maanderson

I just got a job with ahs as a IEN RN in February 2016. Because there is a union and you are an IEN the jobs available to you are smaller. I was able to get a position in a small town hospital with a temporary partime for a maternity leave. Alberta has one of he best unions in Canada, and although Alberta overall isn't doing great my hospital is still hiring people and there have been no cut backs yet. Alberta is one of the only good provinces to go to if you are an IEN. Don't go to Manitoba... Their system right now is exploitive costing IEN an exorbitant about of time and money. . So keep trucking along and applying for jobs. It's very unlikely you will even get an interview for any jobs in Edmonton or Calgary however.

I applied originally to Manitoba and Alberta. Manitoba unfortunately makes all their Internationally Educated Nurses take a Competency Assessment (same as what you have taken at Kwantlan Polytechnic in BC). Unfortunately in Manitoba in order to take this assessment it would cost me $1,300+. Thankfully in Alberta I do not have to take any assessment... and I have recently been hired as an RN! Manitoba and BC have pretty much the same process, which is ridiculous and I would say a scam (more so Manitoba than BC), so I say your best bet is to attempt going to Alberta if you can! Last month or so I saw a CBC article about how BC was having a nursing shortage and wanted to get IENs working to decrease the current shortage. I called CRNBC and asked about the new system they were going to set in place and if individuals would still need to take the SEC. They made it sound like they were not able to give any information and that it was likely individuals would still have to take the SEC. I would say to contact the CRNBC again and ask questions because things most likely have changed in a month since I talked to them. Once I am done moving I am planning on contacting the media to highlight difficulties IENs are facing, specifically US RNs. It would be great to have a few IENs that I can say went through/are going through the same challenges. If you want PM me, I would really like to hear more of your story! Also have you taken the SEC at Polytechnic? How was it?

Yes, I am a US native. I went to a US state school and received my Bachelors of Nursing, 4 year degree.

@cmagier, I applied originally to Manitoba and Alberta. Manitoba unfortunately makes all their Internationally Educated Nurses take a Competency Assessment (same as what you have taken at Kwantlan Polytechnic in BC). Unfortunately in Manitoba in order to take this assessment it would cost me $1,300+. Thankfully in Alberta I do not have to take any assessment... and I have recently been hired as an RN! Manitoba and BC have pretty much the same process, which is ridiculous and I would say a scam (more so Manitoba than BC), so I say your best bet is to attempt going to Alberta if you can! Last month or so I saw a CBC article about how BC was having a nursing shortage and wanted to get IENs working to decrease the current shortage. I called CRNBC and asked about the new system they were going to set in place and if individuals would still need to take the SEC. They made it sound like they were not able to give any information and that it was likely individuals would still have to take the SEC. I would say to contact the CRNBC again and ask questions because things most likely have changed in a month since I talked to them. Once I am done moving I am planning on contacting the media to highlight difficulties IENs are facing, specifically US RNs. It would be great to have a few IENs that I can say went through/are going through the same challenges. If you want PM me, I would really like to hear more of your story! Also have you taken the SEC at Polytechnic? How was it?

Hello! This post is to locate current IENs (Internationally Educated Nurses) going through the Canadian licensing system in Manitoba, Alberta, and BC-- specifically Registered Nurses. I am curious about discussing your story and see how it parallels mine. I ask that if you were an IEN that successfully became an RN more than a year ago that you don't comment, because things have changed quite a bit and we will not be discussing the same process you've experienced. I am very interested in talking with RNs from the US, but also would like to hear from nurses coming from other countries. Thank you !! Please only comment if you have something helpful to say, if this post does not pertain to you there is no need to comment. Ps. I have a meeting scheduled with the Manitoba Health Workforce Secretariat to discuss the difficulties IENs are facing in the province.... so I'm very interested in hearing your story so I can relay it in the future. Maybe we can rally together and seek change. I am also possibly planning on contacting the media after my meeting with the Secretariat.

Thank you! I have done this. But appreciate your sharing!!

The point of this blog is to help others. I have done lots of research and know of many private organizations. However I thought I would ask on here to see if there were any organizations I had not learned of that were not readily accessible on the internet. I am specifically asking those who live in Alberta who would know organizations readily. My intent is not to have others do searching for me. We are all resources for one another. And I would be happy to share this information with others if they were looking for organizations in my area and were from another country or region. If a commentor doesn't have anything helpful to say, there is no need to comment. Thank you

jrennie15, So 2 years later... to the date... would you say this is still true? I am applying for jobs in Alberta. Have applied to about 50ish and nothing. Wondering if you could give any insight.

If any one is interested in moving to Manitoba who is an Internationally Educated Nurse, DONT. I repeat DO NOT! The system is horrible, apply to any other province, trust me!

Hello, I am curious if there are any private clinics or health organizations hiring RNs in Alberta other than AHS and Covenant Health Services. If so could you please state the names of the private clinics/organizations. Thank you!!