Would CANADIAN Nurses Recommend An RN Career?

fergus51 · Sep 9, 2005

I'm Canadian and would definitely recommend nursing. I am from BC and worked there, Washington state, Toronto and am now working in California. Your salary in Toronto doesn't go far thanks to the high cost of living, but it's a lot better than a lot of people in the city make. I saved money by not having a car. A new grad will make about 40-45K a year if they work full time. You can always increase that with OT.

There is a demand for almost every type of nurse. The problem for new grads is that they often have trouble getting hired into specialty areas and they usually have to start as casual and wait for a full time job to come up. That said, I know several friends who went into psych as new grads. You will need to get your BSN in nursing and then find a hospital willing to hire and train you in psych. I don't believe most hospitals and psych facilities require you to have any extra specialty courses, though they are available if you want to take them. That said, most of us went into nursing with an idea of where we wanted to work when we finished and very few of us stuck to our original plans so keep an open mind:D I thought I wanted to do peds and even trained to do it at one hospital. Turns out it wasn't for me:)

You will see a lot of negative posts on this bb, but that's because this is a safe place for us to vent. A lot of us have spouses/bfs that just can't understand our stresses, and it's nice to come here and be able to communicate with people who really get it. There are some real serious downsides to being a nurse, but I can't imagine doing anything else. I love what I do.

lalaxton · Sep 9, 2005

Afraid of needles? Hey you just have to give them as a nurse not get them!

Once back in Toronto look into a GED (high school completion) program. I know there are some that are distance ed. Once you have that then look into collaborative programs, that is starting your BSN at a community college and then completing it at a university, such as Ryerson or U of T. A BSN is a minimum now to practice in Ontario.

It sounds like you would make a great nurse (hey I hate needles myself, but giving them is no problem!), so please pursue it further. Finish high school and do it!

Good luck!

Om Shanti TO · Sep 9, 2005

Afraid of needles? Hey you just have to give them as a nurse not get them!
Once back in Toronto look into a GED (high school completion) program. I know there are some that are distance ed. Once you have that then look into collaborative programs, that is starting your BSN at a community college and then completing it at a university, such as Ryerson or U of T. A BSN is a minimum now to practice in Ontario.
It sounds like you would make a great nurse (hey I hate needles myself, but giving them is no problem!), so please pursue it further. Finish high school and do it!
Good luck!

Thanks, lalaxton. You make a good point. I don't even really like looking at them, it's the IDEA of it that grosses me out. But at least I'll be the one giving them, not getting.

Thanks to you also, Fergus. What differences have you noticed between American nursing and Canadian? Which do you prefer?

Look forward to reading more people's opinions. All the best!

fergus51 · Sep 9, 2005

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Thanks to you also, Fergus. What differences have you noticed between American nursing and Canadian? Which do you prefer?

The biggest negative difference I see is the customer mentality in the US. In Canada patients and their families were much more respectful to the nurses and administrators and managers supported us more if we had problems with families/patients, etc. Here, I sometimes feel like customer service is more important to the hospital powers that be than patient care. They expect nurses to behave like waitresses/servants/handmaidens and rarely support them if there are problems. It offends me. Patients here are also much more lawsuit minded and that influences care practices which is stupid and frustrating to me. If this is kind of vague to you or you want some specific stories/examples let me know and I'll pm you.

The biggest positive in the US is the increased opportunities for education and advanced practice. They have a bigger population and that supports more programs. Nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists don't even exist in Canada. There are also a lot of opportunities to bank money and see the country as a travel nurse which is a real bonus.

Fiona59 · Sep 10, 2005

How long have you been down south Fergus?

The customer is always right mentality is alive and well in both BC and Alberta. Families have no problem in jumping right in to any situation and demanding their rights. Patients see the ads for the newest (and usually most expensive) meds and are straight to the doctors wanting it "because its the most advanced".

Management in many places will see the families view point, ignore their staff, and tell you to do what the family wants. I am required to see a patient/resident take their meds, but the family wants them left at the bedside...Managements response "just do it" Point out the legalities and you risk being labelled a trouble maker.

We are right next door to the US and health consumerism has come north.

Nurse midwives do exist in Canada and deliver many healthy babies annually.

z's playa · Sep 10, 2005

There is too nurse midwives in Canada. I sit next to one :)

Z

fergus51 · Sep 10, 2005

How long have you been down south Fergus?
The customer is always right mentality is alive and well in both BC and Alberta. Families have no problem in jumping right in to any situation and demanding their rights. Patients see the ads for the newest (and usually most expensive) meds and are straight to the doctors wanting it "because its the most advanced".
Management in many places will see the families view point, ignore their staff, and tell you to do what the family wants. I am required to see a patient/resident take their meds, but the family wants them left at the bedside...Managements response "just do it" Point out the legalities and you risk being labelled a trouble maker.
We are right next door to the US and health consumerism has come north.
Nurse midwives do exist in Canada and deliver many healthy babies annually.

It is nothing even close to the way it is down here. I thought that when I worked in Canada too, but trust me, Canadians are amateurs compared to their American counterparts in this regard. At the very least most RNs in BC have the protection of BCNU should they be dismissed improperly. I can pm you some of the specific examples I've experienced since living down here. I've only been back in the US a little over a year and I'm not talking about minor things like wanting to pick their own medication brands.

When did Canada start having nurse midwifery programs? We have had midwives for a while (licensed in BC since about 1998 http://www.cmbc.bc.ca) and I know some midwifery programs will give you some credit for nursing but that isn't the same as a Masters level program which is internationally accepted. I have never seen a hospital birth with a midwife in BC, unless you count british/aussie midwives who are working as L&D RNs which again isn't the same thing. Z's playa, I would ask how your friend is a nurse midwife? Is that the term she uses when advertising for new clients? Did she attend a program in Canada that grants certification as a nurse-midwife? Is there a nurse-midwifery licensing body in Ontario? In BC, the term used is registered midwife. You can be both a nurse and a midwife, just like you can be both a lawyer and a doctor, but that doesn't mean there are any lawyer-doctor programs, kwim? They are still two separate entities.

z's playa · Sep 10, 2005

It is nothing even close to the way it is down here. I thought that when I worked in Canada too, but trust me, Canadians are amateurs compared to their American counterparts in this regard. At the very least most RNs in BC have the protection of BCNU should they be dismissed improperly. I can pm you some of the specific examples I've experienced since living down here. I've only been back in the US a little over a year and I'm not talking about minor things like wanting to pick their own medication brands.
When did Canada start having nurse midwifery programs? We have had midwives for a while (licensed in BC since about 1998 http://www.cmbc.bc.ca) and I know some midwifery programs will give you some credit for nursing but that isn't the same as a Masters level program which is internationally accepted. I have never seen a hospital birth with a midwife in BC, unless you count british/aussie midwives who are working as L&D RNs which again isn't the same thing. Z's playa, I would ask how your friend is a nurse midwife? Is that the term she uses when advertising for new clients? Did she attend a program in Canada that grants certification as a nurse-midwife? Is there a nurse-midwifery licensing body in Ontario? In BC, the term used is registered midwife. You can be both a nurse and a midwife, just like you can be both a lawyer and a doctor, but that doesn't mean there are any lawyer-doctor programs, kwim? They are still two separate entities.

I'll get all the specifics from her when I see her in class on Monday.

Z

Om Shanti TO · Sep 10, 2005

Glad to see such an uproar of replies and inspiration...(sarcasm)

Oh well. I'll continue speaking to nurses in some capacity and see what they have to see as this avenue hasn't really worked out.

Take care.

z's playa · Sep 10, 2005

Glad to see such an uproar of replies and inspiration...(sarcasm)
Oh well. I'll continue speaking to nurses in some capacity and see what they have to see as this avenue hasn't really worked out.
Take care.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Tell me about it. :rolleyes:

Z

kk27 · Sep 11, 2005

Hey OM

You can can check out Toronto District school board for doing your Grade 12 subjects thru their adult learning centres....cost $40....

Also u can check out ILC.org...which is offers self study Grade 12 courses..all accredited by tToronto District School board same cost

If u have any questions u can send me a private PM..