RPN in Canada wanting to work in the usa

Fiona59 · Sep 17, 2007

Are you a Reg. Psych Nurse, or an RPN in Ontario (which is an LPN in the rest of the country)?

Patscats · Sep 17, 2007

Are you a Reg. Psych Nurse, or an RPN in Ontario (which is an LPN in the rest of the country)?

HI thanks for replying I am a Registered Practical Nurse in Canada but cgfns.org are telling me that I need a couple of courses to equil the LPN in the usa ex. working with children and psych/mental health along with clinical hours. This is in the RN program not rpn so I am very confused on how to deal with this. Help

RNGrad2006 · Sep 25, 2007

HI thanks for replying I am a Registered Practical Nurse in Canada but cgfns.org are telling me that I need a couple of courses to equil the LPN in the usa ex. working with children and psych/mental health along with clinical hours. This is in the RN program not rpn so I am very confused on how to deal with this. Help

If you need a work visa to work in the US it won't be possible unless you are married to an American. The TN visa and green card is only available to RN's. I am a Canadian and studied in the US but couldn't get work authorization until I finished my RN.

canadianrpn · Oct 10, 2007

Hi

I've been browsing thru different websites trying to figure out if an RPN is eligible for the TN Visa; I think we as RPN's are. Working my way thru the following website www.unitedstatesvisas.gov. I havent really looked thru the cgfns website other than to see that a NAFTA approved job listing was RN not RPN. If you have any further information that you could share it would be appreciated. As a further note I have an acquaintance in the US with a family member involved in a nurse staffing position; if I acquire any info I'll pass it along to you.

Best of luck

helptoworkintheusa · Oct 11, 2007

The only thing that i have done is to apply to cfgns. i have tried the visa route and have not been succesful. i have tried going to the US embassy and nothing. I even tried looking in the philippine newspaper for agency. They have a lot of agencies in the US that will sponsor nurses from the philippines, but will not sponsor nurses from canada..i am lost myself on what to do...is there any help for us in this profession at all.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Oct 11, 2007

You will find as a LPN very hard to work in the US for TN and GC you need to be RN

helptoworkintheusa · Oct 11, 2007

but why is that? is our profession not as good as an RN? we are needed being as that the RN are always too busy to tend to the patients in the manner that they should. would it not be right to want them there? i dont no..i'm getting real frustrated with the whole entire process that is involved.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Oct 11, 2007

It all goes on what is short and what is not and there is not a shortage of LPN's in the US. Many countries require RN for work not just the US

RNGrad2006 · Oct 12, 2007

The only thing that i have done is to apply to cfgns. i have tried the visa route and have not been succesful. i have tried going to the US embassy and nothing. I even tried looking in the philippine newspaper for agency. They have a lot of agencies in the US that will sponsor nurses from the philippines, but will not sponsor nurses from canada..i am lost myself on what to do...is there any help for us in this profession at all.

It is not because you are from Canada it is because you are an LPN (RPN). In order to qualify for a TN or a green card you have to be an RN there are no exceptions, unless as I stated before you get sponsored by a relative or husband. If you really want to come to the US you have continue school. You don't have to do the whole BSN. If you do a LPN to RN program in the US providing you can get into nursing school (long waiting lists) you can qualify. No use in fighting the rules but try to work with them. Believe me I know how you feel I worked a whole summer crossing the border into Canada since I couldn't get work authorization in the US when I was an LPN and had to explain over and over to the border guards that I was going to Canada to work not the other way around.

Vida · Nov 1, 2007

Hey - Im not an expert...but am also going through all of this crap currently..I am an RPN from Ontario, living in UT.

I sent in all my cgfns stuff and they said nothing other than its done and all sent to the NYS people to be processed...I am assuming no probs.

The immigration stuff I am not sure of - I am married to a US citizen and have a GC, but once you have a NY license cant you get it reciprocated for the state you want to work in, find an employer and apply for a work visa (regular, not the nafta)? like it was said above..it depends if you are providing work that is considered in shortage in the US though.

I am also working on the rn adn program through Excelsior College and I am not sure yet if my ON rpn schooling will transfer (I am doubting it), but they have accepted my ontario license ...you need a license to get into the program. If you are interested in going back to school to get into the US, this college is an option. It is an online program that shouldnt take you more than a year, is reasonably priced, and will enable you to sit for the RN nclex in NY. There's alot of info on this site too - if you're interested in pros and cons. I am enjoying it though.

canadianrpn · Nov 1, 2007

Vida:

Would you be able to send a link to Excelsior College; I have been looking at the bridge to ADN through a college in Port Huron but it is not online. I would be very interested in looking at the online course.