still with no working experience.. need help

Canadian Registered Nurse authorities are the one who will assess your paperwork, if you are eligible for taking their examination or you still need to undergo an assessment. Having a working experience is a plus factor for employers to hire you.

thank you for the reply official02 ^_^.

I am now reviewing for the IELTS exam. BUt do i still need to study sort like a bridging program when I get there???

thats the same thing my parents told me that i shouldnt be working anymore bec. im leaving anyway but if i could turned back the time i really wish i gained experience,official02 is right, and thay they might asked you what you did on the yrs that you werent working.

@spongebob6286, i hope you do not mind if i'll ask if you are now working abroad as a registered nurse? Was it hard for you to look for a job even without any working experience here?

if the board will ask me, can i just say that i've been taking up my masters degree in nursing and attended some trainings like bls, ivt and hospital trainings? i know that trainings can't be considered as experience but i think it will be better that at least I've been doing something to hone my nursing skills instead of just doing nothing.

thank you very much for the replies..

Which part of Canada do you think you will be settling in? There are hiring freezes in place in several provinces. Canadian new grads are having a hard time finding that first job, be it part time, full time, or casual.

Things such as IVT are considered basic education here and are included in the basic nursing education. Extra certificates in what are considered basic nursing skills really are going to impress anyone here.

Your education will be scrutinized. Several provinces have found that degrees issued by some schools aren't the equivalent of Cdn. degrees and remedial education is required. Factor in the years of education you received before attending university in the Phillipines and you could be facing a few semesters at university in Canada to reach the required minimum level of education.

My mom and other relatives are in Surrey, B.C so i guess i'll be settling on that place also. If my nursing education here in the Philippines is not sufficient to meet their requirements, i am willing to continue my education in Canada. Though i hope it won't take me another year or two.

I read from the website of British Columbia that they require internationally educated nurses to complete some requirements to be eligible to write their CRNE. one of the requirements is 1000+ working hours. Does it mean i will not be given the chance to take their exam since i have zero experience?

Hi julagz.

I think we are in the same boat, March 2009 graduate and June 2009 board passer. I am also reviewing for my IELTS now and will take the exam on April 24. Good thing you have your relatives there, I don't have. After that, I will pass all the needed forms through courier at CRNBC for them to assess.

Here's what I learned:

1. They will assess your paperwork, it will take around 2-3 months for them to report about your status. You may be eligible for CRNE and you only need to pass that exam and have a supervised work there to be registered as a Nurse.

2. If not, you may need to take SEC Assessment. You may be assessed to take the whole sub-specialization or only part of it, it may take around 1 week for the whole process and waiting for the result is around a month. If they think you need a bridging program, then you have no choice but to undergo such. If you passed, then you now eligible for CRNE.

I do not know if working experience in the Philippines is really that important because your your RLE records and education background is what will they assess, correct me if I'm wrong. And I don't think most applicants will be immediately eligible for CRNE, again, it is for them to judge.

@ official02, good luck on your upcoming exam. I don't know if it is true, but i've read from another forum that the minimum requirement for IELTS has changed. I'm really not sure though. Or it is still IELTS minimum of 6.5 score and minimum grade of 7 in speaking test? PLs. enlighten me with this one.

Which province or territorial body in Canada are you going to apply? I've read from previous posts that experience is not necessary when applying for eligibility to write the CRNE since we're new graduates. But still i am having second thoughts because no one might employ me abroad because of my lack of experience.

@spongebob6286, i hope you do not mind if i'll ask if you are now working abroad as a registered nurse? Was it hard for you to look for a job even without any working experience here?

if the board will ask me, can i just say that i've been taking up my masters degree in nursing and attended some trainings like bls, ivt and hospital trainings? i know that trainings can't be considered as experience but i think it will be better that at least I've been doing something to hone my nursing skills instead of just doing nothing.

thank you very much for the replies..

it was really hard to look for a nursing job bec. the economy here isnt good, but thank God i was able to have 1. in one of the hospitals i applied they asked me about that and i answered i attended some trainings, i wasnt hired then.

I really appreciate all your replies. thank u very much. :) @spongebob6286, i am happy to hear that you were able to find a nursing job abroad even without working experience. Are you working in USA or Canada? Did they also require you to pass referral letters from the school you attended/ from hospitals you had trainings with?

After my IELTS exam, I'm planning to pass my application to the BON in british columbia for their assessment. Will it be better for me to pass my application here in the Philippines or i'll just pass it when we get there? TIA.

Hi julagz,

British Columbia is at the top of my thought.

Anyway, I will be starting my nurse-volunteer experience in April. I hope somehow, it will help in finding an employer. About IELTS, I think it is still the same and just to be safe, we should get atleast 7 because it is the highest requirement around the world. Hehe.

Julagz, I sent you a PM. Have you read it already?

How can I find an employer?