Within the clinical area there appears to be a great team ethos within the VCH specialty that I work in and great working relationship between physicians, nursing staff and allied staff. On arrival to my department I was welcomed and assigned a mentor who orientated me to the department as things are somewhat different and it takes a little getting used of but after a few days they all fall into place. My department nurse manager and clinical educator again are welcoming and meet periodically to see how you are progressing; the open door policy is reassuring that you can seek information or air views anytime. The patient acuity appears much higher and nursing staff have increased responsibility and therefore require a good knowledge base of their particular specialty. Nurses play a major part into the clinical workload from assessment to patient management. I found this exciting and challenging particularly in practices that were normally delivered by doctors and specialists in Ireland.

I have found the city and surroundings just to be great; people not only from Vancouver Coastal Health but everywhere are welcoming and helpful. I have not yet had any home sick feelings, which is very promising, but with such a vast amount to keep both mind and body active I don't have time!

Good luck with your adventure.

David RN, Dublin, Ireland

I moved to Vancouver Canada four years ago having been a qualified nurse for ten years in the UK. Initially I was coming for only one year but I have chosen to stay. Personally it is because Vancouver offers beautiful mountains and sea and a wonderful and exuberant (and CLEAN!) city. There is so much to do and its cheap and easy to get around on the buses here compared to home. I have enjoyed pretty much every shift on the acute medicine ward, my orientation was well thought-out and I was very well prepared to practise when the time came. Nobody 'threw me in at the deep end'. Work is very different here. They practise primary nursing rather than team care which is what I was used to. I find it far less stressful to be accountable for a handful of patients each shift rather than a ward full which is what you came to expect in Britain. It was easy to make new friends and there were other foreign nurses who started when I did. Everyone was really helpful and friendly and the hospital helped me find a good place to stay.

I find at work that there are more oppurtunities for education and career improvement as money seems less tight than in the UK health service. We work twelve hour shifts in this unit which is great. You usually work two days then two nights then yippee you get five days off to go to the lovely beaches or learn to ski in the winter. The process of getting your visa can be a bit long and arduous but its well worth it.

I love it here, professionally and personally, I hope whoever is reading this also has a great experience.