Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Hi is there any nurses out there who have had there qualifications assessed by NNAS/SALPN? I need to get my identification documents notarized and wondered if someone could tell me how i do this? TIA :fingerscrossed:

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

I'm seriously doubting anyone has got through the NNAS process yet to give you an answer... It only started in September didn't it?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Is anyone going through the process at the min?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

No one I've come across on here yet...a few enquiries. I started the process at beginning of this year and still waiting for initial assessment.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

I too have only seen people post plus just met someone who has just begun the process with NNAS

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I just wondered what sort of time is to be expected before knowing anything?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

The website states that you can check the status of your application online by logging in here: NNAS - Welcome.

It also says that it can take up to 12 months for the 2 stage processing (prior to it being submitted to a Provincial regulatory body) so you could be in for a wait.

FAQ — NNAS / SNEI
:)

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

See TiryTorys post above, she started the process earlier this year and hasn't heard yet - that might give you an idea at least.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

But do you have to go through the new process with NNAS?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

No, I applied well before NNAS was commenced- thank goodness by the sounds of it!

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Does anyone think the new expression of interest will help?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

It won't make any difference to nursing registration at all, it's only for visa applications and the two have no bearing on each other.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

The long and short of it is that it's a very long process that nobody knows how long it will take. Saying it is not easy to nurse in parts of Canada is an understatement.

I'm not trying to be funny but it doesn't sound like you know much about it or have even read the relevant parts of information available. Read the wiki about immigration and then search out the particular province of nursing you need and NNAS as Siouxie rightly posted. Even search nursing on this forum and read other experiences.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Thank you all for your replies. It will be something that we will have to think about and decide whether we will continue. If we are talking the possibility of a 2 year wait then we may have to call it a day on our Canadian dream as we are the wrong side of 40.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

I submitted my application through CRNBC in august 2013, did my SEC in February 2014 and started a year re-entry course in September.....I know I was lucky for it to happen quickly but just shows it won't always be super slow! Think positively :)

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Canadian Dream,

How long did it take between invite for SEC and attendance at SEC?

Did you find it difficult to get a place on the one year re-entry course at Kwantlen?....and how much is it costing?

I applied in Aug 2014 before NNAS stuff started. It has taken a few months t get all documentation together but finally everything is with CRNBC so hoping for an invite to SEC in New Year. I'm really hoping to get on IEN re-entry course in Sept 2015 but thought it might be a pipe dream.

I'm Canadian but trained in UK so moving home and avoiding any hassle with immigration. CRNBC is hassle enough!

Any advice/info greatly appreciated!

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

I've a friend who is studying for her NCLEX exam, she passed her OSCE. I think it took 18 months to come through. She applied for RPN at the same time and that still hasn't come through. In the meantime she's working as a PSW.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Hi, I'm currently going through the NNAS verification process as well and the "notarization" bit threw me too. Did you ever figure it out? I've emailed them asking for clarification about exactly what it is that they require so hopefully all will be clear soon.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Hi Jenny

I got the invite for the SEC in January 2014 and originally they didn't have any places until the april but I was lucky and got in on a cancellation as I live in Langley so easy for me to attend, it then took 6 weeks for the results to come back. I was then lucky again and very persistent with admin at Kwantlen and got a place for the September 2014 one week before, I originally had a place for January 2015.
If your here in BC and ready to go at the drop of a hat then it's possible.....once you get invited for SEC email them saying you can attend at short notice ( if you can) :)

Good Luck :)

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

can someone please just provide me with a simple answer...we are thinking NS, I am dealing with the registration now...applied before the changes, flying over in April for the Full Nursing assessment, then I know I will need to do extra modules so it will take whatever it takes...am I completely wrong thinking that I would like to get a registration first...then apply for the job...then with the job offer apply for either visa or PNP...I would rather stay in UK until the registration is sorted...but everyone is doing it completely different...am I wrong?

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

You need to do what you need to do for you and your family. Sounds about right for me though what you have planned

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Getting registration in Canada (for the majority of nurses nowadays) is the hardest part of the process. I think you are doing the right thing - making sure you have your registration here, then you can work on getting a job and moving forward.

Good luck!!

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Silverdragon 102 and Caleo thank you;)

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

HI
Im in the process of moving or trying to move to nova scotia , i have to sit an assessment in june as missing hours in maternity and mental health as experience doesnt seem to count, just go on training completed 18 years ago and then hopefully will be able to sit the exam after this if i pass. i have been nursing for 18 years and am currently working as an advanced nurse practitioner in genral practice and urgent care in the UK and this is what i want to do in NS does anyone have any experience as to whether our nurse practitioner qualification is reconised or anyone successfully doing this in NS.

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

nicobenn just sent you a message

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

nico you need to have made 3 posts to access PM capability - it is spam protection....

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

Have you recognised UK qualification for Advanced NP? This may help Out of Province NP

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

HI
yes i have submitted all paperwork but obviously need to register as RN before they will even look at NP qualification just wondered if i will get the same red tape i have had for RN qualification and if any successfully has managed to work as NP .

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

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.....

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

I know it's the same for practice nurses...still very new and still very few

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

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!

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 :thumbdown:

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

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.:eek: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!!

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...

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

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

That doesn't sound like my hospital in Ontario- although I'm not actually working there yet. Maybe that particular hospital/board in NS?

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

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

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.

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

Re: Calling all nurses!!!!!!
 

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.