bubbles30

hi there, i am sorry to hear of the problems you have been having. there is a long process involved in working in any new country. i am discovering this as i have started my application for working in Canada. on a positive note for you had you considered Scotland as a place to work? i dont think we are laying off as many nurses (although there are budget problems everywhere) and i am sure if you approach some of the trusts you might be pleasantly surprised at what they might offer you. they recently brought over nurses from India and parts of Europe in my hospital. if you PM me i can give you more details as to where i work. also a few years ago i worked for a private hospital and they can sometimes be more willing to sponser nurses from abroad. the hospital i worked in at the time was actually in Canterbury and there was, and i believe still is, a constant recruitment of foreign nurses. just something to think about. i would have thought having an ER background would be a big advantage to you as these posts are notoriously short staffed. hope this has been of some help. good luck

hi there, thanks for getting back to me. i had been swithering a lot between the US and Canada and then there was this big recruitment drive from Canada earlier this year (not that the US is not always looking for nurses). In particular three health authorities had got together to recruit from over here. everything has just fallen into place (not without a bit of organisation and research). Vancouver looks beautiful, as do many parts of Canada, but that just happened to be where the recruiters are based. the combination of city and outdoor life really appeals to me. i hope that answers your question. i managed to find out the answer to my questions about sending a verfication form to Oz. I waited in a telephone queue for a while but eventually got through to the CRNBC and thankfully because i was registered over 5 years ago (just it was 2000) i dont need to do it!phew! i think the process takes long enough. anyway off to get my application and birth certificate notarized today. then will post everything off. do you enjoy California i had thought of going there at one time? all the best Fiona

hi there,:) was wondering if anyone else is planning to go and work out in bc Canada in the next wee while? i am in the process of getting out there. have been in touch with vancouver coastal health who seem pretty nice so far. i was wondering how people are finding the registration process with the CRNBC? I know it can take a long time apparently anything from 3-9months. i am keen to send my stuff to them but i sent them an email last week with a few questions and have not heard back as yet. i am sure they are very busy but i feel i cant send things off untill i clarify a few points. i'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has filled out the canadian registration board for nurses form. one of my main questions is that i worked for 6 months as a nurse in Australia in 2000 and so was registered with a nursing board out there. it seems like a long time ago and all my other years of registration has been in the UK. one of the questions in the form is in what other countries have you been registered? i am concerned this will delay my application further by sending a verification form out to Oz. i still have the original registration certificate and 2 written references from working out there at that time. i wondered if i could get them notarised and sent instead? has anyone else had any probs that has worked for more than one registration board? or would just be pleased to hear from anyone going out there to work! thanks in advance with any help Fiona

that made me smile! thanks for the quote and the same sentiment back. i wonder how many people know what it means! i love the Scottish dark sense of humour or old quotes you get. i have a wee book of Calvin which can be hilarious and full of gems. mostly humourous but with a serious edge. Be happy whilst you're living. For you're a long time deid!

Hi there, Thanks again to everyone for their different comments! It has certainly given me something to think about. part of my need to move is a hankering for a bit of adventure but with a bit of stability of working in my field of nursing. however, as has been previously commented, any city can be lonely, even your home town, and i am not particulalry keen to exchange one lonely city for another one! of course you cannot predict these things and i have been lucky to have met some fantastic people during my travels in the past. it seems that vancouver has a lot to see and do. i see that some of the main past times are golf, skiing and sailing - all expensive pastimes and none of which i do! i was hoping that there would be other types of hobbies too!? there has been a running comment about rain which has made me smile - coming from glasgow (the west of scotland is known for its rain) would not actually bother me too much. as i like all weathers(within reason). i must admit though, although looking for a bit of adventure i am also looking for a place to make a home. when i say that, i mean in the sense that whereever i have travelled and lived in the world, i try to make myself at home. i am wondering from some of the comments, from locals and foreigners, if that is possible? This has been a very thought provoking thread of replies. all the best fiona och aye the noo

Hi Everybody, Thanks to everyone that made a comment:thankya: I appreciate hearing all your views and experiences. Am glad to hear that they seem pretty positive all in all. might get back to some of you if you dont mind! Also was wondering where the best place to live in VanCouver is if you dont drive (will prob learn when I am out there)? I tend to walk everywhere but is the public transport pretty good? Thanks again All the Best Fiona

Hi there, I am a scottish nurse looking into seriously working in Canada. At one time was swithering between US and Canada,but there has been more active recruiting from Canada recently and that has won out. There is a lot about BC in particular Vancouver. It looks like an amazing place with a lot to see and do. I am looking for some opinions and advice about living and working in Vancouver. I am in contact with Vancouver Coastal Health and wondered if any one has any experience with them and any preference between them and Health Match bc? I'm sure they are prob both good but would be helpful to know others thoughts. Also any tips for the best prep to buy for the CRNE exam? I have been reading a few of the threads on this and am not looking forward to the experience although I understand the need. Is Vancouver a friendly place as I will be on my own and have no family or friends there? Thanks in advance for any help! Fiona

Hi Kate, I am a scottish nurse and am looking into seriously working in Canada. At one time was swithering between US and Canada but Canada have been actively recruiting in the UK recently. It looks pretty appealing particularly VanCouver! I was just womdering how you were gettin on and why you went with Health Match bc particulalry as I have been in touch with Vancouver Coastal Health? Also how did you find the CRNE exam? And more importantly how are you enjoying yourself?! Look forward to hearing from you Fiona

Hi Pete,:) Glad to hear you are settling into the Scottish way of life now. It will be a bit of a culture shock but worth I'm sure. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on working in Canada. I am thinking of working as a nurse there or perhaps the US but Canada is starting to seem a bit more appealing. Am only just starting to look into things so wondered if there is anywhere you would particularly reccommend to work or live? thanks very much in advance bubbles:)

Hi Pam, thanks very much for the info and website addresses! i have found them really helpful. the more i look into things the more i am really looking forward to getting over there! all the best and thanks again:thankya: bubbles

Hi Liz, Thanks very much for replying to me and giving me some advice:) . Any insight into where people like yourself live and work is gratefully received! I appreciate you likening Park Slope in Brooklyn to Islington I can picture it a bit now. It does sound lovely and what I am looking for. I am still at the early stages of things at the mo but will now try to knuckle down and get things moving. I am looking forward to living in such a vibrant place like New York. Though I am expecting it to be a bit of a culture shock! I guess having gone to uni to do American Studies must have prepared you a bit. I imagine your nursing training has been a big change of direction for you? only guessing though. thanks again for your help and if you dont mind I might email you or send you a thread in the future to get some more advise. You might have some tips for me in the big move over from the UK. I know how stressful any move can be despite how organised anyone is! good luck in your nurse training! cheers:cheers: bye for now bubbles

Hello Big Yin, Thanks so much for replying and giving me some advice. I really appreciate it. I have been spending quite a few hours trawling through the internet and this website has been very helpful. Thanks also for the websites you gave me to look at. When I first started looking at hospitals in New York I knew there was a lot but I didnt realise there were 600! Pretty daunting,man! That was partly why I started this thread here. I am only at the beginning of things really and am trying to do things on my own. I havent heard great things of the agencys that can help you over. I am not looking to immigrate just to experience living and working in the US for a wee while(though at least a couple of years). Your idea of coming over is probably a good idea I shall keep it in mind. I know I would enjoy it in New York and probably most places in the US. I have lived in many places and I know it will be nothing like Scotland but that is what I am looking for. I must admit I had heard about the holidays thing! What is that about? Over here we get about 4-6 weeks depending on things. I will definetly miss that but I am going over to make the most of things. what is it like on places like Statten/Long and Roosevelt island? Are they nice places to live I have heard the hospitals are pretty good there too. thanks again Scott I'll sink a Caffreys for you! bubbles30 :)

hi there, :) Just read your thread about Edinburgh. I did my nursing training in Edinburgh and my first job was in the Western General Hospital it seems like many moons ago! It is a good hospital to work in certainly I enjoyed the time i spent there. I loved living in Edinburgh and I can understand your looking for advise about where to live. In fact I am looking for the same advice on New York as I hope to eventually go and work/live there at some point. (not having much luck at the mo) Anyway I'm going off on a tangent. I had a little flat in Haymarket which is walking distance from the city centre and I use to catch a bus (short journey) down to the hospital. I would reccommend that area definitely. Edinburgh has become very exspensive to live in these days. Places that use to be considered a bit dodgy have improved themselves. I had friends that had flats in leith (use to be considered not so nice) but now its very up and coming been given quite a facelift. I think Stockbridge was mentioned by someone else and it is particularly lovely there however it was mega exspensive when I was looking to buy and rent goodness knows what it must be like now. I guess it depends how much you are willing to spend. There are places that are considered very nice morningside , i think marchmont as well,but may also be exspensive now. The hospital may be prepared to give you advise or even give assistance with staying somewhere for a short spell. Until you have had a chance to look and see what is out there. I am a firm beleiver in gut feelings. You can usually tell the sort of place to live in by the state of the flats/houses outside and in ,and even how well the gardens are kept. There is usually a noticeboard in the hospital that people put up adverts for renting rooms/flats you might ask if there is anything up at the moment. Sometimes it is nice to share to start with (shorterm lease) and then it is also a potential to make friends whilst not puting you in such a rush to commit to a place you may not like. Also the public transport is pretty good and there are other places not that far out of edinburghs city centre that are nice to live in as well. more suburban I guess. anyway good luck :)

Hi there, I am a scottish nurse looking into moving to New York to live and work. I'd really appreciate any advise anyone could give me about which are the best hospitals to work in or areas to live in? I have never been to the USA before (though have travelled a fair bit and have worked in Oz) despite always having been drawn to the US. I have read with interest the thread about moving to NY being single and just starting out. thats kind of how I am feeling. I think NY looks like a vibrant exciting place and i guess manhatten is popular. Also I am not naive I have lived in london and other big cities and know they can be lonely places too. I am currently in a cardiothoracic speciality but have a pretty varied nursing background and am happy to work in wards or smaller units. Any kind of advice about which hospital any of you enjoyed working in or living areas a new girl like me would feel at home in would be so appreciated. Likewise any info on places to avoid. I do like living with a bit of hustle and bustle but I love a bit of green also and being able to dive into a park somewhere. maybe its all the greenary and mountains here in bonnie scotland! thanks in advance for any help :)

hi, :) scotland is a great place to work and visit for a while. i'm sure you will have a fab time. the advice given by the mental health nurse is completely accurate. i live in glasgow now but i did my nursing training in edinburgh and lived and worked there for a while. i have worked with the BNA myself. they are a typical average agency and no better or worse than a lot of others. the pay is average with a lot of the others. the nursing guild is the best paid (similar to premium rates paid down south). i have an aussie friend who worked with them before she settled and got herself a permanent job. they ARE the last resort for a hospital to contact. i have a permanent post in a glasgow hospital and if we use agency, which is rarely at the moment, there are 3 other agencies contacted before the guild and even then the boss is not happy. also if with the guild you will need transport because they send you quite far afield. my aussie friend had a loan of her boyfriends car so no prob there. definitely good money though. perhaps another option would be to try and contact some of the hospitals directly and join their 'nurse bank'. that is their own inhouse nurse supply. again the pay will be less than the agencies (though in some cases not a lot less)but you will get definite, regular work, holiday pay now (depending how long you are planning on staying) and i think they are suppose to give you study time also. just a thought. it is not a permanent contract so you can take off when ever you like for travelling. paperwork can take awhile which ever route you go down. so it may be worth starting the process at home. good luck :)