Canadian Nurses



Information for Canadian Nurses



I love the opportunities that travel nursing affords me, to travel and see many beautiful cities and states, to work in hospitals I've only read about, to meet new friends both in hospital and out, to settle in for 13 weeks and call a place home in some of the best housing complexes available. I think travel nursing is one of the best kept secrets around.
There are dozens of companies out there actively recruiting us. If you're thinking about travel nursing, but dont know how to get started, maybe this page will help. I've done it, so it can't be THAT hard, You can do it to!

Travel companies, those that supply hospitals with temporary help, generally for 13 weeks, usually ask their nurses to have a year of recent hospital experience. CPR is expected and ACLS and PALS will get you into more assignments. Contracts are almost always signed for the length of the assignment only. Don't sign on for a year with a company unless the benefits are extrordinary! And I haven't found those yet.
Most companies provide housing, most are shared housing, but there are many companies that provide you with free private housing. Many pay utilities, some do not. Many cover your insurances, some don't.. Basically you have to do your homework before signing a contract. Go to my travel companies page and check on several of them. Then head on over to Suzannes Travel Nurse and Therapist Forum and find out what other travels are saying. It pays to find out what to expect ahead of time. Be forewarned that almost every company has it's supporters and it's dissidents. Read what people have to say, and make up your own mind. Often a good recruiter is what convinces you sign up with a company.

NCLEX Information



Step by step to your TN Visa

  1. Have available:
  2. Present yourself, the documents above, and the fee to a USA Canadian border.
  3. Fill out the application using the information from above.
  4. A NAFTA officer will process your application and you'll be on your way.


Procare USAput this page together for their Canadian Nurses. It's full of great information... Take a look.

A little bit about taxes

I'm still working in Canada during the summer and therefore I still pay Canadian taxes, but if you intent to work exclusively in the USA you might want to sever your ties with Canada so you don't have to declare the money you make in the US.

The following information was donated by Erin, and was posted in Delphi's formum. I have posted it here with Erins permission. She found out the hard way, through her own trial and error search. I hope it makes things a little easier for you.

Thanks Erin.

Once you leave Canada .If you fill out a determination of residency form you may not need to claim you're USA income at all .
This form is provided by Revenue Canada . Basically you need to cut all ties with Canada ie : close bank accounts , credit cards , switch drivers licence over to USA , own no property , have no dependents or spouse living in Canada etc . RRSP's are ok to have . You also have to have no plans to return to Canada ...although if you do how would they know ?
By doing this they will assess it and deem you a non-resident of Canada . This means you still keep your citizenship but for tax purposes you are not a resident . This means you do not need to report your American income and there fore don't pay taxes on it .
I found this out after much beurocratic circles and an initial huge tax bill , which was later reduced by about $7,000.00 CDN once I did this and filed for a re-assessment . You can do this (or back date it ) from the day you leave Canada . The needing to be away for 2 years myth is just that a big myth !
Also pass this info along to any other CDN's you know who are here because it equals big savings . Also make sure you always speak to the international tax branch of Revenue Canada . The regular people don't have a clue about what to do ...which is likely why there is so much mis-information out there .

Open Letter to a Canadian Nurse



Okay this is going to be long.. sorry.

I'm an Ontario RN who's about to start her 3rd assignment. I took a few months off to come home when my mom was sick but I'm ready to head out again. I wrote the NCLEX in Buffalo for my Minnesota license. I didn't need to write the CGFN. The NCLEX was really weird to write. I've been an ICU nurse for years and so haven't written an exam of that importance for a long long time. It almost seems to cater to your weaknesses and so you think you're doing poorly but in actuality you are answering harder and harder questions (does that make sense?) It passes or fails you nothing in between, and will often cut off after 75 questions. I came out not knowing how I did. But I passed. I took an NCLEX review course prior to writing and was glad I did, but then I tend to over prepare anyway.

I'd start about 6 months before you want to begin traveling. Choose a State to write your NCLEX in. Some states are slower with their paper work, that means they'll slow you up on getting other licenses since they take longer to endorse. Try to find a state that will handle your paperwork quickly. Go to http://www.flyingnurses.com/StateLicenseInfo.htm and choose one that takes only a few weeks to process a permanent license, or look for one that endorses over the phone. Also look to see if you need to take the CGFN, or any special courses. Also consider the cost of endorsing (since every other license you get will always endorse 'at least' your original state.)

Phone the State Board, http://www.ncsbn.org/files/boards/boardscontact.asp and explain your situation. They will send you an application for a State license and an application to write the NCLEX. Fill out all the applications and forms, papers, arrange for school transcripts, notarized pictures, fingerprints, sign and send the checks, etc, etc.. then when you think you're done you need to phone the Board again and go through your paperwork and make sure you have included everything you need before you send it in. I say this out of experience. You will be sitting at home waiting for your license not knowing that they are missing one small piece of paper, or a signature, and they WILL NOT call you. Then after a week or so call them to enquire as to the status of your application. Okay, that's just the License. You will need to fill out all the information in the NCLEX Bulletin, send it and a check etc to the Chauncey Group and wait. http://www.ncsbn.org/files/nclex.asp Once the State Board has all the info and money they let the NCLEX know and then you are okayed to write the NCLEX. You'll receive a card. Call a Sylvan learning center and arrange for a time and date to take your NCLEX. Keep your appointment!! If you don't you could lose all that time and money. You'll need a picture ID and your card from your state board. Even though we have Sylvan learning centers in Canada you can only take the NCLEX in the States. I lived close to the border, I was lucky.

If all goes well you will have your license within a few weeks. Good Luck.

As for Travel Companies.. Check out all the companies that Delphi has listed, Go to their websites, look around, choose a few that appeal to you and phone them. You'll never lack phone calls again! Or go to a job fair in the area, there are usually a few travel companies at them. Look around for what you want, and find a recruiter you feel comfortable with, that means a lot, and they will help you get through everything much more easily.

As for a work Visa vs a Green Card. A Green Card takes years and $1000s of dollars to get but once you've got it you're able to work in the US without having to continually renew at a border. A Work Visa lasts 6 months and needs renewing at a border but you get it right away and it costs less. You need one for EVERY job you have.. remember this if you decide to take another job, say doing per diem nursing, with another company while in the US.

Your company will provide you with a letter that says you have a job waiting. Know the hospitals name address and phone number, the companies name, address and phone number, and the names and phone numbers of contacts in both. You'll need this for your Work Visa. Have your Birth Certificate, SSN, passport, a copy of your college degree, your license, and if you are married your marriage license, readily available. Basically anything that proves you are who you say you are and that you do have a job waiting. Also have $56 dollars US. Things will probably go without a hitch but If you have everything prepared upfront there is less chance of being turned back at the border, or refused a Visa. Your company should help you with all this.

Oh, another thing. If you have anything of importance (camera's, computer, etc) that you are bringing across the border should go to Canada Customs before crossing over and list everything you have. I made a list with serial numbers and duplicated it, then I handed this to Canada Customs. They signed the list and made a copy. So when I went home everything I brought over was listed and they didn't hassle me going back.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know. Oh and don't let all this overwhelm you. I really does go 'one step at a time'.


A few simple rules of thumb... start early, double check everything, keep a record of everyone you've talked to, dated and timed, Keep all your appointments, Don't worry, be happy. It will all work out! And you thought this was going to be fun. LOL

Delphi's Travel Nurses and Therapists site has lots and lots of ideas and help, I wish I'd found it before I started to travel.

This travel nursing is FANTASTIC! Don't put it off! feel free to E-Mail me. wendyb


NAFTA
Guide to licensing
US State Department
Nafta Visa
Immigration issues for Nurses
Info on Licensing
About Greencards and Visa's
list of Visa's for Canadians
The TN Visa for Canadians
Obtaining TN status
Getting your work Visa
International Nurses Alliance Info
License and Visa requirements as per Medhunters

Foreignborn.com
American Immigration Information Board
Immigration Message Board


American Nurses Association
American Nurses Credentialing Services
American Association of Critical Care Nurses


Health Information for Travelers to North America


LISENCING.. State Boards info



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