Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Oct 29th 2010, 9:56 pm
#1
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Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi
Has anyone recently appiled to BC to register/thinking of it or over in Canada?
just thought I'd get a discussion going...
Has anyone recently appiled to BC to register/thinking of it or over in Canada?
just thought I'd get a discussion going...
Oct 29th 2010, 10:08 pm
#2
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Nov 8th 2010, 8:59 pm
#3
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi
I work as a psych nurse in BC ( Kamloops). Actually the place I work at has about 40% of its nurses are Brits!
The registration is easy, you have to sit an exam which is anxiety provoking but we have all passed! Do you have a job?
I work as a psych nurse in BC ( Kamloops). Actually the place I work at has about 40% of its nurses are Brits!
The registration is easy, you have to sit an exam which is anxiety provoking but we have all passed! Do you have a job?
Nov 8th 2010, 9:02 pm
#4
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Sounds good...
I dont have a job yet. I am waiting to see if I able to register the application arrived last thursday.
How long have you been there?
Nov 8th 2010, 9:36 pm
#5
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Been here since Sept 06 in the same job at Hillside in Kamloops.....
Let me know if & when you are looking for work.
Although the last lot arrived in the summer and at that point I believe they had to be in post by June 30th or they lost the job offer as I believe nurses were not getting the LMOs ( Could be wrong)
My manager is British also so she knows the deal. Let me know if you want her details at some point.
Let me know if & when you are looking for work.
Although the last lot arrived in the summer and at that point I believe they had to be in post by June 30th or they lost the job offer as I believe nurses were not getting the LMOs ( Could be wrong)
My manager is British also so she knows the deal. Let me know if you want her details at some point.
Nov 8th 2010, 10:14 pm
#6
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Been here since Sept 06 in the same job at Hillside in Kamloops.....
Let me know if & when you are looking for work.
Although the last lot arrived in the summer and at that point I believe they had to be in post by June 30th or they lost the job offer as I believe nurses were not getting the LMOs ( Could be wrong)
My manager is British also so she knows the deal. Let me know if you want her details at some point.
Let me know if & when you are looking for work.
Although the last lot arrived in the summer and at that point I believe they had to be in post by June 30th or they lost the job offer as I believe nurses were not getting the LMOs ( Could be wrong)
My manager is British also so she knows the deal. Let me know if you want her details at some point.
Thats really nice of you...
I'll definitely make contact. I have a look now and then to see what jobs are about and there always seems to be loads - much more than here -
The only problem I'll have is with meeting the minimum training standard as I lack the general nurse hours of 225. I'll wait to see what the CRPNBC say before I go start studying
Nov 9th 2010, 8:04 am
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
i'm actually still in the process of applying for registration. After they assessed my do qualifications i was told that i dont have enough general nursing experince. i was then refered to an online bridging programme. In the programme there are about 5 modules which cover surgical, medical, clinical practice and stuff on the Canadian health care followed by a placement. i am on the second module now but i'm starting to find it time consuming and quite expensive considering you dont even come out with a formal qualification. Its fustrating coz i've been a psych nurse for 7 years now and i realy move to Canada. I do honestly feel that they have made thngs a bit harder for foreign nurses to get in. Anyway i do hope you get through coz i think its worth the struggle. good luck
Nov 9th 2010, 6:46 pm
#8
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi,
I'm a psych nurse working in Vancouver. Been here 3 months now. Just sat the exam but don't have the results yet! I had some difficulty with my training transcript also, with CRPNBC trying to get me to do their bridging program, luckily I had enough hours in the end.
Psych nursing is very different here in my opinion and is something I am struggling with to be honest. I qualified 9 years ago in the UK so it isn't that I am new to the field. My colleagues have all been very supportive - can't fault them at all - the problem is definitely with me! Hopefully things will get better.
On the plus side, money is much better here and Vancouver is beautiful!
I'm a psych nurse working in Vancouver. Been here 3 months now. Just sat the exam but don't have the results yet! I had some difficulty with my training transcript also, with CRPNBC trying to get me to do their bridging program, luckily I had enough hours in the end.
Psych nursing is very different here in my opinion and is something I am struggling with to be honest. I qualified 9 years ago in the UK so it isn't that I am new to the field. My colleagues have all been very supportive - can't fault them at all - the problem is definitely with me! Hopefully things will get better.
On the plus side, money is much better here and Vancouver is beautiful!
Nov 9th 2010, 7:22 pm
#9
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi,
I'm a psych nurse working in Vancouver. Been here 3 months now. Just sat the exam but don't have the results yet! I had some difficulty with my training transcript also, with CRPNBC trying to get me to do their bridging program, luckily I had enough hours in the end.
Psych nursing is very different here in my opinion and is something I am struggling with to be honest. I qualified 9 years ago in the UK so it isn't that I am new to the field. My colleagues have all been very supportive - can't fault them at all - the problem is definitely with me! Hopefully things will get better.
On the plus side, money is much better here and Vancouver is beautiful!
I'm a psych nurse working in Vancouver. Been here 3 months now. Just sat the exam but don't have the results yet! I had some difficulty with my training transcript also, with CRPNBC trying to get me to do their bridging program, luckily I had enough hours in the end.
Psych nursing is very different here in my opinion and is something I am struggling with to be honest. I qualified 9 years ago in the UK so it isn't that I am new to the field. My colleagues have all been very supportive - can't fault them at all - the problem is definitely with me! Hopefully things will get better.
On the plus side, money is much better here and Vancouver is beautiful!
I'm a ward manager on an acute in-patient ward and have some struggle with how we are expected to work.
We've looked at loads of things on the internet about Vancouver and I cany say its negative at all. We are depending on my acceptance at the moment. I have to say though I have looked at general nurse updates and course here to top up my hours as I'm sure I wont meet the criteria. Doing it here is also free at the moment so wont have to do the bridging program and spend money!
Would like to hear more from you if thats ok
Shaun
Nov 9th 2010, 7:25 pm
#10
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
I meant to say its NOT negative...typo! sorry
Nov 9th 2010, 7:54 pm
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi Shaun,
In part the struggle is because I have had my wings clipped in a big way! I've gone from being a CPN (own caseload etc) to the equivalent of a staff nurse on a ward - the lack of responsibility/autonomy drives me nuts! I also feel that in the area of psychiatry I work (child and adolescent mental health) it is far behind the UK in terms of research and practice - which has been a huge surprise to me. They are also big on the medical model, which I hate and I find that there is no real distinction between RN's and RPN's which just makes me wonder what the point of a RPN is (they don't have them at all in the eastern provinces I understand) and therefore I often query why I was hired as it doesn't appear to be about my previous experience :-/ This is just my opinion though and I certainly can't speak for other areas within mental health. I also feel that the management style is somewhat archaic - lines of seniority etc - though this doesn't bother me so much as I don't plan on being here permanently (and never have).
It isn't all bad though. There are some things I do like about my job such as the way the psychiatrists will include my views/opinions. The staff group I work with have also been very supportive.
I also have some personal stuff going on to - my partner has become very ill since we have been here - and I am sure that this is clouding my judgement somewhat.
If you want any other info I would be happy to help. I'd also be interested in the opinion of other nurses working here too.
Best wishes,
Julie
In part the struggle is because I have had my wings clipped in a big way! I've gone from being a CPN (own caseload etc) to the equivalent of a staff nurse on a ward - the lack of responsibility/autonomy drives me nuts! I also feel that in the area of psychiatry I work (child and adolescent mental health) it is far behind the UK in terms of research and practice - which has been a huge surprise to me. They are also big on the medical model, which I hate and I find that there is no real distinction between RN's and RPN's which just makes me wonder what the point of a RPN is (they don't have them at all in the eastern provinces I understand) and therefore I often query why I was hired as it doesn't appear to be about my previous experience :-/ This is just my opinion though and I certainly can't speak for other areas within mental health. I also feel that the management style is somewhat archaic - lines of seniority etc - though this doesn't bother me so much as I don't plan on being here permanently (and never have).
It isn't all bad though. There are some things I do like about my job such as the way the psychiatrists will include my views/opinions. The staff group I work with have also been very supportive.
I also have some personal stuff going on to - my partner has become very ill since we have been here - and I am sure that this is clouding my judgement somewhat.
If you want any other info I would be happy to help. I'd also be interested in the opinion of other nurses working here too.
Best wishes,
Julie
Nov 9th 2010, 8:14 pm
#12
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi Julie
Sorry to hear about your partner...I hope that all will be ok and things arent too serious.
I have read other posts on here saying that things are different and that RPN's arent so specialist/distinguished and that the hierarchy is more strict. I have wondered if its because in the UK we are trained to think different and RMN's tend to be less affraid of challenging the docs and that we have a much more nurse lead mental health system as opposed to general nursing where its sometimes the opposite.
on a funny note...maybe you're frustrated that now you cant nip off shopping during work as CPN's do over here....oh and yes they do!...lol
where abouts are you working?
Sorry to hear about your partner...I hope that all will be ok and things arent too serious.
I have read other posts on here saying that things are different and that RPN's arent so specialist/distinguished and that the hierarchy is more strict. I have wondered if its because in the UK we are trained to think different and RMN's tend to be less affraid of challenging the docs and that we have a much more nurse lead mental health system as opposed to general nursing where its sometimes the opposite.
on a funny note...maybe you're frustrated that now you cant nip off shopping during work as CPN's do over here....oh and yes they do!...lol
where abouts are you working?
Nov 9th 2010, 8:22 pm
#13
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
i'm actually still in the process of applying for registration. After they assessed my do qualifications i was told that i dont have enough general nursing experince. i was then refered to an online bridging programme. In the programme there are about 5 modules which cover surgical, medical, clinical practice and stuff on the Canadian health care followed by a placement. i am on the second module now but i'm starting to find it time consuming and quite expensive considering you dont even come out with a formal qualification. Its fustrating coz i've been a psych nurse for 7 years now and i realy move to Canada. I do honestly feel that they have made thngs a bit harder for foreign nurses to get in. Anyway i do hope you get through coz i think its worth the struggle. good luck
as I mentioned I intend to try and get my hours here so I dont have to do the bridging program.
Did you have one year CFP when you trained?
Nov 11th 2010, 3:57 am
#14
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
Hi Julie
Sorry to hear about your partner...I hope that all will be ok and things arent too serious.
I have read other posts on here saying that things are different and that RPN's arent so specialist/distinguished and that the hierarchy is more strict. I have wondered if its because in the UK we are trained to think different and RMN's tend to be less affraid of challenging the docs and that we have a much more nurse lead mental health system as opposed to general nursing where its sometimes the opposite.
on a funny note...maybe you're frustrated that now you cant nip off shopping during work as CPN's do over here....oh and yes they do!...lol
where abouts are you working?
Sorry to hear about your partner...I hope that all will be ok and things arent too serious.
I have read other posts on here saying that things are different and that RPN's arent so specialist/distinguished and that the hierarchy is more strict. I have wondered if its because in the UK we are trained to think different and RMN's tend to be less affraid of challenging the docs and that we have a much more nurse lead mental health system as opposed to general nursing where its sometimes the opposite.
on a funny note...maybe you're frustrated that now you cant nip off shopping during work as CPN's do over here....oh and yes they do!...lol
where abouts are you working?
I am working at BC Children's Hospital. Its not too bad, just different. As I said, medically oriented healthcare with a nod to mental/emotional health if you're lucky! Possibly just the ward I am on...?! They are quite medication happy too. The paperwork is more than the UK too (seriously!) - you repeat yourself several times and they believe in making things as complicated as possible, just to confuse you further!! I guess it's whatever you are used to though - the UK is far from perfect as I'm sure you know!
Honestly, I'm more gutted that I can't schedule regular meetings in Starbucks for my "worried well" rather than shopping!!
Nov 11th 2010, 5:39 am
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Re: Psychiatric Nursing in BC
One of the worries i have about going to Canada is having my wings clipped and fullfilling my role a psych nurse. Here i manage my own case loads and we basically tell the doctors what to do and they listen. Our emphasis is on building therapeutic relationships and psychological interventions rather than pharmacological interventions. I'm in love with Canada and i am willing to spend all my hard earned money on this programme but now i'm just wondering if its worth it. Please dont let me put you off. I think going to Cnada would be good move because of the career development.