US Nursing Experience

rikomom · Mar 28, 2005

thank you for the good advice.i have kids too and working full time.i really need a long time to study for nclex just to make sure i'm not wasting money and time if i take it.it was my first time to attend last sat.there were canadian hosp,n.carolina,california(north and central)texas,arizona and some recruitment agencies.i am very nervous to move but i really love to try and see whats in the other side for me.i know it will be hard especially for my family but i just wanna be in a warmer place,better salary,better opportunity i guess.i have a friend fr.florida in fort lauderdale in the administrative posn so just in case you're interested.goodluck to us.

Hi Gloryjean14:

Thank you for telling me about your friend in Florida. Actually, one time, my husband and I were thinking about Florida. But, we are now interested in Hawaii since my family is there. I also agree with you moving to other places is not easy. I know it from my own experience since I also immigrated to Canada 7 years ago. There are lots os hardships waiting..so it's not something for everyone but I know there are lots more opportunities outside of this province! Keep in touch and good luck to us.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 28, 2005

You are now required to write the NCLEX exam as a Canadian. In the recent past, insome states you could get get reciprocity based on your Canadian license but not anymore. You are required to have a Visa Screen Certificate to be able to get the TN Visa.

I recommend applying for the Visa Screen Certificate as soon as possible, and the Board of Nursing as soon as possible. It is Pearson-Vue that you do not want to submit to for the NCLEX exam, until you have your letter of approval from the state BON. The ATT letter that Pearson-Vue will send out, after you have paid them the $200 US, is only goof for 90 days. This has nothing to do with the application process for the Board or CGFNS for the Visa Screen Certifcate. Keep in mind that the VSC will take you approximately four months to receive after you complete the NCLEX exam. Please keep this time frame in mind. You will not receive the Certificate instantly when applying for it.

gloryjean14 · Mar 28, 2005

You are now required to write the NCLEX exam as a Canadian. In the recent past, insome states you could get get reciprocity based on your Canadian license but not anymore. You are required to have a Visa Screen Certificate to be able to get the TN Visa.
I recommend applying for the Visa Screen Certificate as soon as possible, and the Board of Nursing as soon as possible. It is Pearson-Vue that you do not want to submit to for the NCLEX exam, until you have your letter of approval from the state BON. The ATT letter that Pearson-Vue will send out, after you have paid them the $200 US, is only goof for 90 days. This has nothing to do with the application process for the Board or CGFNS for the Visa Screen Certifcate. Keep in mind that the VSC will take you approximately four months to receive after you complete the NCLEX exam. Please keep this time frame in mind. You will not receive the Certificate instantly when applying for it.

thanks suzanne for all the helpful information.i know that you've helped lots of people in this forum and we really appreciate it.i have a question for you.i took my nclex long time ago so i have my permanent id #.when i checked it by phoning cgfns 800 # they still have my file.do i have to send another verification of my education and licensure in my country or they will use my file since i did the same thing when i applied for my cgfns exam?i know i have to send the papers here in canada since i am also licensed here.i also took a refresher course here,do i have to send a verification letter to my school here too?and which would be faster applying through texas bon or ny then get reciprocity to have licence in texas?sorry for bombarding you with these questions and thank you very much.

gloryjean14 · Mar 28, 2005

Hi Gloryjean14:
Thank you for telling me about your friend in Florida. Actually, one time, my husband and I were thinking about Florida. But, we are now interested in Hawaii since my family is there. I also agree with you moving to other places is not easy. I know it from my own experience since I also immigrated to Canada 7 years ago. There are lots os hardships waiting..so it's not something for everyone but I know there are lots more opportunities outside of this province! Keep in touch and good luck to us.

hi rikomama,i too migrated here fr.phils in 1997.had to do a refresher and took the cnats in 2001.fr which country were you from if you dont mind.i have a co worker who is planning on relocating to hawaii too and he knows a nurse recruiter .it's good to have a family in the place where you are moving to.it makes it easier.i like to move to texas eventhough i dont have relatives there.my relatives are in cali,ny n florida but texas seem to be a nice place to raise my kids.i agree with you,there are lots of opportunities out there.we just have to be really wise and careful and we can always go back to canada if we want to.

rikomom · Mar 28, 2005

hi rikomama,i too migrated here fr.phils in 1997.had to do a refresher and took the cnats in 2001.fr which country were you from if you dont mind.i have a co worker who is planning on relocating to hawaii too and he knows a nurse recruiter .it's good to have a family in the place where you are moving to.it makes it easier.i like to move to texas eventhough i dont have relatives there.my relatives are in cali,ny n florida but texas seem to be a nice place to raise my kids.i agree with you,there are lots of opportunities out there.we just have to be really wise and careful and we can always go back to canada if we want to.

Which area are you working in? I work in acute medicine area and have only 6 months experience. I am thinking to go float before going to the states so that I can gain more broad knowledge, experience, and flexibility....do you agree? I know most phillipino nurses are really excellent! You guys are so knowledgeable and skillful. My co-workers from Phillipine always give me hands and advice. I am from Japan and studied nursing here. I used to live in Oklahoma so I know somewhat it is like living down south. It's totally different from here. Even the English accent! Living cost is very acceptable and I enjoyed the weather there. It must be good place to raise kids. If you have a chance, you should go and check it out!

gloryjean14 · Mar 29, 2005

Which area are you working in? I work in acute medicine area and have only 6 months experience. I am thinking to go float before going to the states so that I can gain more broad knowledge, experience, and flexibility....do you agree? I know most phillipino nurses are really excellent! You guys are so knowledgeable and skillful. My co-workers from Phillipine always give me hands and advice. I am from Japan and studied nursing here. I used to live in Oklahoma so I know somewhat it is like living down south. It's totally different from here. Even the English accent! Living cost is very acceptable and I enjoyed the weather there. It must be good place to raise kids. If you have a chance, you should go and check it out!

hi rikomama,i started working as a grad nurse in dec 2001.i currently work in medicine/day surgery/telemetry ward.our ward used to be cardiology with step down ccu but we lost it last year to st.b.i like cardiology.i also had few months experience in burns and plastics and also ortho and rheumatology.i think if we get a very good orientation in u.s we'll be ok.lots to learn but manageable.it would be nice to be in the floatpool coz you get to go to several wards.very good to gain experience.i have lots of friends on the floatpool and they love it.i havent actually looked anything about hawaii coz i heard the cost of living is high but i know that there are lots of filipinos there and the weather is good just like ours back home.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 29, 2005

thanks suzanne for all the helpful information.i know that you've helped lots of people in this forum and we really appreciate it.i have a question for you.i took my nclex long time ago so i have my permanent id #.when i checked it by phoning cgfns 800 # they still have my file.do i have to send another verification of my education and licensure in my country or they will use my file since i did the same thing when i applied for my cgfns exam?i know i have to send the papers here in canada since i am also licensed here.i also took a refresher course here,do i have to send a verification letter to my school here too?and which would be faster applying through texas bon or ny then get reciprocity to have licence in texas?sorry for bombarding you with these questions and thank you very much.

CGFNS only keeps your documents for two years. If the documents are older than two years, they will need to be submitted again. If you need to go that route, I highly suggest that you go thru NY, as CGFNS will obtain all of the needed documents for you. Especially since you are no longer in your home country.

Artis · May 11, 2005

HI, if you want to be a nurse here in the USA, be prepared to have some money saved. Every thing costs money, every little bit of paper work which you have to do, costs at least 20.00 American. For example once I got my license($), I had to send out a verification form which I had to obtain from CGFNS and then I had to send that form to the board of nurisng so they could send it to CGFNS. The cost was 26.00 for this one. ( This is just a piece of the puzzle) There should be one flat fee for the whole visa process.

Hi Everyone,
Wondering if any fellow canadians could share their recent experience with regards to obtaining a job and VISA in the US. I am thinking of a move to
Florida and wondering how long the process takes between obtaining a job offer to actually going down to start work. How were the NCLEX and CGFNS exams? Any info greatly appreciated.

Artis · May 11, 2005

HI suzane thanks for all your great help. I am sending my verification of licensure from minnosota and just recently from DC to CGFNS/ ICHP . Is the visascreen a general document or is it something that needs to indicate that I m licensed in DC. thanks again

Either way, which ever state that you get initial licensure in, don't forget that you will need to have a Visa Screen Certificate to cross the border. Also take into account the amount of time that it will take you to endorse to another state. Simple one is Florida, allow a few months for this. They are not the fastest...................and the fees for licensure in the new state.

pediatriclpn · May 11, 2005

I am just wondering why all you Canadian nurses want to come to the States. I let a woman who had crossed the border, married, had a child with someone who was abusive, it has been about 7 years since she left Canada. She still doesn't have a visa or any papers for being here in the states.I let her live with me for a little while before she went back to the abusive husband, and she was always saying how much better Canada was than the states. So I just don't understand why the want to come south. I don't have a problem with it, come on down, we need more nurses. I am just wondering why you want to leave Canada.

suzanne4, RN · May 11, 2005

Visa Screen is a document that says that they verified that you have passed your English exams (if needed), passed either CGFNS or NCLEX, and have no violations listed against you wherever you have had a license to practice as a Registered Nurse..........

It is essentially a general document................ :)

beausud · May 12, 2005

I am just wondering why all you Canadian nurses want to come to the States. I let a woman who had crossed the border, married, had a child with someone who was abusive, it has been about 7 years since she left Canada. She still doesn't have a visa or any papers for being here in the states.I let her live with me for a little while before she went back to the abusive husband, and she was always saying how much better Canada was than the states. So I just don't understand why the want to come south. I don't have a problem with it, come on down, we need more nurses. I am just wondering why you want to leave Canada.

hmmm... i guess everyone has their own reasons. for the most part its safe to say $$ plays a big role. perhaps working conditions will come in 2nd. i dunno. the main reason why i started to travel was cause i didnt want to go back to our surgical floor and have 10 to 15 patients each shift (NOC). i was replacing someone in the ICU at that time. i got spoiled w/ having just 3 patients. i honestly can say that back then, i didnt fully realize how much more $$ money i could make doing the same job w/ less patients here in the US; i.e.: safer, better working conditions (in general)-depends on the facility. ofcourse everyone has different reasons. right now for me its going to be how much comprimise im am willing to make between salary and quality of life. the one thing that i can say is that i am fortunate to have these choices.

after seeing my fair share of indigent patients..., as i sit here warm and dry, in front of my laptop w/ a fridge full of food... wether i will end up here in the US or Canada. neither is a bad choice! :) :Melody: