So, you’ve got that piece of card in your hand that states that you are already a Permanent Resident of Canada. You have been waiting for this day – worked for it, obsessed about and now that it’s here, you suddenly realized that there’s a lot to work on. What to do? Where do I go from here?
You wished everyday to “apply” your degree again but find you don’t know where to start. Further, you don’t possess the “Canadian Experience” that employers are asking for.
In this article, we will try to give you a step by step procedures based on the experiences of former LCPs who were are able to start climbing and/or have climbed the corporate/professional ladder here in Canada.
Aubrey, an Internationally-Educated Nurse
Aubrey entered Canada through the Live-in Caregiver Program but is a Registered Nurse in the Philippines. After obtaining her PR card, she decided to continue a career in Nursing in Canada.
Her steps:
- Evaluation of credentials. Aubrey submitted all her credentials – a copy of transcript of records, diploma (from university graduated from), etc. to the College of Nurses of Ontario for assessment of eligibility. To see full list of requirements, visit www.cno.org
- If the College find you eligible, they would advise you to take the Canadian Practical Nurses Regulation Exam (CPRNE) after paying a fee and choosing an exam schedule.
- When you pass the exam, you are a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario!
Although Aubrey passed the CPRNE, she feels that she need to refresh her Nursing skills and knowledge so she decided to take some college courses. Since Aubrey was under the Live-in Caregiver when she took the exam, taking the courses would be more expensive since she is considered an international student. She decided she would wait for her Permanent Residency before she goes back to school.
Bridging Programs
There are organizations that aim to make it easier for internationally-educated nurse to enter the Nursing Profession in Canada. Aubrey has chosen to tap CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses, an organization of nurses that aims to help internationally-educated nurses enter the nursing workforce in Canada. They assess an applicant’s knowledge in general areas of nursing and then recommend the courses that will help them. They also provide trainings, workshops and guidelines to prepare and equip them to the nursing situations in Canada.
Aubrey aims to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Her assessment revealed that she needs 11 bridging programs before she can enrol for RN courses.
Registered Nurse vs. Registered Practical Nurse
Even if Aubrey passed the CPRNE, she still needs the Canadian experience to enter the workforce.
Aubrey hopes to be an RN but since she it is more expensive to do so, she decided to pursue an RPN first.
An RPN is a two-year course under the College of Applied Arts and Technology while an RN is a four-year Bachelors degree in Nursing in university.
An RPN’s education is less comprehensive and more focused; is more appropriately utilized to care for patients with less complex needs with stable and predictable conditions while an RN’s education is more comprehensive and they have deeper knowledge to draw on in areas such as clinical practice, critical thinking, and research utilization. RN’s can work in any type of patient. An RN can care for clients with more complex needs in unpredictable situations whether in surgical units, home care settings, ICU and ER.
Where to Aubrey?
Aubrey decided to go to George Brown this Fall to take additional courses and is looking for avenues to get some Clinical Practice.
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