More RN's being cut in Ontario

[2bNurse-88]

http://www.680news.com/news/national/article/48800--patient-care-compromised-as-nurses-cut-by-hospitals-trying-to-balance-books-ndp

Just another example of what's happening to RN's here in Ontario.

2,000 RN positions cut in the past year, and counting. 120 more being cut at one hospital in Peterburough. That hospital plans on replacing 70-80% of those cut RN jobs with RPN's, and leave the other 20% of positions vacant, meaning over-worked RPN's, and a shortage.

A lot of the old RN's are making close to $50/hour. The RN's getting cut are one who've been there for 20+ years, seeing as they've maxed out at the highest pay rate, newer RN's seem to be a tad lucky since they're pay is still lower on the scale.

Where I work (I work in 2 hospitals) in the GTA area, they've cut close to 50 RN jobs, and replaced them with RPN's. They've gotten rid of RN's in Mental-Health, besides one charge nurse. In the surgical-unit they've cut RN's, having only 2 RN's on duty, the rest 10-12 are RPN's. It's happening everywhere!

(I've been accepted to the RPN-RN bridging program, but i've decided to put that on hold for now & stay where i'm at)

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I remember that time frame. It is ironic, because I delayed going to nursing school in the 90's for this very reason. Now here we are again, all these years later! And while there isn't mass hiring in the US (of course not), there are still certain areas that will accept new grad Canadian nurses with a BSCN, which I have. I'm keeping ALL of my options open. I'm getting too old for this nonsense. That is hopeful to hear that things are slowly picking up, which they will, in time

[Fiona59]

Yup, the ebb and flow of the working world is something else.

Back in the late '70s (when nursing was still a free programme offered by hospitals, lol), I started an Education degree and left in second year because the government basically said that new teachers had NO chance of full time employment. People I went to school with subbed and didn't land full time jobs until the late '80s.

I do think if you go to school for what you really want to do, you will stick it out. Those who are looking for a "surething" or a "guaranteed job" really need to listen to us and not poo, poo us as naysayers.

[guest427013]

Yup, the ebb and flow of the working world is something else.

...

I do think if you go to school for what you really want to do, you will stick it out. Those who are looking for a "surething" or a "guaranteed job" really need to listen to us and not poo, poo us as naysayers.

Yep, definitely. For those on this board who are older or tried a few different career paths, we know that there is no 'sure thing'. Jobs definitely come and go in many fields. I think the issue arises when people have this expectation that if they complete "X" diploma or "Y Degree", they'll be guaranteed and deserve a lifetime job with $XYZ salary. Life doesn't work that way, unfortunately. Not for most people! But if you want to be a nurse (or a teacher, or pet groomer, or a shoe sales person, or a truck driver etc etc), you'll find a way to make it work.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Exactly! I've always wanted to be a nurse, for various reasons. I asked myself, "If you knew that it was this tough 5 years ago, when you started back to school, would you still have done it?" YES! I spent 1 year taking the pre-requisites just to be accepted for nursing school, and 4 years in university. I worked my butt off in clinicals and at school. I'm not giving this up.

While it can be discouraging, I think you just have to make the best of your situation, whatever the case is. There are jobs out there, and if you want to get hired (as a nurse) you will get hired....somewhere. If that means I have to take a little more debt because I have to work part time for a while, then I'll do it. I also know that I might not land a job until maybe January. That means very little spending.

One thing I have started to do is call my references and other contacts to network early. The other is, if I see a posting, whether I am going to apply or not right now, I'm taking the contact information down for reference. Also, I am looking at places that don't even have postings to send my resume to.

Most importantly, I am studying for my Boards, at least 4 days per week. If I don't have a license, then all this is mute anyway :)

[linzz]

If I were looking, I would apply everywhere I wanted to work, they may not be hiring today but they could be next week, month etc.

Things will have to open up soon, I hope.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I agree. Today, I was also looking at NS, MB, BC, and recruiters. There are jobs, you just have to be willing to go wherever, if you want to work. I am fortunate that I can, and after I write the CRNE in October, I will be free to look for jobs full time. Also, I'm thinking of areas that don't have postings to send my resume to later on. I think you just have to be creative, and flexible.

It used to kill me when a new grad would say, "I only want____ nursing at X hospital." Well, if you are fortunate enough to get it, great. I have no intention of sitting around for 10 months waiting for a job. During that time you aren't working, you could have been acquiring that 6 months to year experience that employers want.

I think we have hit rock bottom pretty much. So the positive now is that things will start to slowly improve.

[Guppy]

...look all this happened mid 90's...it will turn around you just have to be willing to take whatever is offered right now. For the new nurses this is the time to try the different types of nursing and get some experience behind your belt. It might not be where you end up or on the shift you want but when the economy turns around so will the hiring freeze/layoffs. Well there you have it my 2 cents..Good Luck.

[RescueNinja]

...look all this happened mid 90's...it will turn around you just have to be willing to take whatever is offered right now. For the new nurses this is the time to try the different types of nursing and get some experience behind your belt. It might not be where you end up or on the shift you want but when the economy turns around so will the hiring freeze/layoffs. Well there you have it my 2 cents..Good Luck.

My Dad graduated in the mid-90s and we had to move 900 miles away for him to find FT work. We came back in '03 and there were oodles and oodles of jobs around here. Hopefully it doesn't take too long, but I agree it will turn around again.