US RN New Graduate wants to move to CANADA

[mrmac-cheeso]

Hi there moderators and nurses!

Its my break week (thanks to Yom Kippur) and I don't go on Allnurses that often but desperate times calls for desperate measures. I am not really sure that this would be a great place for my thread but since Canada really is international and so am I.

I'm a Malaysian citizen, studying in the US in a 4 year bachelor degree program and will be taking my NCLEX licensure very soon in the beginning of 2009. I'm at my senior year at Binghamton University and I am very excited about working as a registered nurse. I have always wanted to stay in the US and work but the current retrogression is not working out for me. So I decided to head to Canada.

This is the problem. I do not know where to start. I know most of my questions have been answered a MILLION times but it will be easier to get a quick, simple, straightforward reply from the experts, instead of browsing through a pile of threads for hours, time which I should put to good use instead of countless hours searching for unsure answers. I have gone through a lot of threads relating to Canada immigration policies and nursing related matters but I cant seem to find some of the answers I wanted. Another reason why I want to have this thread is because I want to summarize all my questions and compile all my questions into one thread so that I don't go crazy linking and bookmarking which thread to look for for a particular question. I apologize that this drive you moderators crazy but I rather spend time working on this thread rather than going thru threads that Im not even sure would answer my specific questions. I'm sorry for that. I am sure that people in my same situation would benefit from the questions I have.

Back to my questions, so I decide to move to Canada and immigrate there permanently. Lets say I graduated, and I am planning to take the NCLEX, I want to work in British Columbia or Ontario. I have not found an employer yet. I am not sure where I can find employers in Canada at the moment who would employ a US graduate - non citizen. Where can I find hospitals or employment agencies that would help me in my job hunt?

1. If I took the NCLEX, will I need to take CRNE just to prove my nursing skills and practice again? Is there such thing as a equivalent, and not have to take the CRNE? What about TOEFL, will I need to take it again even though I graduated from the United States?

2. In order to immigrate, do you need work experience as a nurse or other work in order to qualify? Does anybody know whether hospital employs fresh grad students out of nursing school? All i see in the thread I'd read are people who have long term experiences but nobody I found that are fresh grads from college. So there are questions don't apply to me Im afraid.

3. What is the first step I should take in my current situation am in now? Should I find an employer from CANADA first, or should I take the CRNE first? What is the order of these priorities....(a)find empl0yer (b)take CRNE © getting permanent residency

4. Do you need to be a Permanent Resident to be able to work as an RN in Canada? What are the requirements and what kind of paperwork does it entail?

5. Do you think I should get employed through a nursing recruitment agency? Whats the pros and cons? Are there any you could recommend?

I will think of more questions to ask but for now, this might be just it.

I know you will be tealling me that these have been answered a lot of times but if you would to be a great help, you would post links to the threads that would answer my specific questions, and that I would owe you in much gratitude!

Muchas gracias:bow:

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

You've got that right, jenn8500. Canada has been a stepping-stone for many nurses in the past and probably always will be. The mentality is, "Well, I can't get into the US right now so I might as well go to Canada and wait for the day when things open up again. I'll make some good money and who cares that I might be insulting the Canadian nurses I work with by suggesting they're second-best." Tenyears ago there was an influx of nurses from outside Canada into Manitoba. They made no effort at all to conceal their true intentions, some going so far as to brag that they were using their Canadian practice permits and their PTO to make a quick trip south to write the NCLEX within a few months of arriving. Within 18 months pretty much all of them were gone and Manitoba was once again seriously short of nurses.

With the economic woes currently facing most provinces here, there are few vacancies and our recent grads (2009 and 2010) are finding it very hard to obtain employment. That doesn't mean there aren't shortages, it just means that the positions aren't being filled.

[jenn8500]

Canada has been a stepping-stone for many nurses in the past and probably always will be.

It's really sad that this is the case. In these hard economic times, it's too bad that Canada doesn't implement some form of retrogression.

They sure dont conceal there true intentions on here. They have the audacity to say they are only "willing" to work in Canada or that they "Can't work in the U.S, so they'll work in Canada until retrogression is over" and the like. Maybe I'm just too sensitive, but I percieve this as rude and offensive. They really are just taking advantage of working and living in Canada.

There were a few people in my nursing program who were from overseas and were asking for advice on working in Canada (big shocker!). They actually thought that they could work in Canada upon passing the NCLEX. They were in for a big surprise.

When I'm eligible to work in Canada, I sure hope the jobs aren't snatched up by those who are waiting out the retrogression for their golden ticket to the American dream. Having said all this, I really don't mean to sound unwelcoming. I am very open and welcoming to people that move to Canada for the RIGHT reasons.

[RN_Canada]

golden ticket to the American dream.

On the United Nations Human Development index Canada is rated as the fourth best country to live in in the world!

The USA is rated as number 12.

It makes one wonder why people would think that working in the US is a "dream" when Canada is a better country to live and work in?

Canadian new grads are having problems in many provinces finding that first job.

Entry level jobs are less plentiful than in 2008 or 2009, however, there are still lots of jobs on any of the health authority website career pages. They are , however, not entry level positions.

Once nurses already in the system move into those jobs then there will be more entry level positions available.

It will take more time to get that first nursing job in Canada.

This happens on a regular 8 -10 year cycle in Canada but all predictions on all the union websites and the CNA website are that a nursing shortage will continue well into the future.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

On the United Nations Human Development index Canada is rated as the fourth best country to live in in the world!

The USA is rated as number 12.

It makes one wonder why people would think that working in the US is a "dream" when Canada is a better country to live and work in?

That's a darned good question. I think the perception is that the US has a higher standard of living, even though that's been refuted. The perception that the pay is so much better and that working conditions are so much better also have been refuted. But you can't tell some people anything.

[itsmejuli]

I think the perception is that the US has a higher standard of living, even though that's been refuted. The perception that the pay is so much better and that working conditions are so much better also have been refuted. But you can't tell some people anything.

I'm always surprised by people who think that life is better in the US than Canada.

I'm looking forward to returning to Alberta, although its going to take me another 2 years. The only thing I'll miss about FL is the warm winters and palm trees.

From my personal experience the standard of living in FL is declining. Its getting harder and harder to find a job for everyone. The trend now appears to be that employers are hiring part-time and PRN in order to avoid providing benefits. With so many people unemployed its also apparent that wages are declining since employers know that people will work for whatever wage they offer out of desperation.

[RN_Canada]

I think the perception is that the US has a higher standard of living, even though that's been refuted.

Perception may be everything but the facts state differently. Canada has a higher percentage of people who own most of the wealth in the country.

I think that 3% of the people own 85% of the wealth in the US and 75% of the people own 60% of the wealth in Canada or something like that but it is a significant difference.

What this really means is that a few people in the US have a lot of money but that Canada has a higher standard of living for more people.

Some hospitals pay well in the US but all hospitals do not necessarily pay better. Wages can range from under $20 per hour to over $40 per hour.

You will not find that kind of wage disparity in Canada. Union agreements tend to fall into line with each other making the wages more uniform across the country. This stabilizes the work force as higher wages do not lure nurses to leave and go somewhere else.

One thing is for certain I am not going anywhere. I like living in Canada it is one of the best places in the world to live and I am not the only one who thinks that. Apparently the United Nations does too!

[jenn8500]

It makes one wonder why people would think that working in the US is a "dream" when Canada is a better country to live and work in?.

Perhaps some of these individuals who are trying to work in Canada as a last resort option will answer this. There seems to be alot of them. I just figure if they can come on here and post that they are only "willing" to work in Canada and then ask Canadian nurses for advice on working in Canada while suggesting Canada is inferior, then maybe they are bold enough to answer this question!!

Like someone else posted, statistics are one thing, but perception is everything. After living with many people from overseas, I did notice that they have this glamorous perception of the U.S., but its like Canada is percieved as an inferior country. Not that they all felt that way, but I did get that general impression from them.

Having lived in the U.S. and Canada, I think both countries are great to live in. I really don't think Canada is better than the U.S. nor do I think the U.S. is better than Canada. Both have their good and bad aspects. I have respect for the U.S., afterall that is were I was educated and I'm grateful that they allowed me to get my education there as it would have been difficult for me in Canada. In the same manner, I wish some of these individuals who are trying to work in Canada as a stepping stone would be more respectful towards Canada rather than assuming Canada is second best.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Hello. I am a Canadian new grad, and the job situation is not much better here. There are initiatives to hire new grads, but there aren't enough full time jobs for everyone. If you move here, you must take the CRNE. The NCLEX is the US version, which is not accepted in Canada. The same thing applies for us here. If I want to immigrate to the US, I am required to take the NCLEX.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

[a.aswathy]

hai

i live in uk,just thinking of moving to Canada.iam an RN.i spoke to someone from canadian immigration,are they reliable?.i dt have any friend or relatives in Canada?.they promised us to get permanent residency there.pls.give me a suggestion.many thx

[loriangel14, RN]

Were you speaking to someone from Citizenship and Immigration Canada or a private immigration consultant? Be wary of anyone who "promises" you anything. You don't need an agent to apply for immigration and they can't make the process any faster or guarantee results. Go to cic.gc.ca for information on the immigration process. You will also need to contact the college of nurses(our licensing bodies are called colleges) in the province or territory that you wish to live in and apply for a nursing license. They will assess your education and determine if you are eligible to write the CRNE which is required for licensure in Canada.Generally Canada requires that RNs have their BSN for licensure but I believe there are some rare exceptions. The links for contacting the colleges are found on a sticky at the top of the Canadian Forum.

[a.aswathy]

Were you speaking to someone from Citizenship and Immigration Canada or a private immigration consultant? Be wary of anyone who "promises" you anything. You don't need an agent to apply for immigration and they can't make the process any faster or guarantee results. Go to cic.gc.ca for information on the immigration process. You will also need to contact the college of nurses(our licensing bodies are called colleges) in the province or territory that you wish to live in and apply for a nursing license. They will assess your education and determine if you are eligible to write the CRNE which is required for licensure in Canada.Generally Canada requires that RNs have their BSN for licensure but I believe there are some rare exceptions. The links for contacting the colleges are found on a sticky at the top of the Canadian Forum.

thx.a lot for ur reply.i did free immigration assessment and one of the lawyer called me.i will try the web site you advised.God bless you.

[orangepink, NP]

Like someone else posted, statistics are one thing, but perception is everything. After living with many people from overseas, I did notice that they have this glamorous perception of the U.S., but its like Canada is percieved as an inferior country. Not that they all felt that way, but I did get that general impression from them.

Love your post! I am one of the BSN graduates here in the US who will relocate to Canada in a couple of years (for personal reasons and not the usual ones that you see/read here hehe). From my perspective, I never thought of Canada as an inferior country compared to the US. In fact, I've heard a lot of good reviews and positive comments about their healthcare and educational system. I'm going to try and answer to some of the issues raised in this thread.

Hollywood is America's best marketing strategy. Let's face it. That's why people from all over the world want to live in the US especially in California. I have a 20-something friend from Taiwan who barely speaks English and he took the risk of moving to California (he has no relatives / friends whatsoever) because he likes Disneyland and all that stuff. On my end, I came to the US (from Asia) because most of my friends and family are here. Try to understand that I don't want to be left behind all alone. Canada (or any country) will never be utopia but I'm hoping for a different, more peaceful pace, I guess.

However, with the advent of MTV's Teen Moms and Jersey Shore, I think that America's golden image is tarnishing bit by bit but that's just me. I'm sure I've offended some readers with that comment but hey, this is a discussion forum. Keyword is discuss.

In the same manner, I wish some of these individuals who are trying to work in Canada as a stepping stone would be more respectful towards Canada rather than assuming Canada is second best.

I completely agree! I'll be relocating to Montreal and my greatest fear is the French language (couldn't sleep for a week because of that hehehe). That's probably why some immigrants think of Canada as a stepping stone but personally, I have no problems or complaints with learning a new language. Whether it's French, Italian, Swahili or whatever, learning a new language is never a liability. In fact, I just purchased my Rosetta Stone in French and a Berlitz phrase book in French and I'm registering for conversational French (101) in a local community college here in the West Coast. I want to pass that Toefl version for French in 2-3 years and have that on my resume. I feel like if I could speak French then it's like finishing a marathon. It's all hard work but it makes a whole lot of difference.

A bientot!