UK midwife starting work as a Canadian Obstetric nurse - advice?

[poppy2]

Hi there, I am a Uk trained midwife and I am going for my first interview next week as an Obstetric nurse on L&D (Nova Scotia). I wanted to know anything that might be of some use.

Would it be of any use to go with a professional profile/portfolio as we do in the UK?

Are there any places online someone can direct me to so that I can read more about the current issues effecting obstetrics in Canada, specifically Nova scotia.

Are there any nurses here working in NS?

I would appreciate any information!!:bowingpur

Thanks, Rachel x

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Will leave this here for a while and if no responses, we'll be happy to move your post to the Canadian nurses forum, ok? :)

[jenib]

I am a Canadian OBS nurse working in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton). I worked with UK trained midwives when I first graduated, in Ontario. I learnt more from them than any school could have taught me. They were far more hands on, and were used to doing a lot more than nurses in Canada do. In fact, MDs frequently didn't need to come for the delivery, the midwives did everything. I think you may find yourself limited here. A portfolio would be good to bring, the College of Nurses of Nova Scotia insists we maintain and update ours individually. Generally, at the interview, they will just ask you your experience, any courses you might have. The interview will probably consist of "scenarios" and how you would handle them. They may consist of anything from how to deal with a difficult doctor to an OBS emergence. The interviews are fairly standard. We usually have three management personal interviewing each person at a time. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Good Luck!

[poppy2]

Thank you so much for that, it all helps! I think the bones of the work will be remarkably similar, the things that will be the stumling blocks for me will be the pharmacology, the protocols and the differing role with the MDs. That all aside (easily said isnt it) it should be money for old rope (I hope!!!). We shall see. Will work hard this weekend to make a portfolio that is up to date, as mine is woefully old.

Thanks!!

[Dustbinlyd]

Hi,

I realise that this post is 3 years old but Im desperate!! Poppy, as a Uk midwife, how did you go about retraining as an Ob nurse in Canada. I am a Uk midwife, been practising for 7 years. We are looking at emigrating to Toronto and Im trying to find out if and how it would be possible to become an Ob nurse. Any information or guidance would be greatly appreciated!!!

[lubydoo]

Hi Ladies,

I was hoping to hear from Poppy2 and Dustbinlyd. I'm in a slightly odd situation. I'm an MD living in Ontario but I trained in the UK which included 4 months as an Obs/gynae SHO in Kent. I had a great experience with the midwife-lead culture there and really want that set up for myself in Canada. The job of 'midwife' and 'OB Nurse' here seem to have different meanings compared with the UK Midwife.

Would you recommend I hook up with a midwife here or go along with the the Ob Nurse only - who sort of seems to do the job of the UK midwife. I don't want to be worried about politics of who trumps who during the event. There seems a great divide here between the MD's and the Midwives (I've only grasped this from the MD gossip and online mum forums), which I didn't see in the UK where they seemed to be partners more than competition. I'm under no illusion that the MD role here seems to be to 'catch' in the last 5 minutes, bill and then disappear unless something more involved is required.

Would be interested in your opinions.

Thanks and hope setting up in Canada has been straightforward!

Best, L