natawee

Hi, I am also a Canadian trained RN. Have had a license in Minnesota and am currently licensed in AZ. Been working in the US for 9 years and have my greencard. Today, I was denied my CA license, saying I didn't have enough clinical hours. I am so done with them. They have been nothing but rude to me and not helpful. Im only upset because my husband cannot go back and work in Ca where he was born and raised. I am not going to do any make up hours (like they suggested) because I'm sure they would find something else deficient. I have several classmates that were licensed there years ago. I am so angry because it's so final. Knowing I can never work there :(I'm a Canadian trained nurse but have passed by NCLEX and have licenses in both Arizona and Minnesota. I have also completed by CGFNS Visa Screen but am having some difficulty with my travel nursing company, American Mobile, with finding me a first time job since I have never traveled in the US before. I was wondering if anyone had experience getting a job on their own with a hospital in California and having them sponsor them for a TN Visa? I was hoping to do this and then apply for my social security number and then obtain my license? I know this is a really roundabout way of doing things, but the whole process of getting to California is near impossible without having a SSN.If I can't get hired independently by a hospital in California, I plan on working in another state first and then going but I was hoping there was another route.If anyone has any past experiences that were successful or any tips, I would greatly appreciate it.Thanks![/size]

How do I contact my licensing agent via email? I have tried to go through the operators and left voicemails but no response. I was just wondering if there was a way to contact them that's easier than getting transferrd to their voicemail only if you can get through to an operator! That's what is so frustrating, I cannot speak to anyone that knows what's going on!!!

Hello there, I just need advice. I have been stressing over this issue for days. I know it's been discussed a million times and I have searched and read every post I'm sure. Anyways, I was educated in Canada, 4 year bscn. Have been working in the US for 9 years as an RN in AZ. I now have a green card. My husband has accepted a position in California. I am 32 weeks pregnant and stressing over what I am supposed to do. I applied for endorsement through California. I did everything and got a letter saying I didn't meet the clinical hours. I do know several RN's that I graduated with who got their license. I also know that my nursing school had to manually add up the hours. I am lacking hours in psych, ob and peds. I know it's just an error of calculation but none the less they are saying I need a lett from my school to clarify. As we all know the CA brn is not an easy place to gt through to. So when I called the other day they also said "it depends in where you went to school" and transferred me to a voicemail. I am so stressed. I didn't think this would be an issue as my classmates have gotten their license. I am due sept 1 and was supposed to move the end of sept. This will really screw up plans if I can't get a license!!! I just need advice in the letter I need and success stories!!! I am calling first thing inter AM. I can't even enjoy my vacation because I am so stressed!P.S. Do you think having a visa screen would help? I didn't send a copy because it wasn't required

I was educated in Canada and I thought the program was excellent. As far as the health care system goes, I think its great. I am now working in the US for the past two years. I am very proud of the healthcare system in Canada. There are also alot of misconceptions about it because 'we dont pay for it', well we do its called 15% sales tax on everything we purchase. I am curious to know what you dont like about it.

I was wondering if there is any literature out there discussing whether or not hanging a flush bag with iv piggy backs is of benefit or harm to the patient. When I am priming lines for a patient who is to receive only IV piggybacks and not have continuous fluids running, I always hang a small 250ml bag of NS to prime the line. I find it beneficial as the whole med can run through and if you happen to have air in the line you can prime the NS back. Just wondering as we have a nurse who always throws out the flush bags and hangs the piggy back on a primary line. It's frustrating. Her reasoning is that renal patients do not need the extra fluid. Which I totally agree with, but she does it to all the patients lines. Not just the renal ones. Anyways this was more of a vent but I was wondering what your opinions are on the issue. Any links to support or otherwise on this topic would be very much appreciated!! Thanks!!!

my facility is paying the costs for the immigration attorney. My employer is located in arizona. do you mean length of time for my green card? or change of status. im confused

When I spoke with the immigration attorney for my hospital, he told me that the best time to start the process of my green card would be right after I renewed my TN. So you are saying once October comes and I sign on core, rather then renew my visa in October or Nov. i just apply for change of status? how does that process work and how long. but thanks for the info I will definitly call him

Hi Guys, Just a quick question. My TN is not due to expire until November. I plan to sign on as a 'core' nurse rather than seasonal in October. My contract as seasonal is up then. I have it arranged with my hospital to become core in October to begin the process of my green card. To make a long story short, I plan to renew my TN one month early. Do you think this would pose a problem?? Thanks

i am also a stfx grad, i worked in halifax for a year then moved to arizona. i have tonnes of info for you, stuff that i wish someone had told me before i moved to the us. Send me a PM and i can give you my email address.

i agree! im glad that someone mentioned the maritimes!! I went to school at St FX. It has been rated the number one university in the country several years in a row, its nursing program is also one of the best in the country. when i first graduated, alot of the nurses i worked with said they could 'tell' that a nurse was from stfx. im not sure how, but they could. i havent heard much about other schools from the west coast.

so i came to canada (where im originally from) last friday night as my dad had taken a heart attack, it sounded very serious so i flew home. well as i was checking into the airport i scanned my passport and it said 'some countries want a passport valid for more than six months' mine was about seven months left before it was to expire. so fine i applied for an express passport when i came into halifax last week. thats not the issue, its all finished i just need to pick it up monday before i leave to go back to az. i am so worried because i have the worst luck. my luck i will get there and they will have said 'oh we sent it out ot you' when they said it would be available for pick up. then i always get so worried when going through customs on the way back to the US. i dont know why. i am always so scared they will not let me back into the US. anyways im sorry i just needed to vent, its been a very stressful week and a half. if im not stressed about one thing, im stressed about another. especially when it comes to crossing the border. now that my dad is going to be absolutly fine, i need something else to worry about i suppose!! if anyone can offer some reassurance about crossing back into the US so i dont get so anxious that would be wonderful......sorry to take up some space

I would love to quit. everyone says 'its a decision you need to make for yourself' and 'you need to do it when you are ready'. well will i ever be ready. i would love to be smoke free!!! where to start!! it doesnt help that my roomate smokes as well

I am not a peds nurse, but I have been in the same boat many times. should I call or not? Will they get upset if I call again? I have only been a nurse three years, but I have found that if it is bothering me alot and im questioning myself enough whether to call or not. I usually do. Sometimes they address the issue, other times not. I'd rather cover my butt and have a doc upset with me then not call. Its ok if they get upset or angry, its YOUR lisence on the line and thats what they are there for. I dont know if I helped any but I thought I would reply since I have been in similar situations

oh plus im canadian. what part of canada are you from

hey i am a nurse working at st marys hospital in tucson. i absolutly love it there. i was supposed to stay as a traveler for three month, that was a year and a half ago. there are several nurses who commute from sierra vista. its not a teaching hospital but i think the staff are awesome. i work on the MSO floor on nights. couldnt ask for a better group of co-workers