UK Student Wanting To Go To Canada For 8 Week Placement

[Kimbochimbo]

Hey hey heyyy!! Im a second year student nurse, studying in Wales (UK) wanting to go on an international placement to Canada. My second cousin lives over there are is a practicing nurse, and suggested I work in the hospital near her, staying with her for the 8 weeks.. Ive taken this idea to my tutor and am waiting to hear back, but does anyone know about the conditions? What insurance and visa would I need, and is this even possible? Thanks so much, Kim xx

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You may have an issue because to work in the healthcare in Canada you need to pass a medical with an acceptable doctor. Your cousin also needs to find out whether it is OK for you as a student to do a placement in the hospital. You may have better luck seeing if your university has contacts with teaching establishments in Canada.

Moving this to the International forum

[Kimbochimbo]

My cousin has got me the details of the University and Hospital, they have just been passed on to my tutor, I was just wondering if it's possible in the first place! Has anyone done this sort of thing before? I don't think anyone in my University has done it... Xx

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

We have had members manage for Australia but can't remember anyone posting that they was successful for Canada.

[Fiona59]

Over the years a lot of people have posted wanting to do this but I don't recall one actually doing it.

The training facilities here have a hard time as it is getting clinical spots for their students with classes now being required to work weekends as well as more evening shifts than I remember doing.

The problem with the 8 week placement idea is that is nearly the length of the final placement for many of our PN and RN students. This would involve finding a preceptor on a unit that was willing to do this. Also remember that preceptors have to be able to contact a student's instructors easily and at all times. Then there is the preceptor's fee. It's usually a small "token" that under the union contracts preceptors are paid for the added responsibility of mentoring the student.

You can see that it is more complicated than having a relative suggest it. Has your relative ever preceptored? I know that many of the preceptors on my units are almost burnt out from the amount of students going through hospitals these days.

[Kimbochimbo]

My cousin has got all of the details and Ive passed the details on to my tutor, I was just enquiring if it had been done before and any obvious complications... Thanks so much!xx

[RGN1]

I have known students in the UK that have done placements in the USA, New York to be precise. They had to fund it all themselves but it was possible. Maybe the College of nursing in the Province you want to go to might be able to give you an idea, try contacting someone there. They will have a website with contact details on it.

I would imagine if you did go it would be on a study Visa. That costs around $150 I think.