The Pinoy IEN

The biggest tie-up of most child-bearing IENs is family life. Somehow family life is taken in to consideration in making decisions relating to their RN applications. Family should not be a setback of  professional growth but rather a precious, fragile diadem you wear as you work for your dreams to frutition. It takes a lot of effort to go about family life and requires a lot of teamwork. Sometimes it takes an entire village to raise a child which is somewhat true in our tight knit culture of Filipino communities living abroad. Deanne, student nurse on family life: Teamwork Pinoy IEN: Girl tell us your background. Deanne: Hello! I'm Manitoba-based mother with twins and a wife to an ever supportive husband! I'm currently on my second semester in the RN Reentry Program in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Pinoy IEN: Kapatid how do you juggle everything all at the same time. Naku ang hirap! Deanne: I am very indeed thankful that the theoretical courses are done onl...

Previously, we talked about steering our way to success to Canadian RN licensure by taking control. Since Canadian nursing licensure is just one of the many problems we have in Canada, our new home, how's the interplay of all the complications going to be like. Not by theory but the real deal. The interplay of licensure, family life, motherhood and financial obligations such as bills etc can be hard to think about all at the same time. Before even sending off your application, you might already have a lot of questions on how to survive and go through the process. RN Registration in Canada is something that needs preparation especially among IENs who are also first generation immigrants, single moms, parents and those who do not have families/relatives as support system in Canada. Planning Let's be honest. It's going to be challenging but with the right planning, it should run smoothly and go as planned. We have different learning curves on how to tackle this a...

The gospel truth: Canada is one of most difficult, if not, the most difficult nursing jurisdiction to get licensed with in the world likely placing IENs in a precarious situation. The good news is, because of more information and success stories, more and more IENs are starting to get recognition in Canada. However, as first generation immigrants who are yet to transition in to Canadian life licensing is not just one of the dozens of problems that we face on a daily basis. Taking Control Whatever situation you are in, you could never go wrong with taking control. Gather all the pertinent information you need to know. We need to know what we can modify. Always bear in mind that in Canada, you are being assessed according to: Your nursing schools' BSN program (not your countries') Your English language skills Your RN experience & practise Your RN skills and knowledge The last three, are criteria that you can do something about. Do not cry over your nurs...

With only 10 Canadian Provinces to choose from, some Pinoy IENs seem lost to make a decision. To help you make a decision for yourself and your family, this post, for sure would break down all the factors that you need to consider before drafting your game plan. First things first, 2 main criteria to take note of: Evidence of RN Practise The last shift you worked as an RN in the Philippines or in a jurisdiction where you practised as RN is important to know the expiry/validity of your Evidence of RN Practise (aka 'safe practise'). Most provinces in Canada require at least 1,125 RN hours in the last five (5) years EXCEPT Ontario which is at least 450 RN hours in the last three (3) years and Québec, four (4) years. We'll make it simpler for you bud. If your last shift as an RN in Singapore was just yesterday November 21, 2018 and you submitted an application today: For Ontario, your Evidence of RN Practise will expire on November 21, 2021 That means, ...

We previously presented Glenda's journey to RN licensure in Canada on our  My Pinoy IEN Story published early this year. It's good to look back where we started however there's no way better but to go up. Let's do a quick update, in detail, of how her adventure was like. Pinoy IEN: Vaklush! Congratulations! Finally! Canadian RN na! Haha. You owe us to tell your story in detail... Glenda Moraleja: Haha! Naks san ba tayu mag sisimula. I am Manitoba-based na napadpad sa dagat. Hahaha! Pinoy IEN: Malansa! Charot! Hahaha! Glenda: Alam mo naman tayo mga Pinoy. We prefer to be closed to family, your comfort zone kaya initially nag apply ako sa Manitoba alam mo naman full of dreams din. Pinoy IEN: Understandable, kung saan pamilya mo dun ka naman talaga mag try above all the other options available. Anu nga background mo saten kapatid? Glenda: So I used to work at Calamba Medical Centre and San Pablo Doctors as a Medical-Surgical/ICU RN in 2 ...

We always have THAT Filipino IEN along the way who's just so exhausting and pessimistic. Here are barriers to Canadian nursing licensure: (1) Slacking off At some points on your stay in Canada, we have met that Filipino IEN who never got licensed after several years of settling in the country. Given the lax processes and less red tape in the past, slacking off would mean and take note of these: Expiry of Evidence of RN Practise Gaps of RN skills and knowledge Out-of-date clinical judgment/critical thinking skills Get caught up by licensure policy change Remember, YOUR RN PRACTISE IS YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY . You are now in Canada. Regulation and RN policy makers are very engaged with their registrants and make sure that their RNs are at par to the most recent evidence-based practise. The Colleges discipline RNs who are a threat to public safety. Sanctions can be grim. (2) Reliance to hearsays We have met that Filipino IEN who rely/relied on second-hand infor...

(1) Make sure you have a pending/ongoing Canadian immigration application This is the MOST important thing before starting NNAS. At some points of the Canadian nursing licensure process, YOUR PRESENCE IN CANADA may be/is required. Moreover, an authorisation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (of Canada) to enter Canada is required and even in some provinces, this is required to practise nursing. Such as: Study Visa Work Permits (Foreign Workers, Live-In Care Givers etc) Permanent Residency Citizenship Spousal/Dependents Petition In other words, DO NOT START NNAS if everything is still up in the air. Secure your way to enter Canada first. If a travel document is issued by the Immigration, Refugee & Citizen Canada (IRCC) and a departure date has been decided by you and your family, you can start worrying about getting licensed in Canada. It is wise to start your NNAS while you are still in the Philippines and be 'hands-on' the supporting d...

It is not uncommon for the new wave of IENs in Canada to ask about employment opportunities after going through the arduous process of and getting the coveted Canadian RN license. It is a known fact that Canada has a single-payer health care delivery system. Funding for public health care is taken from our taxes which is contrary to the claims that everything here in the True North is glorious and free! O Canada! Health Regions/Authorities Health care is a designated provincial responsibility in Canada's federal system. That means provinces fund for its constituents' public health care. And again funding is taken from provincial taxes. The provincial health care system is administered by health regions or health authorities. Most Canadian RNs are employed by the provincial government directly or indirectly through health regions and authorities. Known provinces with health regions are British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Québec and Newfoundland ...

The North America Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA between Mexico, the United States and Canada allows citizens of these countries mobility of talent and professional expertise across North America. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that there will be more than a million RN openings in the United States by 2024 ( Reuters, 2017 ). A nursing crisis unlike any other in US history. Because of Canada's highly educated RN pool who are baccalaureate degree holders, Canada is the third country behind the Philippines and India where American hospitals recruit RNs from ( Hall, 2009 ). The CGFNS VisaScreen is one of the requirements to get an approval for a Trade NAFTA (TN) Visa, a non-immigrant work visa that is renewable and valid for 3 years. Only citizens of Mexico and Canada with a US job offer are eligible for a TN Visa. Here are the steps to complete the CGFNS VisaScreen: 1. Sign up for a CGFNS VisaScreen Account . Fill up an application form and pay the appropriate fe...