smr21

Hi, Wow, I haven’t thought about that time in my career in a long time, haha! Well, I am still working as an RN and really loving it. A few months after I wrote that post, I ended up getting a spot on day shift. Days were hard, but I ended up really loving them. I also had more energy and was happier once I switched schedules. I did go to a session through our Employee Assistance Program, which was hugely helpful. I agree with the prior response that it’s a good idea to tap into. The counselor I saw did say I was showing signs of clinical depression and talked about tools and options. But fortunately for me, I got a day shift slot not too long after that. I have worked nights again since then, I took a travel contract that was nights only and found that when I had an end date night shift wasn’t too bad. I was able to buckle down and work that schedule for three months and then move on to the next thing. And for a while after we moved a few years ago, I could only get hired as a casual so would work mostly nights (because that’s what was available) but because I had a lot of autonomy about when and how much I worked, I think that made nights more bearable. So, I didn’t last too long on nights as a full time regular, but I would consider doing a night shift travel contract again someday because nights as a short term thing seemed to be easier for me. And currently, I’m full time in a procedural area (cardiac cath lab) so do some nighttime hours with on call, but mostly a daytime position. The change in schedule made a big difference for me in regards to wondering whether nursing was a good career choice. At the time I wrote that post, I was really at the end of my rope. I’m really really lucky to have gotten onto day shift so quickly, and I’m not sure what would have happened if I had stayed on nights for a longer period of time. For me though, things worked out well and I’m glad to be in this profession now. Good luck with the night shift! It’s super hard, but in hindsight I’m glad I didn’t let my night shift difficulties turn me off of nursing as a career choice.

We have four labs available for use. Typically two get used for interventions, one for EP and one for devices or structural heart. Currently we are running one intervention lab (for STEMIs and urgent/emergent caths both outpatient and inpatient at ours and other regional hospitals), occasional devices (ICD and PM generator changes, urgent initial implants). The other day there was a TAVI on the slate (definitely urgent), and we are told that we will be doing occasional urgent EP cases. Probably rare, because we have no anesthesia support which limits EP abilities, and how often is it that someone needs an urgent ablation...Also we are still taking call but there is more happening in terms of doctor to doctor conversations before activating the call team to discuss COVID status and potential risk to staff. Staffing wise, there are a lot of extra staff floating around! We haven't been hit hard (yet) at my hospital so are doing a lot of preparation, lots of changes coming down the pipes about how we manage codes among other things. One of our labs has been set to negative pressure and all the equipment (minus one set of all the basic equipment like sheaths, one set of usual diagnostic catheters, etc) has been taken out of the room - so this is the designated COVID lab. The other one is where we are doing all our cases, unless it's a COVID positive or high suspicion for COVID patient. We have also done a dry run to work out the kinks - like an earlier post mentioned having "clean" and "dirty" personnel, etc. We are getting floated to CCU or the cardiac ward on occasion, but there are not as many cardiac patients in general right now. I anticipate we will all eventually get floated to ICU once the storm hits (critical care training is mandatory for us) but that hasn't happened yet. It's been a while since I last worked with a vented patient so I'm reviewing old notes and just trying to be prepared.

Those are great ideas, thanks!

Yes, I've started looking into rehab and other options. The thing is, I really like working in acute care, but the stories I've heard of full time schedules have me pretty scared...maybe I'm just overthinking it and it isn't so bad, I mean if that's the norm then nurses have found ways to make it sustainable, right? I'll keep looking, but it is really helpful to hear other nurse's experiences, so thanks for the thoughts!

Thanks for the replies! Companibiki - I do have a practising license with CRNBC and I have PR status. When I looked up IEN refresher course, I came up with a year long program - is that what you're referring to? NotReady4PrimeTime - thanks for the info about part time employees, it's different in the States where you can negotiate those things after you've been working for a little while. And wow, eliminating all part-time employees! It's too bad, I really don't want to do two days on, two nights on...working three in a row at my old hospital took it out of me, I can't imagine doing four. I was also told that as an external applicant, my chances of getting a full time position would be slim, so to apply for casual and part time job openings (which suits me fine) but I wonder if that's the best way to go? Maybe I should start applying for full time work, suck it up and then look at other positions once I have a foot in the door and some seniority. Of course, this all depends on getting a job in the first place...sigh...

Hey everyone - I am an IEN who just moved to Vancouver (husband is Canadian and going back to school). I'm neck deep in my job hunt and curious about other IEN experiences with looking for work in Vancouver. I know I'm in for a long and competitive process, and am looking to hear others experiences to help calm my anxieties as I'm starting to get a bit discouraged... What worked for you? How long before you found a job? Did you get any further certifications for a specialty in Canada? Any tips? My experience is in Cardiothoracic surgery, but I've been applying to anything and everything. Also, I'd rather not work full time (coming from the US, the Canadian version of full time is a bit much in comparison) but there are WAY more full time positions listed right now. I've been applying to casual and part time, but should I apply for full time and then ask to go part time after I start working (assuming I get hired?) Anyway, like I mentioned above, I know it can take a long time, just wondering how long it's taken for others so I know when to really start worrying, or looking for work in the US but close to the border...

Hey there - So, I recently moved to Vancouver, BC and am updating my resume. I have only had one job, on a progressive care unit where I worked for almost two years. I'm having a hard time describing what that unit was like on my resume. Namely the clinical skills I had to use on a daily basis (pacing wires, chest tubes, epidurals, central lines, cardiac medications used, etc). I've seen sample resumes where people have a separate clinical skills section, but with just one job under my belt does that make sense or should I include the clinical skills in another area? Also, is there a post or area here where other nurses post their resumes as examples? I've looked through several of the posts of people asking for feedback, but a post of sample resumes would be really helpful! Thanks!

OK, so update - I got my nursing license!! No further assessment needed! RN_Pro, I did my ABSN at Western Carolina University. For anyone who's interested, here's a synopsis of my process... Dec 2015 - started the NNAS process. Some requirements were easy - my state BON had to fill out a form, as did my employer (although I'm a relatively new nurse, so I've only had one employer. If that wasn't the case, I would have had to get in contact with prior employers which would have been tricky). The hard part was the paperwork from my school of nursing. I met with the director of my program mid-December. The NNAS requires copies of syllabi from every nursing course I took...I didn't keep any of that stuff after I graduated, so getting copies took some time. February 2016 - Sent off my all my NNAS paperwork - phew! March 2016 - heard from NNAS that since I sent the paperwork from my nursing school myself (dropping it off at Fed Ex or wherever) it couldn't be accepted. It had to be sent in something official looking from my nursing school. Fortunately, I could put all the syllabi on a jump drive, saving a lot of paper, time and money! May 2016 - got my NNAS assessment, "somewhat comparable" Applied to CRNBC July 2016 - Got first email from CRNBC, paid various application fees, totaling around 600 USD (I think...) August 2016 - another email from CRNBC, asking for some paperwork and permission to do a background check. December 2016 - approved for licensure in BC, paid dues to CRNBC and am now registered! Time to start the job hunt! Hope this helps - applying for licensure in Canada as an IEN is *not* an easy process, if it wasn't for my husband going to school there (he's a dual citizen, but from Vancouver) I don't think I would have done this. If you're thinking of applying for licensure as an IEN, just be prepared for a long and expensive process. Worked out well for me (phew!) but I was pretty anxious for a lot of that time.

Thanks! I hope so too, I miss nursing!

CRNBC has responded to my application. They said I am eligible to have my NCLEX-RN results recognized, so I had the board of nursing from the US contact them. Now I'm waiting for background check results. I imagine that since I passed the NCLEX, I wouldn't have to take another exam, but the process isn't exactly clear, so I'm not holding my breath

No request for further testing so far

My report was "somewhat comparable" I did an ABSN option in the US.

Hi there - I just relocated to Canada from the US (not b/c of Trump, my husband is from Vancouver and is going to school here). Anyway, it is a LONG process to get your license here. I started the NNAS review in January, and I still do not have my nursing license. Hopefully it will just be another six weeks, fingers crossed, I'm itching to get back to work! My understanding (from CRNBC) is that I'd need to have an active license before applying for jobs. If you go to the licensure agency for the province where you want to work, they will have information for International Nurses. The NNAS review is quite slow, they require a copy of the syllabus for every nursing class you took while in school. If you're like me, you don't have any of those papers, and getting them took quite some time. After the NNAS completes your review, then you can apply to the provincial licensure organization (CRNBC for me). It is also a quite expensive process, I think I'm around 1,500 USD out just from applying for my RN license. I'm not trying to be discouraging, I'd just advise that it can take a long time and it isn't a cheap endeavor - might be different based on the province, but that's been my experience so far. Also, immigrating to Canada is not that easy. I came under Family Sponsorship, not sure what program you would think of immigrating under. Again, a lot of papers, a lot of money and a lot of time. I'd recommend doing a lot of research before starting on this process, both for immigration (check out CIC's website) and for licensure. Good luck.

Not sure where to start with this one, and I'm nervous to post, but here goes. I'm a new nurse, graduated a year ago, been working since March on a CV surgical unit (step-down from CVICU). I guess I'm wondering what it was like for others during their first year or two of practice. I mostly have weeks where I feel good about the quality of my work, but the last two weeks have just been difficult. I really feel like my critical thinking skills aren't up to snuff and that I have dropped balls recently. I got a (very professional) email from one of my charge nurses the other week - I had a patient with a supratherapeutic INR, their Coumadin was cancelled for that day, but the docs did not cancel their Lovenox. I gave their Lovenox dose as did the night shift nurse that evening. That was a big error on my part, and I feel terrible about it! I should have made that connection and called to cancel or suspend their Lovenox, but I didn't catch it. Fortunately, I work on a very good and professional floor, so that was brought to my attention in a way that did not feel demeaning, but still. It shouldn't have happened and it was my fault that it did happen. And then yesterday after I got home I had a nagging feeling that I forgot to do something, and woke up at 3am realizing that I had left a syringe of Dilaudid in my cart (!!!!) which caused a HUGE freak out moment for me. I really do not know what is going on with me right now, but I felt like things were going well and I was delivering good care and asking for help when I was unsure and now I've had these two major mistakes in the last week! Has anyone else had experiences like this? I think I just need some help with perspective - am I not cut out to be an RN? Do I need to switch to a less acute floor? Do other people make these kinds of errors? And I can't attribute this to being on a floor with bad dynamics or a lot of cattiness - the senior nurses and charge nurses are really helpful and understanding, so I really think there is something wrong with me. I'm kind of losing it right now over this, I haven't talked to anyone at work - not because people are mean, just because I am incredibly embarrassed and scared. But if anyone out there has any experiences, thoughts or advice to share, please do so! I really love my job, but am questioning if I'm in over my head right now. Please help! Thank you!

meanmaryjean: So, I take a unisom and melatonin between my shifts, and get around 6 hours, sometimes 7. On my stretches off, sleep is really hit or miss. I'm hesitant to get too reliant on sleep aids, but sometimes I will take a unisom or melatonin to help out. Typically, after my third shift on I won't take a sleep aid and I'll sleep until around 1300/1400, and then go back to bed around 2030 (any later than that and I get a second wind and can't get back to sleep). Then I'll typically sleep until around 0200, get up and read for a bit, back to bed at 0400/0500 for another hour or two of sleep. And that pattern (up at 0200 for a few hours) has been how I'll sleep during my stretches off since I've been on nights. Every once in a while I'll sleep the whole night through on my stretches off, which feels really great.