USA ADN moving to Quebec - please help

m_aidez · Aug 15, 2010

Take immersion programs. Those force you to speak french in class and I find it's more important to be fluent in conversation french rather than written/reading french. I'm not fluent in conversation french but I'm intermediate in reading (a little bit of writing) in french. As to hospitals that accept Anglophone nurses, I don't exactly know but from the looks of things in general Quebec is one province that is pretty strict when it comes to being bilingual. For example, some products that are imported from a different country that isn't translated in english AND french in their labels cannot be sold in Quebec. Now that doesn't mean you can't buy cultural foods in Quebec, the labels just have to be translated in French as well. I know my mom got a gift card from the U.S. and at the back it says that "This card can be used anywhere in the U.S.A. and Canada EXCEPT Quebec."

Blakpepa · Aug 30, 2010

In order to even get any positions in Quebec, you must speak French. The language laws in that province are becoming stricter and stricter each day. To gain qualifications for a registered profession, you must pass a language test. My suggestion to you is to start taking lessons now and make sure it is not in european french, but Canadian french...they are completely different. Even though im Canadian, I lived in Europe and is more familiar with euro French and while im studying french now, it hurts my brain when I try to do the conversions. There are alot of online french courses. As far as nursing, complete your BSN and have it evaluated by QIID and they will let you know if you need anything extra (probably just medications maths course because Canada uses different measurements then US).

clemmm78, RN · Aug 30, 2010

I'm in Quebec - just be aware that many times people who don't live and work here tend to weigh in with misinformation, so be careful about who you take advice from in general. The rules haven't changed over the past several years but sometimes it is tiresome. When you hear things like "not available in Quebec," this is at times due to language laws, but sometimes it's because of other issues. For example, many times if I want to enter a contest, it's not for people reside in Quebec. This has nothing to do with language but because we have a requirement here that if you run a contest, you have to put a deposit down with the gov't agency responsible for gaming. This was done ages ago because unscrupulous companies would run contests but not actually have prizes. So, just beware of what you are told is language-related and may be just Quebec quirks, if that makes sense.

Regarding working as a nurse in Quebec. Our RN exam is very different - some people criticize it very heavily because it's not the traditional computerized fill-in-the-right-answer type of exam. Part of it is hands-on experience. Actors are hired to play the roles of patients and you are evaluated on your clinical performance and decision making.

These exams may be taken in English or in French. They do not have anything to do with the provincial French exam though, which all professionals must take, not just nurses.

The provincial language exam is very difficult and it's often wondered that if French educated nurses took it, would they pass? But, as it is, many, many English nurses do pass it an many are far from what we would call fluent. There are some tutors and programs that are geared for this exam, if you want to go that route. It used to be that you could work as an RN for a few years (can't recall the number) as you are studying for your French exam, so you don't need to have it immediately.

You do not need a degree to work as an RN in Quebec, but movement up the ladder is often quite restricted without one.

There are many "English" hospitals in Montreal: Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital (good place), Montreal General, Royal Victoria, Montreal children's, St. Mary's, and so on. The difference between the French and English hospitals is you must chart in French in the French hospitals and you may chart in English in the English ones. In the English-based hospitals, you come across many patients who don't speak English, that is why the French is necessary.

If you can, immerse yourself in French. It's the best way to learn. Perhaps move to a more francophone part of the city. Some have a more English flavour than others. Sign up for French conversation courses as well as traditional French courses. If you have any particular interests, such as painting, dancing, whatever, try taking those courses in French. If you are working on something you enjoy doing, it's easy to pick up the language as you learn.

Good luck. As much as some people like to put down working in Montreal and Quebec in general, it really is a fun place to be. No place is perfect - but we like it, warts and all.

Flatbelly · Sep 11, 2010

clemmm78 thank you so much for clarifying! I browsed through several threads on this forum trying to find concrete info about Quebec nursing, and I agree that it can be confusing. A lot of stuff mentioned contradicts itself, especially when it comes to the French exam part. Sadly, I'm won't be able to start French lessons in the nearest future, I have my final semester and NCLEX to worry about.

BTW - I write too!

clemmm78, RN · Sep 13, 2010

You are welcome Flatbelly. The trick is to filter out the misinformation. There is a lot of it, unfortunately.

Good luck!

qh74 · Sep 18, 2010

I'm currently stuying at Mcgill and I did a lot of volunteer works, you don't need to be bilingual at all to volunteer and I think a year or 2 is about enough to pass the french test.

m_aidez · Sep 18, 2010

I'm in Quebec - just be aware that many times people who don't live and work here tend to weigh in with misinformation, so be careful about who you take advice from in general. The rules haven't changed over the past several years but sometimes it is tiresome. When you hear things like "not available in Quebec," this is at times due to language laws, but sometimes it's because of other issues. For example, many times if I want to enter a contest, it's not for people reside in Quebec. This has nothing to do with language but because we have a requirement here that if you run a contest, you have to put a deposit down with the gov't agency responsible for gaming. This was done ages ago because unscrupulous companies would run contests but not actually have prizes. So, just beware of what you are told is language-related and may be just Quebec quirks, if that makes sense.
Regarding working as a nurse in Quebec. Our RN exam is very different - some people criticize it very heavily because it's not the traditional computerized fill-in-the-right-answer type of exam. Part of it is hands-on experience. Actors are hired to play the roles of patients and you are evaluated on your clinical performance and decision making.
These exams may be taken in English or in French. They do not have anything to do with the provincial French exam though, which all professionals must take, not just nurses.
The provincial language exam is very difficult and it's often wondered that if French educated nurses took it, would they pass? But, as it is, many, many English nurses do pass it an many are far from what we would call fluent. There are some tutors and programs that are geared for this exam, if you want to go that route. It used to be that you could work as an RN for a few years (can't recall the number) as you are studying for your French exam, so you don't need to have it immediately.
You do not need a degree to work as an RN in Quebec, but movement up the ladder is often quite restricted without one.
There are many "English" hospitals in Montreal: Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital (good place), Montreal General, Royal Victoria, Montreal children's, St. Mary's, and so on. The difference between the French and English hospitals is you must chart in French in the French hospitals and you may chart in English in the English ones. In the English-based hospitals, you come across many patients who don't speak English, that is why the French is necessary.
If you can, immerse yourself in French. It's the best way to learn. Perhaps move to a more francophone part of the city. Some have a more English flavour than others. Sign up for French conversation courses as well as traditional French courses. If you have any particular interests, such as painting, dancing, whatever, try taking those courses in French. If you are working on something you enjoy doing, it's easy to pick up the language as you learn.
Good luck. As much as some people like to put down working in Montreal and Quebec in general, it really is a fun place to be. No place is perfect - but we like it, warts and all.

Although, there are "english" hospitals, other HCPs/clientele expect you to understand, speak and write in french since it is a predominantly french speaking province, no? As much as most Canadians say, yes we accept english or french speakers, they usually have a STRONG preferences for those who speak BOTH fluently, and to say other wise is just silly. "...you may chart in English in the English ones" does that mean you can chart in BOTH languages in these "english" hospitals? If so, I see a lot of miscommunication issues that can arise from that especially for those nurses and other HCPs that are not fluent in french. I'm just wary of this because nurses are expected to be responsible for their practice. Saying "I am not able to fully comprehend the doctor's orders because it's in french: doesn't cut it. Always asking for help isn't necessarily a good thing, especially if there is a baseline requirement in order to do the job (i.e., language requirement) and there's a heavy workload. How much of work productivity of those nurses needing translation of certain written documentations and orders are affected? As well as, how does it affect patient care and outcomes? Would you still use the same health and med. abbrv. if you decided to document in french or english?

To the OP: I think these are some type of questions you need to ask. You need to find out how are you going to be protected from slip ups because of language barriers especially in those few months, years where you're still learning french.

Back to clemmm78: What are the major difference b/w the CRNE and OIIQ--test material wise? I love how our country has two official languages but I think that there is too much inconsistencies that exists which can affect the care we provide.

I have a question regarding pay in Quebec. Do you get pay incentives for being bilingual? Because I know some employers (not necessarily ALL health care facilities) in other provinces give these incentives.

07genona · Nov 23, 2013

I'm in Quebec - just be aware that many times people who don't live and work here tend to weigh in with misinformation, so be careful about who you take advice from in general. The rules haven't changed over the past several years but sometimes it is tiresome. When you hear things like "not available in Quebec," this is at times due to language laws, but sometimes
it's because of other issues. For example, many times if I want to enter a contest, it's not for people
reside in Quebec. This has nothing to do with language but because we have a requirement here that if you run a contest, you have to put a deposit down with the gov't agency responsible for gaming. This was done ages ago because unscrupulous companies would run contests but not actually have prizes. So, just beware of what you are told is language-related and may be just Quebec quirks, if that makes sense.
Regarding working as a nurse in Quebec. Our RN exam is very different - some people criticize it very heavily because it's not the traditional computerized fill-in-the-right-answer type of exam. Part of it is hands-on experience. Actors are hired to play the roles of patients and you are evaluated on your clinical performance and decision making.
These exams may be taken in English or in French. They do not have anything to do with the provincial French exam though, which all professionals must take, not just nurses.
The provincial language exam is very difficult and it's often wondered that if French educated nurses took it, would they pass? But, as it is, many, many English nurses do pass it an many are far from what we would call fluent. There are some tutors and programs that are geared for this exam, if you want to go that route. It used to be that you could work as an RN for a few years (can't recall the number) as you are studying for your French exam, so you don't need to have it immediately.
You do not need a degree to work as an RN in Quebec, but movement up the ladder is often quite restricted without one.
There are many "English" hospitals in Montreal: Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital (good place), Montreal General, Royal Victoria, Montreal children's, St. Mary's, and so on. The difference between the French and English hospitals is you must chart in French in the French hospitals and you may chart in English in the English ones. In the English-based hospitals, you come across many patients who don't speak English, that is why the French is necessary.
If you can, immerse yourself in French. It's the best way to learn. Perhaps move to a more francophone part of the city. Some have a more English flavour than others. Sign up for French conversation courses as well as traditional French courses. If you have any particular interests, such as painting, dancing, whatever, try taking those courses in French. If you are working on something you enjoy doing, it's easy to pick up the language as you learn.
Good luck. As much as some people like to put down working in Montreal and Quebec in general, it really is a fun place to be. No place is perfect - but we like it, warts and all.

thanks! very inspiring..because im moving to quebec..