon this now but I would go to the actual unit and ask to speak to the unit manager and leave your resume. Best time to catch the manager is early in the morning before 0800 or close to their home time which is before 1500. Apply everywhere appropriate and start with a casual position so you get your foot in the door.

I would still try it for myself and apply. You might be stuck with a casual position but there are some units out there where you can pretty much work close to a full time. The hardest part is getting into AHS. Don't be discouraged, just apply and see what happens. Good luck!

Hi RNgrad2006, Did you have to get your employer to sponsor you to get the green card? How many times did you have to renew your TN visa or how long did you have to wait to obtain it?

There are consistently around 40 RN postings for SHC but most of them are for internal applicants. The lines are not the best either because of "workforce optimization".

Thanks for the reply Jen! Yeah I am looking into travelling! Just the thought of it is exciting. It seems that American Mobile is the number one choice for most people. I am trying to do my own research on getting a California licence but many of them are saying it is difficult. I am looking to into applying for a Minnesota licence and then work to get a SSN. However if I get endorsed I feel like it would be the same thing as applying directly since they look at everything? Do you or anyone know if there is a difference? The reason I ask because the BON requirements for CA in nursing education has a microbiology course that was not included in my nursing education but we did a full year of A&P. I am just worried that my application would just get rejected. How is your experience so far? How many assignments have you done?

Hi Yassi and others who were having problems with their clinical hours. I am wondering what was the outcome of your application for licensure in California? I was looking at the requirements for nursing education and realized that my nursing education did not have microbiology. However my anatomy and physiology class was a full year. Did anyone experience this before? Do they scrutinize it as much as the clinical hours?

To answer Sam's question, Canadians are not covered for health insurance as soon as they leave Canada. They must obtain their own private insurance in the country they are in. They would only be covered if they were able to return to Canada and is still a resident of that province (ie. paying for taxes). I don't know where your Canadian coworkers are getting that from.

Hi Jenn, which travel agency did you go with? How long did the process take for you in total (including taking the NCLEX and all the other paper work)? I have 4 years experience working on the floor on a cardiac unit. I am just wondering if they prefer someone working in a specialty like ICU or OR? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks Joanna. I completely agree with everything you said. It's not an easy job. I will definitely be working on those skills as soon as possible. Knowing me, I tend to be a push over and I try to please everyone so I will definitely work on changing that!

Thanks for the feedback you guys. I guess I worded myself wrong with what I originally said. I meant to say is that it made me wonder if my manager thought I am not ready for the job yet. Like if I am not a strong nurse compared to her? And It's true that I am not as confident compared to her but it doesn't always equal to being more knowledgeable and experienced. I feel that I have gained the assessment and interpersonal skills after a year of working, its more the leadership skills that I would think you learn as you go as a charge nurse. I am scheduled to be trained in the spring which I forgot to mention but just wondered why she went before me. Yes, I guess I answered my own question... My coworker has a higher FTE... and apparently she asked to be trained. Being a charge nurse is not a career goal for me but it will definitely put my degree to the full potential (critical thinking and leadership skills) and it looks good on the resume. :)

Hi Guys, So I've been an RN for just over a year now and have been working on this medical unit for over a year now too. I have seniority of this co-worker of mine who graduated a semester behind me. I found out today that she was just trained to do charge nurse before they even asked me to be trained for the job. I didn't really care to be being charge anyway because I don't want to deal with all the headache that comes with that role. But it makes me doubt myself if I am not competent enough to be a charge nurse? Other way I could think why she was trained first is she is a lot more confident than I am and she has a bigger line or FTE than me. But they have trained other nurses before who were casual or less experience. What do you guys think?

I live in Calgary and a friend of mine got her result today and she passed. The mailman already arrived at my house and got nothing. I guess I'm gonna have to wait until next week

I liked what our new health minister had to say to "Dr. Duckett". http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100120/edm_beds_100120/20100120/?hub=EdmontonHome I really hope he gets replaced soon... http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100122/edm_beds_100122/20100122/?hub=EdmontonHome