gchelak

Hi, I am a PICU nurse with 2yrs experience in PICU and 1 yr in well baby nursery moving to Houston in Oct. I have a phone interview with a Tenet hospital from North Houston tomorrow. Although I am not going to approach the subject of pay yet, I was wondering what I could expect. This is for a PRN position to start- I have never done PRN but I read on this site that the pay is higher for PRN positions because of no benefits? One of the recruiters told me that for a fulltime position the pay was $2.50 more an hour if no benefits were covered. Questions: -what exactly are these benefits? Is it just the medical and dental? -what rate of pay could I expect for a PICU or NICU position with 2 years critical care experience if it was a full time position (not PRN)? -what rate of pay could i expect if it was a PRN position? -why does it seem like they aren't willing to fly anyone in for an interview? I know these positions are in high demand with the nursing community so they probably have a lot of local candidates, so is it too much to expect relocation assistance or sign on and for them to fly me in for a face to face? Anyone with experince in the Houston area (not medical center) wages, etc out there? Any info is most appreciated. G

Hi there. I have US and Canadian Nursing licenses. When I moved to Canada, I had to take the exam here and pay a TON of $$ for the registration here and the assessment of my education, etc. Each year the renewal is ~$480 and rising every year. While I have been in Canada, I informed Texas BNE that I was out of the country and paid the ~$65 for TWO years and all I have to do to reinstate it is give them my new address in the US when I move back (Oct 2008). So, in reverse, what can I do about my Canadian license that I paid so much for and worked so hard for? I can call CARNA but someone told me that unless you know what to ask for, they will make you pay the ~$480/yr to keep it in good standing. After all I went through, I do not want to lose it just incase I ever move back (I am from Canada). Does anyone have experience with this? What did you inform the Canadian nursing board about moving and how are you maintaining your Canadian license without paying the ballooning fees? Thanks, Gail C

Thanks for the info but I am still in Canada and the BNE said none of the education my employer offers is valid, I am sure that goes for any documentation I can get from my employer. Also, to take PALS class that they offer here (IF the education was to be accepted in Texas) is not available until after Oct, when I move back to TX...and the employer does not pay the $500 or so to do the 2 day course! The info the BNE sent me was all about the old Type I education you can find online so that is what I will focus on. My only other worry is the Bioterrorism course that should have been completed before Aug 2007 (see my previous posting) Thanks again for everyone's input...it is hard enough to figure out the ambiguous information from Canada while I am here never mind figuring out the US system when I can't ask my colleagues. Gail

Anyone know the answer to the Bioterrorism question? I heard back from the Texas BNE and they sent me information about the CUEs from online sources but no mention of the Type I that they previously required and are doing away with Oct 31, 2008, so I am confident the online CEUs are all I need. They told me that NONE of the Canadian education will be accepted. I did not ask about the Bioterrorism CEUs because if what I read was right, I was suppose to have completed it before I renewed my license for the 1st time in Oct 2006. UGH! I had no idea an now what do I do?!

I hope this doesn't post twice...my connection dropped in the middle of posting the 1st time. Another couple of questions that have popped up: according to this BNE web page: http://www.bon.state.tx.us/about/news030708.html the Type II education is no longer required after Nov 2008. Type II was the courses attended, including seminars, etc, and the Type I (that are still required) are the online CE courses, right? Since I am renewing by Oct 31, 2008 and the Type II's are no longer required after Nov 1, 2008, does that mean I still need the Type II courses or is this just incase I have some, I can still use them as part of my compliance? Second question: I renewed my license for the 1st time in Oct 2006 (the same month I moved from the US to Canada). I did not know about the Bioterrorism course needed until a couple of days ago since I didn't think I needed any courses to renew for the first time and I had no way of knowing the new Bioterrorism requirement. http://www.bon.state.tx.us/about/news110404.html This web page says " Since the law and the rule state that you must complete this CE component for either two year renewal cycle preceding September 1, 2007, we will accept bioterrorism CE certificates dated anytime between September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007" Does this mean that I can be audited and found non-compliant for not having this Bioterrorism component? With the date ending Aug 2007, if I take it now, it will not be in the date range they will accept...What am I to do? Thanks in advance for helping me make this more clear! Gail

Don't be intimidated by ACC! I graduated there in 2005 from the 1st Fastrack (15 month) program thehy no longer offer. Most of the instructors are AWESOME! When I started, I was so scared and thought- wow, I'll never make it- it is so long to graduation! Just take one day at a time and before long YOU will look back at these posts as a graduate. Hang in there! Gail

I graduated ACC in 2005 (1st Fastrack class) and took micro in my 1st semester, and A&P1 in another and A&P2 in the 3rd...that was before they separated anatomy and physiology into 2 classes. It still works out to be 2, but they taught A&P togeher. I don't know if there is still the huge waiting list there was when I applied, but the better the grades the better the points toward the list. I had a 3.9 GPA because I took only 3 classes a semester - only one being a science at a time. When I started, all I had was English comp1...all the rest I had to take. I started Aug 2002 (I believe) with my pre-requs and was accepted and started the 15 month fastrack program in Aug 2004. Also if you maintian a high GPA, you will have a better chance to get into the online classes (if they still offer them). If you are disciplined enough to have a high GPA, you will do well with the online classes. Gail

Thanks, I did see this on the BNE website but their information is confusing and not specific. I am going to try to look for my original info that I received when I got my license in the mail to see what it says...they sould not make this so difficult. I guess they are expecting that each unit will do their own education for nurses to make it easier, but in my case, I don't know if my unit's education is accepted...same info, but there is such a huge division between what is accepted in Canada from the US, there is probably the same division in the US accepting what is taught in Canada... Gail

Things are done very differently in Canada...we pay for most of our own education plus there is no way to tell if the "classes" are compliant. When I first moved here there were 3 or so weeks of education and tests, but how does that equate to CEUs? I figured I would have to start at square one. The requirements here for renewals are more education situations and not articles and exams. We do have competencies, but again, there is no "certificate" and no way to know if they are acceptable classes and CEU's. The competencies are only done once a year. To save a hassle, I was just going to do CEUs online but don't have sites that I know are accepted in TX since the list (the very same one the previous response lists above) is vague at best. Does anyone have a URL that they KNOW is acceptable for CEUs in TX? Thanks for the response. I would rather be over educated and compliant than under. Gail

I am an RN in Canada at the moment. I did my education and NCLEX in Texas and worked there for 8 months before I moved. Right at the time I moved, I renewed my license (no CEUs are required for your first renewal in TX) and put the license on "hold" with the BNE. I am now moving back to TX sometime before October 2008 and my license is up for renewal in October. Since Canada does not require CEUs, I have not done any yet. I went to the BNE web site and they said I needed Twenty (20) contact hours (two Continuing Education Units). I have no idea where to go to get these! My only option at this point is to do the CEUs on the web, but how do I know what ones are approved my the Texas board? They do not have any information, just that the CEUs have to be approved but no info on how I would know and no links to approved sites. Can someone please explain to me what I need to do? I went to one site http://www.nurseceu.com/pediatrics_ceus.htm that has a bunch of different subjects (I am a PICU nurse here in Canada) and they all have different contact hours and prices. Why would I take one for 2 contact hours and pay $18 when I can take all 20 in one shot for $30? I just don't get it.

I have come to know in the short amount of time I have been a nurse, that pateint ratios and working conditions are different from unit to unit. It is good that you are doing your research by asking those who work in TX before you make a move. One good thing about being in nursing is that if you don't like the unit/ratio, etc. there are always other places close by that you can apply at. You have a diverse nursing base that will help you a lot with this. One thing you can not change however, is the property tax rates and the utilities, etc so you have to put that into your calculations about moving to DFW. Good Luck.

Hey, just giving you some perspective....grass isn't always greener. Why would you want to know the salary for DFW anyway, you said yourself what the patient ratio was from your experience and that the electricity is expensive...there are a lot more states you can look at that might meet your criteria. Isn't California unionized? I believe their ratio can not be more than 6:1, but that is just what I heard. Don't know how the pay differs. Sorry not to be any more help.

Try working in Canada where you pay an average of $70 a month for parking (surface lots in the freezing cold where they cycle the plugs so if your car starts in the -25C it is barely starting) and $70 a month for union dues, not to mention NO reimbursement for tuition, PALS, etc. Sure the pay may SEEM higher (starting out of school is $29/hr) but take away the high income tax rates, the HIGH housing costs (average condo prices in Calgary are $325K), high food prices (cheap chicken is $2.50/lb, cereal is on sale for $3-$4 a box), and the high fees from everything from cars, gas, car licenses, auto repairs, etc. to books, furniture, household items...you have nothing left! I am moving BACK to TX as fast as I can!

I took it Oct 2006, same multiple choice/short answer as always. I felt the same way. The questions were not clear, the test was WAY too long (and on paper!!) and I didn't feel confident at all, but after a long 9 week wait, I passed. I have heard that some of those questions are test questions for future tests and will not be counted, and if a bunch of people get the same ones wrong, they will throw the question out (although you never know that). I also heard that if you get the equivalent of 70% on the test, then you pass. Don't worry about it now... just put it out of your mind... the results will come, eventually. Good luck! Gail

Alberta- it gets marked in Ontario, then goes to the provincial nursing assoc, then out to us. It took 2 weeks for me to get my license in the mail after I sent in the form too!

unfortunately when I wrote it in Oct 2006, I didn't get the results until Jan 2007!

Congratulations! I am still waiting for mine.....:zzzzz:sleep:

One month and counting (since the Oct 11 exam)...does it really take 12 weeks to get results?

you CAN work in Canada without an RN licence for a specified term. If you get approval from the nursing province, you can obtain a temporary license and start working as a "graduate nurse" even if you are an RN in another country (I am experiencing this personally right now). I think the temporary license can be renewed 3 times and is valid for, I want to say, 6 months each time(??) I can't quite remember, but it is something like that.

I was educated and worked in the US for 8 months before moving to Canada where I am from originally. I just started in the PICU and find that nursing as a whole is pretty much the same. You would have to take the CRNE even if you have taken the NCLEX (you have to get approval to take the exam from the province you are going to). The exams are very different, from content to how it is written (LONG and on paper) and it takes up to 12 weeks to get the results back (not like the 3 days in the US- I took my exam on Oct 11 and am waiting...). I think every province in Canada is unionized which is good and bad...I don't have a lot of experience with the unions yet but one good thing is that you actually GET breaks here! No punching in and out for your hours, and if you have a problem with the employer I hear you can call in the union to help (you have to pay dues). One thing I was shocked at though is that (in Alberta anyway) the employee pays for parking no matter what hospital. It is about $80 a month for fulltime. Also, no reimbursement for having to pay for CARNA to approve you to take the exam, nor reimbursement for the exam itself, etc. They do not have an employee incentive to continue education by reimbursing for that either, but I heard there is money somewhere out there for that. No bonuses for extra shifts, but there is a lot of work in almost any area. Like I said, I JUST started and these are the little things I have found. I have a mere 8 months of nursing experience in the US, and had 4 interviews with 4 job offers. Hope this helps! Gail

I took the exam yesterday (yes, it is as horrible as you hear) and used the study guide from the CRNE...it helps with getting you familiar with the WORDING of the test, but not with the content. I also bought the online readiness test and it was a waste of $40+ unless you just want extra questions to practice with. I took the NCLEX in January and there are SOOOO many more study resources for that exam than there are for the CRNE. I took the HURST review for the NCLEX and took the online version for the CRNE, but like it is said- a LOT of community based nurse questions...not covered in any prep class for the NCLEX that I know of, and I don't know of any CRNE prep classes that are available. If I didn't pass- I am going to actively find SOME sort of Canadian prep for this ludacris test. Gail

i too took the test yesterday (in calgary). i was apphaled at all of the specifics they wanted for some of the questions...stuff i learned 3 years ago in basic biology and has nothing to do with being a safe practicing nurse.:angryfire and then there was a question that had a boy with a disease, blah, blah, blah... and later in the group of questions, the boy was suddenly "boys". the fill in the blank was ridiculous too. it was hard to tell exactly what they wanted and there was specific questions about canadian web sites, etc...i was educated in the us, how am i suppose to know that? the crne study guide and the readiness test were way easier than the test was (shouldn't it be the other way around??), but never had anything specific about canada and/or basic biology questions, etc so there was no "heads-up" for me. at this point, it could go either way (pass/fail). if we don't get results until december (my nclex took 3 days for results), and god forbid i fail- the next test is not until june 6 because we can't enroll for the feb 7th test since we don't get results back until after that test's deadline (nov). has anyone heard the pass rates for the new exam? i don't know how i am going to get through 8-12 weeks of this...it was hard enough to get through 3 days waiting for the nclex results in the us. :madface: gail

I guess it is their definition of prorated...

Someone advised me to take the exam in Oct instead of this past Aug because of the way registration works (Oct-Sept), but I am pretty sure the people in Edmonton told me it was pro-rated now. Dunno.

Unfortunatley I am committed to Calgary since we bought a place in Airdrie. I spoke with the manager for NICU and SCN today at the Foothills. She said that she thinks the reason I am not getting calls back is because most of the positions I applied for are for RNs and can not have GNs (what I am considered a GN until I take the CRNE and pass) working in those areas. She also said that she can get me into the orientation for her department and get me casual positions in certain areas until my exam results come bac...but I have to be there on Sept 5...I am driving up to Alberta that week and it is not possible. The next orientation is in Nov. so I will study for the test, interview with her and keep puttin gin applications in the meantime. Looks like I won't really get anything until some time after the exam, and even then, it will probably be casual or temporary. How does that work anyway? If you take a temp position, are you stuck there until the end of the term or can you move to another dept if something comes available there? Likewise, if you take a casual or part time position and a full time position becomes available in another area, are you free to move or do you have to be in the position you applied for for a certain amount of time? Most companies here - medical or otherwise make you stay committed in a position for at least 12-15 months. Just wondering how it works there. This manager also told me that if they were to hire someone and someone else was more qualified for the position, then they have to justify the hire...your friend has a good case for that. I guess this is part of the union thing, something else I am not familiar with.