Sharpy4

Hi All,

I am New to this forum and would like to seek some advise please.

I have looked through some of the previous Nursing threads but wanted to have a bit more of an understanding with regard to Specialist Nurse Positions in Ontario.

I am a Diabetes Specialist Nurse here in the UK and considering the move to GTA either Burlington or Oakville.
I visited the area back in May 2017 and loved it. We are due to go again next month so we can continue to explore areas etc.

Upon my last visit I did meet with some Diabetes Nurse Educators and they provided me with some job information but I just wanted to get a little bit more of an understanding with the process of Registration.

I have looked on the CNO website and understand that I need to submit my qualifications to NNAS but I have been a little confused as some people from other threads have mentioned the Bridging course?

Is this Bridging course needed if I don't have enough practice hours or Modules within a certain speciality i.e.: mental health, Paed's? as in the UK we tend to branch into specific areas such as Adult, Mental Health, Learning Disability or Paediatrics.
I have transferable skills in the Acute Adult setting and the last few years as a Diabetes Specialist in both Adults and Antenatal care so I am hoping that with this experience I may not need to do the bridging course.

I would really like to keep within my speciality but I am getting a little worried that this may not be an option.

I am currently at university in the UK undertaking my Nurse Prescribing but again I am not sure if Canada have Nurse Prescribers? the nurses I met in Canada informed me that they didn't? or is Nurse Prescribing NEW to Canada?

I would be grateful for some advise and feedback as I WANT to explore my options before I decide to make the move especially with having two young children.

Thankyou

plasticcanuck

Here’s a link:- https://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/7168275-ontario-registered-nurses-to-be-canada-s-first-to-prescribe-medication/

I believe Nurse Practioners are permitted/qualified to prescribe medications in Canada.

Silverdragon102

Bridging course may be required but a lot will depend on the provincial college and the information you provide NNAS and the college

mikey8954

Definitely spend some time looking at how you want to practice out here. I've not spoken to any british nurse practitioner who has been able to get a NP job in Canada without doing almost the entire masters programme again and only nurse practitioners can prescribe from my understanding. There are some remote areas where nurses have extended scopes and have quite wide ranging PGD's that they can use.
I would also caution you against getting your first license in Ontario or BC as these 2 provinces have the highest number of applicants from overseas and have the largest numbers of RN's to regulate. It means they are painfully slow and you can end up going around in circles.
I applied to Nova Scotia and it was really quick and relatively painless.
Apply to NNAS and nominate the province
Once the report from NNAS is complete you apply to the province and they decide whether you can sit the NCLEX or whether you need to do additional training or competency assessments (all at cost to you).
When they are satisfied you have done everything, they then grant you your first license.
As soon as you have a full license, you can have it endorsed anywhere else in Canada. This only takes a couple of weeks to do.
I was a nurse consultant in tissue viability in the UK. Getting the job you did back home isn't easy, I took the opportunity to do something different for a couple of years and learn the Canadian system then I plan to go back into TV (all the time keeping my hand in on the specialty from afar).

Sharpy4

Hi Mikey
Thank you for your reply your info was helpful.

We have returned home today from another great 2 week stay and we have decided to make the move...
I have been debating this for a long time and feel that I should just give it a go despite my worries about transferring skills etc (I guess I am a little content and worried that I will need to go back to the beginning despite working my way up and studying in the UK---PLUS THE A/L side of things was a shock BUT lifestyle outweighs this>

Like I previously mentioned, Ideally I would love the stay in diabetes----but like yourself I am aware that I will need to branch into something else and too keep my hand in when possible. I have even looked at jobs with the Drug rep companies such as Medtronic until my nursing licence and applications are completed.

We are still set on moving to Oakville--Burlington area therefore will need to eventually apply to the CNO but as you have suggested (along with info stated in other feeds) I will apply to NS and get endorsed with CNO at a later date.

Can I ask that when you apply to NNAS would I nominate NS only or would I mention Ontario at this point to? I presume I only mention NS and then Ontario (CNO) WHEN wanting to get it endorsed?

I am grateful for your advise