We are in the long queue to get Canadian Permanent Residence, with the hope to move in late 2005 / early 2006. I work as a nurse in the NHS, and hope to work in Calgary when we move there. For money reasons it is important that I start work as soon as possible when we land.

Does anyone have any experience of moving out there to nurse? How long did it take to get registered over there? I believe you can apply from the UK before travelling and get a temporary permit prior to taking the exam out there. Has anyone done that? How long did it take to arrange? If I was to start work in January 2006, when should I start the ball rolling? This is no desperate rush as the waiting list PR is around 18 months, so we have time on our hands. Should I apply for jobs before going out? Or just as soon as we get there?

Thanks

Hi,

I cannot answer how long it would take to get registered as a nurse in Alberta, but maybe you can check these to websites and contact them directly:

Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (AARN)
11620 - 168 Street
Edmonton AB T5M 4A6 Canada
Tel.: (780) 451-0043 or 1-800-252-9392
Fax: (780) 452-3276
Email: [email protected]
http://www.nurses.ab.ca/

Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Alberta (RPNAA)
9711 - 45 Avenue, Suite 201
Edmonton AB T6E 5V8 Canada
Tel.: (780) 434-7666 or 1-877-234-7666
Fax: (780) 436-4165
Email: [email protected]
http://www.rpnaa.ab.ca/

You should start looking for jobs a few months prior to land.

Regards,

Shannon
[email protected]

Follow Shannon's links and request the application process and get it started tomorrow!

http://www.nurses.ab.ca/registration/transfer.html

The whole process can take about 9 months and isn't too bad as long as you have every thing done right.

Make sure your education transcripts are filled in EXACTLY what they ask for or they will send them back. Considering this all has to be done by post in official envolopes this could delay the process by as much as 2 months. (I know! ) Ensure yours paeds, Gynae and Psych are above (I think at least 75 hours theory and 90 clinical).

Once they accept everything you will be given a temporary permit and an application form to sit the Canadian Nursing Exam. This will allow you to be employed as a "Graduate Nurse". Similar to a Canadian nurse that has finished their degree but not sat the exam. This lasts for 6 months and I think is renewable. Pay for a GN is about $22/hr

The Canadian RN exam is surprisingly simple considering how well trained and knowledgeable the nurses here are. It's all multiple choice although I heard a rumour that this might be changing and is basically common sense. There is a book you can but with a CD ROM with a pactice exam. This should eb all you need just to get how the questions are structured and what they are looking fo.

e.g. A man comes in with a CVA. Do you
a) make him some tea
b) keep him NPO until swallow is assessed
C) ..... You get the jist.

Once you have all that sorted e-mail your CV to the human resources at the CHRA and they'll be fighting over you! I rang first and asked to speak to one of the nursing recruitment officers and chatted with her before sending in my CV as she gave me her personal e-mail. She will then distribute your CV to the particular departments you are interested in and get back to you.

http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/employment/apply.htm

It would be a good idea if you knew what area of the city you intend to live in. There are 3 main hospitals here:

Foothills in the NW
Peter Lockheed in the NE
Rockyview in the SW

The nursing here is quite different but nothing that you can't get used to.

All RN's put in Cannulas
Nearly all meds that we would give IM are given IV infusion (e.g. Morphine)
All meds signed off on the computer (this is probably the hardest thing to get used to but give yourself 2-3 months and try not to stress about it). My orientation was brillant.
IVABS are drawn up by pharmacy

Things are just more efficient e.g. Drugs are sent for individual patients from pharmacy about 4-5 times a day to their slot so you're not fighting through a cluttered trolley for half a morning.

Of course there are a few drug differences (e.g. Paracetmol = Acetiminophen) but nothing spectacular. Bring a couple of BNF's for home and your unit!

Overall it takes (as you would expect) a while to adjust, can be a bit stressful at the start but overall is a better working environment than the NHS. Just think of wearing a comfortable pair of trainers to work instead of stupid shoes.

BTW once you sit and pass the Canadian exam your pay is backdated to the date you sat the exam and you are paid RN rates from there.

Don't expect a permanent job first but a casual one (similar to bank work only on the same unit all the time) but there's loads of work and once you are there a while you can start applying for the permanent positions. It all works on seniority here and not who is most suitable for the job. There's loads of work!

WOW! Long post!!!!

Good Luck!

Great post Iginla
Have just visited this year to do the same thing. I've just qualified and am working in the nhs for a while to gain experience and money before applying to alberta. couple of questions; and have you heard if alberta is going to be graduate only like ont after this year? I'm worried about the different names of things, NPO, nil per oral; IVAB?

Of course IV antibiotics stupid me!

Thanks,

and no there has been no mention of that here in Alberta. I think it's generally accepted as a stupid move on Ontarios part as they are going to lose nurses to other provinces for that very reason.

I wouldn't worry about the different terminologies you soon adapt.

Useless piece of info: Here Oesophagus and Oedema are esophagus and edema and an ECG is an EKG even though they spell Cardio with a C like us. Even the Canadians can't explain that one.

Thanks for the great email. It has given me a lot of valuable info on nursing in Calgary. I feel a lot more positive about a potential move.
I have sent you (Iginla) a private email.

Hi,
My husband Michael, is a charge nurse in cardiac itu. We contacted the Alberta Association of Nurses to get the ball rolling. They sent us the assessment forms & the forms you need to send to the NMC and your school of Nursing. They assess your qualifications & education, and if successful issue a temporary permit & a nursing exam application form. The AARN has a flow chart available on their web site which is very easy to follow.(Contacted AARN in April 04, exam form recieved July 04, exam sat Oct 04). Michael wanted to pass the nursing exam before we moved rather than have the pressure of having to pass it to stay in the country! We then registered with a nurse employment agency who arrange for a job interview while he was in Edmonton to do the exam. (the interview can also be carried out over the telephone). We will now go out (March 05) on a temporary permit & if we like there we will apply for PR, we will also qualify for an extra 10 points because he will already have a job.
Hope this is of some use!
Linda & Mike