RN with no hospital exp.. how to get one?

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I live in the Fraser Valley in BC.

I am actually an IEN educated in the states and I passed all the criteria and did not have to take any refresher courses before taking the CRNE.

I had to work in one of the private nursing homes to get full time job right away to immigrate in Canada and support my family, serving in a semi-rural city area with a great need for nurses. 3 years passed and after settling in Canada I really want to pursue my dreams of becoming a critical care nurse.

Currently I am taking an online wound care course and also volunteering at the local hospital.

I asked the hospitals in the local area and they consider me a RN with no experience because residential care does not qualify as experience and I am considered as not competitive.

I worked ever since I graduated, and I am wondering what to do now.

I know job prospects as an RN is horrible. I know many LPN's around me who can't get a full time job let alone a casual and most start out as a care aid. I know many new grad RN's who can't find a job for months.

Are there refresher courses that can help RN's update their clinical skills to get into an acute care job?

I know there are specialty courses but BCIT critical care course recommends 6 months of acute care experience, which I don't have.

Is there a better job prospect in Northern BC or Interior BC for a nurse like me who does not have acute care experience, but is willing to work in any acute unit and relocate anywhere in BC to gain exp?

If there are any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance,

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I would suggest taking the 1st theory course at BCIT at least in order to help get into critical care! I know several students taking the acute course and they say they are fine without the 6 months of experience, it's not a requirement just a suggestion. I would also apply for jobs on medical and surgical units to get your foot in the door and work on your skills, once they see you've been working on a med/surg unit and have taken at least the first acute care course I think your chances will be a lot higher of getting the dream job. Have you applied to all of the hospitals in the Fraser valley? Chilliwack? Mission?? Abbotsford? Hope? Apply to them all and get your foot in the door! Good luck 😀

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PS you could try going up north but many of the jobs want you to have some experience as there are limited resources in some community's but apply it doesn't hurt to try right?

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I would suggest taking the 1st theory course at BCIT at least in order to help get into critical care! I know several students taking the acute course and they say they are fine without the 6 months of experience, it's not a requirement just a suggestion. I would also apply for jobs on medical and surgical units to get your foot in the door and work on your skills, once they see you've been working on a med/surg unit and have taken at least the first acute care course I think your chances will be a lot higher of getting the dream job. Have you applied to all of the hospitals in the Fraser valley? Chilliwack? Mission?? Abbotsford? Hope? Apply to them all and get your foot in the door! Good luck ������

when did Mission and Chilliwack get acute care hospitals? I thought Abbotsford covered them.

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I tried all hospitals from Delta to Mission to Hope.

Apparently it's the HR that contacts each and every job I applied for but they say I am an external applicant with no acute care experience and I am not competitive for acute care. I worked in a Rehabilitation Unit at a long term setting also in the states.

They asked me if I want to work in non-acute care settings, which is very discouraging. On the BCIT website I saw that there was an acute experience requirement for long term care nurses as 6 to 12 months, so I don't know if they will ask me if I try to register for the course. I can give it a try though. Thank you!

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I actually got hired at the local hospital a few weeks ago. After attempting to meet and contact every manager of the unit I was interested in, I got very lucky and got offered an interview. At the interview I got hired on the spot at a Transition Unit. After I work for a bit I am going to get oriented for the Acute Care Unit. Thank you for the tips! After I work in the acute care unit I am definitely going to look into Specialty courses for sure!

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Specializes in Indigenous Health, Virtual Care & Medicine.

Hello OP,

I am wondering what wound care course are you taking online? I am quite interested in learning more about wound care.

Thank you.

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