Unemployed grad nurse - Initial RN registration with CARNA questions!

[jess1ca]

Hi all. I'm currently an unemployed graduate nurse in Alberta - graduated from my nursing program in April - I took/passed the June 2010 CRNE. I have a temporary grad nurse permit (that's gathering dust) which expires in October.

Anyways, it (the paper we got with our CRNE results) says that the RN practice permit is effective October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011 and that 2011 initial RN registration can be completed online - contact CARNA.

I don't have a job at the moment, so can I still do the initial RN registration? Can I contact CARNA now or do I need to get a job first?

Also, it says something about employer reference - "Please note that if you don't complete initial registration within six months of completing your nursing program, you'll be required to provide an employer reference regarding your nursing practice."

I don't have a job, so what is this employer reference? Is it going to kick me in the behind when the six months (October) rolls to my front steps and I'm still unemployed?

Thanks for your help! I'm freaking out at the moment!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

you're a new grad, with a temporary grad permit to practice in alberta. carna doesn't care that you don't have a job. that employer reference is for people from other provinces or countries who already hold a registration there that are registering here for the first time. you are already registered in alberta so you're actually renewing, not obtaining initial registration. because you're a new grad you are exempt from the currency of practice hours requirement.

"currency of practice, which is met by completing any of the following in the past five years: - minimum of 1125 hours of satisfactory nursing practice

- graduation from a basic nursing education program

- completion of a post-rn nursing degree, or

- successful completion a nursing refresher program satisfactory to the registration committee"

you must renew before midnight on september 1 to avoid a "late" fee (ignore the fact that the registration year doesn't actually start til october 1). you can do it online; look at your temporary permit and find your registration number. that's your user id for online registration. if you don't know whether you have a password, click on the forgot your password link and they'll send it to you. they do have your email address don't they? they've already moved to online or in-person registration only so i would expect that you've given them an email address. then you just need to follow the instructions on the screen. it's not that bad, the worst part is the $$$$ they'll be extracing from your wallet.