RNBN2B

Hello, Thought I'd share with you what I know ... if you already have a university degree (regardless of your academic discipline), you'd be eligible to apply for accelerated track programs in Nursing. U of Calgary offers the BNAT (this is a two-year accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program) and the U of Alberta offers a two-year accelerated BScN program. I'm currently about to enter my final year of the BNAT at the U of C and have found it very worthwhile. I believe that Athabasca U (the online/distance institution in Alberta) and Mt. Royal College in Calgary offer a four-year conjoint program leading to a nursing degree/RN as well that you might want to check out. Best of luck to you!

Thanks so much for taking time to reply ... this info really helps me! Good luck to you. :)

Hello fellow Canadian nurses, Just wondering where you're writing the NCLEX. I'm still a year away from graduation at the U of Calgary and am curious to know how to apply to write the NCLEX in order to work in the US. I've been told that Minnesota is a good state to license through, but I'm not sure how one actually applies to do so. Also, how soon did you guys start studying for the CNAT and NCLEX, and can any of you recommend good study guides or methods of study? Did your nursing schools provide you with any info re: how to study for the CNAT? I'd like to be able to pass this info on to my classmates, too. Thanks to all for responding.

Mystery solved ... many thanks!

Hi again ... there's an article in an issue of "Alberta RN" about nursing in the CF. It's from the fall of 2003, can't remember which month. Anyway, I'm in clinical at Foothills hospital, so when I go back this week I'll pop into the Medical library and find out which month it was and report back here. "Alberta RN" might also have a website on which you can locate this article ...

Hey, Good to see that there's a thread on this topic. I'm in the accelerated-track program at the U of Calgary and I'm going to apply to the CF in the hope that I'll be acceted as a NUR by the Air Force. I visited a recruiting office in Edmonton over the summer before I began my program this past September and was told that the commitment is lengthy -- nine years if you go ROTP, and seven if you go DEO. You may want to confirm this just in case I've screwed up my facts, but I do recall that the commitment is a long one. I'll be applying for direct entry since I won't have time to do basic before my program ends, but I think ROTP is sensible if you're in a four-year program. I was in the militia many years ago (qualified infantry) and saw it as a good way to find out if the military is for you ... I think many nursing students work as medics (this is an NCM position) with a medical company in the Reserves too, so this might also be an option for you. I have to get more info myself such as when I should submit all my paperwork, and if I latch onto anything else that might be helpful to you, I'll post it here. Best of luck to you! :)

You like to fool with non-Canadians by telling them about a friend of yours from Saskatchewan who happens to be half sasquatch ... or you tell people that one night you went drinking and went to look for sasquatch ...

Does anyone know what the abbreviation "CSM" stands for under the Musculoskeletal box on an assessment flowsheet?

Really appreciate your reply -- thanks again!

Hello to all OR nurses who really like their jobs, I'm a student and have found out that I have the opportunity to go into the OR for my two-month preceptorship next year. I've been in the OR once to observe and really enjoyed the experience ... I really liked seeing the nurses and docs work as a team, and the operation itself (hip replacement) was really interesting. I'm trying to get more "observer" time now. But I ramble ... my question is this: do you think it would be wise to seize the OR preceptorship and go straight into OR nursing right away post-graduation? Nursing is a second career for me, so I don't have any qualms about specializing right away (i.e., I'm 34 and am eager to get started ASAP), or would it be better to wait, work med-surg a couple of years, and then try to do a post-grad OR program (even with the preceptorship I think I still have to complete a post-grad OR certification program) ... thanks to all.

This is for Barb Pick ... what's your problem? Sounds like you had a rotten day and were just looking to dump on someone. For the record, my white uniforms have no trace of military insignia on them, and it was not my intention to try to impersonate anyone. Also, I'm former Army Reserve, so why would I try to impersonate someone military? The dresses were purchased on EBay, they were cheap, and all I'm trying to do as a student nurse is look professional in addition to acting professional. You say that you wouldn't want me as your student, well dear, I wouldn't want to have you as my instructor. Thanks to everyone else for their replies -- I was simply curious to know what is popular re: clothing in the profession these days, given that I'm new to nursing.

You say "bum" instead of "butt" ... you eat fries & gravy ... or vinegar on your fries ... you know it's the CN Tower, not the CNN Tower ...

Hi everyone, This is a bit of a frivolous question, but I'm curious to know what people think (especially RNs) about wearing white, especially white dresses? I bought a number of old US Army Nurse Corps dresses on Ebay -- I like the way they look, and they're very comfortable. I also received a few compliments from people, especially elderly patients, who said that I "look like a nurse." However, some of my classmates (I'm in a BN accelerated program) think I'm nuts -- I'm the only one who dresses like this ("old fashioned," I suppose, with my white hose and white NurseMates shoes) as everyone else appears to copy the "ER" look with scrubs. Just curious to know if I'll be laughed off the unit when I begin working as an RN (hopefully in the US of A in the summer of 2005!) by my colleagues. No offense to the people who wear scrubs, but they're just not for me, and I like the fact that I'll probably be identified as a nurse (as opposed to RRT, porter, or whomever else) because I'll be wearing a white dress. Besides, vomit, blood, fecal matter can always be bleached out, true? Anyone else wearing white these days?

Hello to all who responded to my question ... thanks so much for taking the time to do so. The info you provided is very helpful!

Info very much appreciated -- thanks again, and Happy New Year!

Hi Fergus 51, Thank you SO MUCH for this info ... I understand now why the Minnesota option is popular with Canadian grads now. I have a couple more questions on my mind: first, did you have to pass the Canadian RN before applying to Minnesota to receive permission to write the NCLEX; second, do/did you need an offer of employment in the US in order to receive permission to write the NCLEX? Thanks again!

Hi there, I've been reading some messages about Canadian RNs who have written the Minnesota NCLEX-RN in order to be eligible for work in other states. I'm confused -- why not just write for the state in which you'd like to work? Personally I hope to go to Texas or Florida -- I'm told I have to pass the Canadian RN first (I'm still a year and a bit away from grad) ... but what's the deal with Minnesota? Does Minnesota allow one to write their NCLEX before or at the same time that I'm writing the CNAT registration exam? Curious! Hope to get answers to this one. -T.

Hi everyone, Are there any Canadian RNs who have left for the US recently? If so, are you working under the NAFTA proviso for RNs, or have you been able to find an employer who will sponsor you for a Green Card? I graduate in 2005 from the U of Calgary and am looking to live permanently in the US -- I understand that the NAFTA proviso works only if one is planning to stay in the US temporarily only, even though it can be renewed. Any help would be very much appreciated -- the INS website is so complicated, I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.