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Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Old Feb 19th 2015, 5:41 pm
  #31  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by anders101
I don't know anyone who has managed to get their NP qualification transferred to NS. Typically, you have to do the course again, as the programme is quite different. Also unless you are looking to work in a more remote area, there are very few NP posts available. It is still a fairly new concept here and both the Doctors and Nurses and wary of them in a lot of settings. The Doctors seem fiercely protective of their status and are not welcoming of the new role. As an example, there is only 1 NP in the entire hospital I work in. She struggles to get support and recognition from the rest of the staff. There are many many unemployed Canadian NP's in the province just waiting to pounce on any job.
Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but just saying it as it is.....
Also, just as a footnote. The NP course here seems to be general course to start with, then in order to specialize in a field, you have to find someone to effectively 'train' you for at least 300 unpaid hours. Some of my Canadian chums have been having problems just finding a Dr. who is willing to 'take them on!' Either they do not want the responsibility(or having someone shadow them) or they simply do understand what is required. They are an uber cautious lot here!
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 5:56 pm
  #32  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Thanks for your advise , im quite happy to work in more remote areas, but obviously depends on qualification have been working as an NP now full time for 14 years so hopefully that will go in my favour . i have been offered two jobs but had to decline them in the end due to the RN process and how long it takes so seems not to bad to get the posts but its just getting the registration, well will have to see what happens but dont want to waste load of time and money if its not going to happen and maybe will have to rethink my options
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 6:58 pm
  #33  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by nicobenn
Thanks for your advise , im quite happy to work in more remote areas, but obviously depends on qualification have been working as an NP now full time for 14 years so hopefully that will go in my favour . i have been offered two jobs but had to decline them in the end due to the RN process and how long it takes so seems not to bad to get the posts but its just getting the registration, well will have to see what happens but dont want to waste load of time and money if its not going to happen and maybe will have to rethink my options
Unfortunately, the length of time you have been working as an NP means nothing to them here. It is all about having the qualification on a bit of paper that matches theirs exactly on the transcript, and the years of Canadian experience you have to offer.

I am going to try and explain how weirdly different it was when I started nursing here as opposed to the UK, the hurdles I came across and how I overcame them.

Truly, I found starting nursing here akin to the stages of grief.

First of all, there is that 'trying to actually get a job in the first place' when all the jobs seem to go to internal candidates. I was an NP and Charge Nurse for years before I moved here, and naturally thought that getting a lower qualified job in my chosen field would be child's play. After 6 months of applying for jobs and not one interview, I was about beside myself with fury. After all, I had gotten every job I had applied for in the UK, and was a 'highly qualified British nurse'....don't ya know! Anyhow that all resolved when I met someone who knew someone who had once exchanged body fluids with the nurse manager and voila, i started the next week.

First impressions: Dolly bird Nurses with hair tumbling down their backs, no uniform, big jewelry and coffee surgically attached to all extremities. But 'what about infection control?' my mind silently screamed. This is all wrong. I meekly asked what I should wear, as I could not work out the dress code. I was met with an 'anything as long as your titties aren't hanging out or your thong tops on show' Okay, so went to Marks and bought some 'practical' scrubs and started on an orientation.

My first professional practice shocker was how backward the nurses 'duties' were. Still following written orders, being treated as a hand maidens and no brain activity required. The second shocker came when I went to do my first Resus. What a monumental Fook up that was. The guy was dying with sats of 76. Staff were standing around, the Dr was looking up reversable causes on her i phone.At last someone went for the airway cart, but alas, it was just to pull some cookies out. A competition then ensued to see who could lick the christmas sparkles off the quickest. OMG...this is the honest truth. I went home and cried wondering what the hell I had done. (oh and I forgot to say that when the medic came to finally intubate the patient he brought his 13 year old nephew with him to try as it was 'bring you kid to work week!'

Then followed a period of anger and denial.

Eventually after 'proving myself' to look after some non sick patients for a year, I was allowed to look after sicker patients all on my own. (It mattered not that I used to run a major trauma centre) I slowly let my past nursing achievements melt behind me and transitioned into some sort of acceptance. I can now be found 5 years down the line back as a charge nurse, hair down, jewellery on, nail varnish in place, licking cookies in Resus while balancing my coffee and pizza in the other hand. I feel comfortable again, but there is always going to be a wee bit of me that's sad I had to 'give all my professional stuff up!' You just have to say 'if you can't beat em, join em' or you will forever be in turmoil.

That said.....I think NS is actually a bit crap, so I am moving to Ontario on Tuesday. What a turnip! No vacation for me for a year. Shitty schedule again and back at the bottom of the heap. Same crap, different pile. Ho hum!!
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 7:10 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Blimey it is rather disturbing and so far from what I have seen...i spent couple of days in Halifax last year in QE I I hospital within cancer department and they were wearing ...well not the senior nurses...i spent some time in day clinic and it seemed normal ie nurses doing chemo etc...
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 8:03 pm
  #35  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Jeez doesn't sound good I'm having second thoughts as will have to move my whole family but obviously you have stayed in Canada so must be some good things right x
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 10:03 pm
  #36  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by anders101
Unfortunately, the length of time you have been working as an NP means nothing to them here. It is all about having the qualification on a bit of paper that matches theirs exactly on the transcript, and the years of Canadian experience you have to offer.

I am going to try and explain how weirdly different it was when I started nursing here as opposed to the UK, the hurdles I came across and how I overcame them.

Truly, I found starting nursing here akin to the stages of grief.

First of all, there is that 'trying to actually get a job in the first place' when all the jobs seem to go to internal candidates. I was an NP and Charge Nurse for years before I moved here, and naturally thought that getting a lower qualified job in my chosen field would be child's play. After 6 months of applying for jobs and not one interview, I was about beside myself with fury. After all, I had gotten every job I had applied for in the UK, and was a 'highly qualified British nurse'....don't ya know! Anyhow that all resolved when I met someone who knew someone who had once exchanged body fluids with the nurse manager and voila, i started the next week.

First impressions: Dolly bird Nurses with hair tumbling down their backs, no uniform, big jewelry and coffee surgically attached to all extremities. But 'what about infection control?' my mind silently screamed. This is all wrong. I meekly asked what I should wear, as I could not work out the dress code. I was met with an 'anything as long as your titties aren't hanging out or your thong tops on show' Okay, so went to Marks and bought some 'practical' scrubs and started on an orientation.

My first professional practice shocker was how backward the nurses 'duties' were. Still following written orders, being treated as a hand maidens and no brain activity required. The second shocker came when I went to do my first Resus. What a monumental Fook up that was. The guy was dying with sats of 76. Staff were standing around, the Dr was looking up reversable causes on her i phone.At last someone went for the airway cart, but alas, it was just to pull some cookies out. A competition then ensued to see who could lick the christmas sparkles off the quickest. OMG...this is the honest truth. I went home and cried wondering what the hell I had done. (oh and I forgot to say that when the medic came to finally intubate the patient he brought his 13 year old nephew with him to try as it was 'bring you kid to work week!'

Then followed a period of anger and denial.

Eventually after 'proving myself' to look after some non sick patients for a year, I was allowed to look after sicker patients all on my own. (It mattered not that I used to run a major trauma centre) I slowly let my past nursing achievements melt behind me and transitioned into some sort of acceptance. I can now be found 5 years down the line back as a charge nurse, hair down, jewellery on, nail varnish in place, licking cookies in Resus while balancing my coffee and pizza in the other hand. I feel comfortable again, but there is always going to be a wee bit of me that's sad I had to 'give all my professional stuff up!' You just have to say 'if you can't beat em, join em' or you will forever be in turmoil.

That said.....I think NS is actually a bit crap, so I am moving to Ontario on Tuesday. What a turnip! No vacation for me for a year. Shitty schedule again and back at the bottom of the heap. Same crap, different pile. Ho hum!!

That doesn't sound like my hospital in Ontario- although I'm not actually working there yet. Maybe that particular hospital/board in NS?
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 10:19 pm
  #37  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Not what I have seen where I live and 2 temp full time positions have just come up locally for NP and they appear to work well with the doctors
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Old Feb 19th 2015, 11:17 pm
  #38  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102
Not what I have seen where I live and 2 temp full time positions have just come up locally for NP and they appear to work well with the doctors
Well, that may be so, however, you work in a long term care facility and in a different area to me. I am purely talking about my experiences. It is well known across the health authority in Capital Health that NP's do not have an easy time and even when employed are seriously under utilized. Canada (or NS anyway)are many many years behind integrating NP's into the hospital environment. With regards to the hospital I work in, other Canadians from different provinces have been shocked at how 'backward' it is. This is somewhat reassuring to me as there is hope that things may be better when I move.
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Old Feb 20th 2015, 12:15 am
  #39  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

My experiences with NPs is they are used a lot and although initially there was some issues with some of the doctors they are now working well as a team within the community and hospital. I also think a lot has had to do with the fact we are in such dire straights with GP shortages that the gps we have have had no choice but get used to them

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Old Feb 20th 2015, 12:18 am
  #40  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102
My experiences with NsP is they are used a lot and although initialy there was some issues with some of the doctors they are now working well as a team within the community and hospital. I also think a lot has had to do with the fact we are in such dire straights with GP shortages that the gps we have have had no choice but get used to them
Exactly, what I said earlier. There are positions further out of town, but they are not heavily used in the cities. There seems to be no place for them here and the doctors actively discourage their use in the city hospitals.
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Old Feb 20th 2015, 12:35 am
  #41  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by anders101
Exactly, what I said earlier. There are positions further out of town, but they are not heavily used in the cities. There seems to be no place for them here and the doctors actively discourage their use in the city hospitals.
From what I have seen here, the doctors seem reluctant to give up parts of their role to nurses. Nurses in the UK seem to be more autonomous than here - although that is being said as an outsider . Unfortunately when they assess foreign nurses, they choose to assess you on your original training - and not on your experience and later qualifications. When I look at the assessments they put IENs through, I have to question how many nurses trained in Canada would be able to pass them 15 years after their training.

I specialized in one field in the UK - and it has been to my detriment, because I have spent 10 years away from General nursing. My specialty is something that is needed here - and I am fortunate enough to have a job as an RPN where I can use my specialty to help patients - it is not as hands on as I had in the UK - and I have been deskilled over my time in Canada.
I hope nursing moves more towards the UK style of NPs and specialist nurses, because I really think it improves patient care on the various pathways they have to move through during an illness.

I am currently having a few medical issues myself - and hate the fact that care here is so disjointed - I think specialist nurses in the UK tend to bridge that gap and 'blend' care pathways.
I don't know what the path is for NPs here, but I know there don't seem to be many around!!
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Old Feb 20th 2015, 1:02 pm
  #42  
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Unhappy Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Thanks silverdragon , thats a little bit reasuring on discussion with some NP leads in NS they seemed very keen to have UK nps due to the experience we have then the canadian Nps , well i can only hope that things change a little by the time i get there as probably will take ages after reading the threads .
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Old Feb 24th 2015, 7:16 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Hello, I haven't posted before and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I wanted to ask advice from UK nurses that have completed the nnas forms. I've printed off the nursing registration form and it asks nursing examination. In the UK we don't do a exam to be registered we finish our degree/diploma and then apply to be registered. Therefore there won't be anything for the NMC to write in this book and I wanted to make sure that would be ok? And if they are expecting a copy of my diploma from the NMC or my college I went to. I'm a bit confused to say the least!? I can see all of you know what your talking about, so hoping you can help!

Thanks in advance
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Old Feb 25th 2015, 4:12 pm
  #44  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Hi, I just had to pay for the NMC to send confirmation that i was registered with them , and they will ask for all your nursing qualifications to be assesed for compatability but unless you trained pre project 2000 days then you are likley to have to do an assessment in canada due to gaps in training . I trained 1996 and having to do mine in june . hope this helps
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Old Feb 25th 2015, 7:42 pm
  #45  
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Default Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!

Originally Posted by nicobenn
Hi, I just had to pay for the NMC to send confirmation that i was registered with them , and they will ask for all your nursing qualifications to be assesed for compatability but unless you trained pre project 2000 days then you are likley to have to do an assessment in canada due to gaps in training . I trained 1996 and having to do mine in june . hope this helps
This does help! I'm just trying to make sure I don't make any mistakes. Do you know if you can register to practice in more then one province? I thought about Alberta but now I think maybe BC. It's a long road ahead of me, but at least I can start. I know I'll have to do some more training. I looked everywhere in the UK to see if they do any courses. Brighton Uni say on their site they do and I've emailed but I haven't heard back from them.

Thank you

Last edited by niamheve; Feb 25th 2015 at 7:50 pm.
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