nurse rnfa

Hi, I've lived in Toronto for 30+ years and just recently moved to the USA. I am an OR nurse. Mount Sinai is an excellent hospital...teaching hospital. The University Health Network, which includes The Toronto General Hospital, The Toronto Western Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital are also excellent. St. Michael's and Sunnybrook Hospital, trauma hospitals are good to. TGH or Toronto General Hospital is a great great teaching hospital and they just built on a brand new building...lots of money, lots of job security. The website to go to research about Canadian RN licensure is: http://www.cno.org. The Colleg of Nurses of Ontario...their website is loaded with information. Good Luck, any big hospital that you choose in Toronto, Ontario is great! I've trained and worked at them ALL!

Hi, I took the NCLEX last year and passed with the Saunders books-the question & review book. Right, now it's too late to panic or switch around and about. Focus on what you feel your weaknesses are. I had 95% of the exam based on which pt. I wound assess or treat first...keep in mind that airway is always, always, #1. Remember, you would NEVER, NEVER, assign a clinically difficult pt. to an LPN/aide, etc. due to the complexity of the pt. Not to offend any LPNs, aides, CNAs, etc. Delegation of duties is also big on the NCLEX. I was expecting a whole lot of calculations, but got maybe one or two. Every exam is different. I took the whole 265? questions and still passed. So, don't worry nor get discouraged about the number of questions, just press on and focus on what the question is asking of you...don't read between the lines...remember, if you don't know the answer or are unsure, use the method of deduction. You know that 2 of the choices will be wrong and the other 2 close...so, between the 2 choices that are left, rationalize why. Good Luck.

Ok, Basi...apology accepted. Thank you for the detailed reply. Your RN license would not transfer to the US RN license. You'd have to take the NCLEX exam. Apply to the state of choice for your licensure. Minnesota tends to be very speedy with their processing time. From there, you can apply for endorsement to any other state in the USA. That's what I did. Minnesota was very fast. You'll just have to pay the extra application fee for the other state that you'd be applying to. You may have to apply for a CGFNS certificate as you'd be considered to be 'foreign trained' eventhough you're in North America. You may want to check on this, don't quote me on it. But, if you're going to be educated in Canada as an RN, like me, then you will have to follow through. If you go to their website you can find all the info to start the process when you're ready. The transition was very hard and still is for me, personally. I'm still learning the ropes. I've only been here in the US for 9 months. By respected, I think you mean recognized? Yes, the degree is recognized and some hospitals will pay you extra per hour for your degree or any other professional designation that you carry after your name. You'll have to ask them at the time of the interview. Many US healthcare employers want Canadian educated RN's because we are better educated...our curriculum is on a different scale than that of the US. Our hospital/clinical orientation/experience is different. Hope this helps in your future endeavours. Good Luck Basi! :)

Hi, Please do yourself a BIG favour and find another agency or go out on your own. You do not need an agency to find a job for you. Most of the time agencies in general, are rip offs and dictators. I have had travellers come through my workplace from a certain agency....hint, hint and saying that they've been ripped off, promises not kept, bonuses not paid, etc. I'm a charge nurse in the OR and I've seen a lot. Not a good agency to go with. Good luck and be smart :)

What questions do you have for an RN educated in Canada?

Hi There, I'm an RN that was educated & worked in Canada as an RN for 10 years. I've lived in Canada for 30+ years. I just recently moved the US because I wanted hotter, drier climate. I take your posting to heart. :angryfire Why are you being such a hypocrite? Why do you want to be educated in Canada? What's your drive or attraction to our education system? Canada is a great country to work, live and play. The socialized health system has its pros & cons. Why should Canada allow you to be educated in its country with an attitude like that, since you're going to take that education back to the US and apply it there? They need nurses too. Who's to say that they won't put a stipulation upon you when you are accepted into your school of choice? Canada is a different country than the USA. We are North America, but, we are very different in our culture, standards, ethics, practice, living, attitude & overall being. Ponder over that.

Hi, I'm originally from Canada. I'm not a traveller, but I decided I wanted to a much much warmer climate, so , I relocated to Albuquerque, NM and I hate it here. I hate the state and my place of employment. Anyhow, I'm seeking out potential employers in AZ as I still want to stay in a dry heat state. We went down for the July 4th weekend and we, too, loved Phoenix and Scottsdale. We will be relocating to Scottsdale by December of this year. Phoenix is a great, bustly, happening city. Lots of entertainment, the shopping is great, cost of living is affordable and the pay for RN's is fairly good, but, do shop around. As for your visa, it will take a little while. Are you doing it on your own? Or is your agency doing it for you or do have you hired a lawyer to do the footwork for you? My suggestion is that you hire a lawyer to do it for you. It may cost a bit, but you know it's being done right and they do have connections and shortcuts. Definitely, worth it. I applied for my CGFNS, wrote my NCLEX. The CGNFS application process took about 2months and the NCLEX about 2 months. As for your visa, I'm not sure, since I'm a Canadian and we can work under a TN work visa. Start studying for your NCLEX, start your application with the CGNS and everything should come together. Make sure YOU get the ball rolling and don't wait for your agency, be on top of things and please don't get ripped off by the agency. If you don't feel things are right, leave them and do things on your own. Who is your agency by the way? Best of luck in your future endeavours. If you have any more questions, you can send a private message and I will try and help out. Cheers :chuckle

Hi, The P&P will depend on each hospital. I have experienced the following: -the items in the OR are either covered up with sheets or large plastic bags -some items that can be removed are removed-basically, only enough items, supplies, equipment to do that particular case -you should have a RN 'runner' outside with the patients chart so she/he can do the charting and run for whatever you may need -one circulator in the OR -one scrub in the OR -minimal personnel in that particular OR -all personnel assigned to the patient should be wearing: gown, gloves & mask -after the case if done, that particular OR should be terminally cleaned, with a solution of bleach and water, don't know the ratio remember: you need to protect yourself as well as the patient Good Luck with your endeavours

Thank you ALL who responded to my question. I really do appreciate it. I will let you know how my interview went and if I liked my tour. I can't go on just from what I've heard, although all good, I do have to see and experience it for myself. I hope this will be my resting ground, as I don't like to move too often. I'm not a traveller. I've been an RN/OR in Canada for many years. I just wanted a warmer, much, much warmer climate. New Mexico, where I presently work and live, is NOT the place for me to work or live. It's just dead space, no one thrives here, has any ambition, goals, dreams. Sorry, but it's the truth. On my visit to AZ, I found it to be lively, modern, civilized, clean, fashionable, the women looked and dressed like women, etc., etc. It's like a mini Toronto, where I'm from originally, which is fine by me. I KNOW I will fit right in, even with the traffic congestion and all. I'm used to it from back home in Canada. God Bless!

Thank you Suzanne for taking the time to share your information. It means a lot. Cheers,

Hi Kabin, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Your opinion really matters. How is the BSN program there? How long is it? How often do you attend classes? I'm thinking of taking it as well. Thanx for your well wishes on my interview.

Hi There, I was once in your position, however, I come with more experience. Nevertheless, make sure your resume is impeccable, grammatically and spelling worthy. Don't make it too flowery, straight to the point...point out your strenghts and leave the weakness if they ask. Have someone read and re-read your resume prior to submitting it...remember, that piece of paper is your marketing tool, your selling point. Secondly, if the employer needs your services, they will wait for you. Explain to the potential employer that you need time to organize your move, living arrangements, license, etc. If they are a worthy employer, they will invest in the time that it will take you to arrange your life for the new comings. Thirdly, you don't have to subit on your resume the RN license. I suggest you apply to a multi-compact state, and then get the license for that particular state once you have decided. This process may take up to 2-3 months. Are you from another country? If so, you will need your CGFNS certificate and maybe a TOEFL test for English proficiency, and also, the NCLEX will need to written & passed. Good luck with your future endeavours.

Hi All, I have an interview with the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona next month. I would like to hear from anyone that has worked at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, the one on 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., in the operating room or on another floor/dept. What was your experience like? Were you treated with respected? How were the docs and other colleagues, nurses, aides, housekeepers, etc.? Was the management supportive overall? I would like to hear the pros & cons please. I am an experienced OR nurse who's looking to relocate to AZ. If you have any other advice of where to seek a good employer, pls state that too. Thank you in advance

Firstly and foremostly, have you been educated as to the techniques & skills needed to be in the OR? If not, you need to speak with your manager/administrator and ask to be entered into a course as such. If you have been trained, then, it's basically, listen to your more experienced RNs or scrub techs. They know a lot. Have an open mind and a good attitutude. Be receptive. Don't take it personally. Absorb the info like a sponge and let the insults, sly comments, etc. slide off. Read up on OR surgeries, techniques as much as possible. Research the surgery you will be doing the next day. Ask for policy & procedure manuals. Ask for a proper orientation/preceptor prior to being thrown in on your own. If at anytime, you do not feel confident & comfortable in performing a duty/skill/procedure, please ask for advice, help, support, supervision. Good Luck!

Ultimately, the whole OR team is responsible and ALL should be disciplined and not one person left out. The purpose of the TIME OUT is to ensure the correct: patient, site, surgery, etc. If all of these are done EACH and EVERY time there should not be any errors. If the TIME OUT is not done or delayed, then that leaves room for error. The whole OR team is there to act as the patient's advocate when they are rendered unconscious, therefore, the ONUS is on ALL. I have done my TIME OUT for 10+ diligently and had no errors. You should be speaking with your director or upper administration as to why the 'others' were not suspended or disciplined. Good luck with your quest!