1 yr experience not enough for most provinces?

World International

Published

Hi I'm a RN working in the United States right now and have only one year of ICU experience. I'm planning to work in Canada and found on this site that most of the facilities in BC requires 2-3 years nursing experience. I'm not sure if this is a rule for BC only or for most of the provinces in Canada. With only 1yr experience, in which province could i more likely get a job? Thanks!

Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

I don't think that can be answered like this.

Of course everybody wants when hiring an IEN someone with loads of experience, so they can concentrate on familiarizing with the new system and don't have to teach basics.

A year ICU experience is certainly an advantage, but are you eligible to take the CRNE yet??

That proccess also takes some time, without being eligible employers are unlikely be interested. Once eligible just apply.

And you should choose the province where you want to live and not one where you think it might go faster.

5cats

I don't think that can be answered like this.

Of course everybody wants when hiring an IEN someone with loads of experience, so they can concentrate on familiarizing with the new system and don't have to teach basics.

A year ICU experience is certainly an advantage, but are you eligible to take the CRNE yet??

That proccess also takes some time, without being eligible employers are unlikely be interested. Once eligible just apply.

And you should choose the province where you want to live and not one where you think it might go faster.

5cats

Thanks for your comment 5cats! 8D Personally, i would like to go to Vancouver most. But if BC is the province that has higher requirement for experience simply because more people are applying to work there i may just concede to work in somewhere else first.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would make sure you go through the college first and meet requirements and get permission to sit CRNE. Then look for employers where you want to live, better to go where you want to live not look at where process may take less time. Having nurse experience will certainly get you further than someone without and whilst you are going through the college application you will still be gaining experience

I would make sure you go through the college first and meet requirements and get permission to sit CRNE. Then look for employers where you want to live, better to go where you want to live not look at where process may take less time. Having nurse experience will certainly get you further than someone without and whilst you are going through the college application you will still be gaining experience

Thanks SilverDragon! Does it matter which province i apply to sit CRNE? I thought i have to make a decision which province to apply and then they'll authorize me to take the test, no? I don't have to apply through the college of nursing of a certain province?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thanks SilverDragon! Does it matter which province i apply to sit CRNE? I thought i have to make a decision which province to apply and then they'll authorize me to take the test, no? I don't have to apply through the college of nursing of a certain province?

College is the Canadian equivalent to board of nursing. You need to apply to the province college for assessment and they will decide on eligibility to sit CRNE. Each province has it's own college and you need to apply to the one applicable to where you want to work. As you mention Vancouver then this is where you need to apply to http://www.crnbc.ca/

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You aren't applying to write the CRNE, you're applying for registration (licensure) as a nurse in order to work. Writing the CRNE is one of the required elements for registration. I reiterate 5cats and silverdragon's comments... DO NOT select the province that has the quickest throughput simply for expediency.If you want to live in BC apply to BC. As for the experience factor, what they ask for in the posting and what they get when the applications come in are often quite different. If the only applicants they get have fewer years of experience than the posting asked for they will choose the best of the available prospects. And that could be you.

+ Add a Comment