Update from CARNA and our Next Steps to Calgary!

After putting in my nursing registration application in September I received in the post today a letter from the College and Association of Registered Nurses in Alberta (CARNA) saying that as I have no childrens nursing experience then they are unable to continue with the application. As I am sure you can imagine I was very upset but am sure that I am not the only one this has happened to as in the UK, we specialise in either adult or childrens nursing. They have told me I can apply for a restricted temporary permit but will have to complete a SEC assessment and subsequently any additional training required in Peadiatrics before I can apply for a Temporary Work Permit. After this I will be able to take the main CRNE exam once I am working in Calgary. Disappointed would have been an understatement as it seemed I'd have to sit the assessment and any further traing at Mount Royal College, Calgary, whilst not working!

Since this news and speaking to CARNA (who would not change their decision), the International Float Pool Manager for the Calgary Health Region and Mount Royal College, I have been able to book myself in for the SEC assessment here in London on February 4/5th, then possibly some training if required during Feb/March whilst Mount Royal College are over carrying out the SEC assessments for International nurses. Must get my nose in those textbooks and get studying!

Nige's job offer has also gone quiet and even after speaking to the company last week, there doesn't seem to be any movement which is also frustrating! Who said things were meant to be easy?

This has prompted us to take a different option on the visa front for now as Nige will be out of work at the end of April, so we want to be heading out to Calgary no later than June, otherwise he'd have to find work here for a short period of time. After realising that the Bunac visas are not just for students, but for anyone who is 30 or under, Nige has now applied for these as a way of getting us started in Canada as they will allow us to work for 12 months and they are offered purely on a first come first served basis until the allocation has been taken up. These will basically cost us £300 each, which we thought was a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing we can leave for Calgary with an open work permit in place by May, incase my nursing registration gets prolonged or I have to do some training in Canada. Just going through the process of Police checks (£40 each) and filling in the work authorisation application, then I'll have to have a medical (approx' £150) due to working in the Nursing environment. These would have had to have been done anyway, so no extra cost for us.

Fingers crossed that things are now looking more promising after the initial shock of the letter back from CARNA, denying me my registration.