Advice regarding finding RN employment

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I am hoping anyone and everyone can help me with some websites or tools I can use to help secure employment. I haven't been successful in finding full time employment as an RN. I live in Toronto Ontario and it has been very hard. I am so stressed and sometimes question why I went into the profession. I have only gotten responses for positions that are casual, which isn't enough. Please tell me what the best way or the best website for nursing positions. I would very much appreciate your help. I am an IEN and am finding this so discouraging. Is there are program that can give me some Canadian experience? I am registered as a nurse with the CNO but that doesn't seem to be enough

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I've moved your thread from the Canadian Nursing Programs forum to the Nursing in Canada forum since you're not enrolled in school, planning to enroll in school or offering advice on school, which is the focus of that forum.

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Toronto is the one of the hardest job markets to crack. If offered casual, take it. There are usually lots of hours. Consider moving?

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Specializes in Gerontology.

You need to get your foot in the door.

Take a casual position. Take every shift you are offered. It doesn't matter if you hate nights, weekends, whatever. Say Yes to every shift you can. This gets your face out there and people get to know you. Then, when a part time or full time position opens up, you will be known and that will increase your chances of getting a better position.

the chances of getting a full,time positions straight out of school are slim. You need to start small and work your way up.

If you get a casual position, let it be known that you want hours and will work any shift. Trust me, the more you work, the more hours you will be offered.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Why turn down a casual position? It's a way of getting your foot in the door and getting some experience.

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I am also from Toronto and I do see that it is not easy to expect a full time off off the bat. I was fortunate to have an interview with a big hospital downtown that I consolidated at this week and am awaiting their final decision.

But if I was to not receive this position, I would definitely take any job offers, even if it was casual. You can also work multiple jobs too. I have friends who live more West in Hamilton/Burlington who have two jobs in nursing (each have full time nursing jobs and another nursing job starting on top of that). With casual positions, it would be very manageable to work for different hospitals too.

So if you were to take the casual position, I would not think you're stuck there. You could take on another job while you're making yourself known to the organization. You'll have a great chance to get offered full time in the future! Any experience is better than none. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Toronto is saturated with new and experienced nurses looking for work. Every so often I check various hospital websites in the GTA, out of curiosity. Usually there's 10-20 positions and two of those will accept new grads.

Try clinics, LTC and anything else that will provide experience. Casual is probably your best option to get your foot in the door.

Consider relocating to a small town if you need work.

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Specializes in Hospital nursing.
I am also from Toronto and I do see that it is not easy to expect a full time off off the bat. I was fortunate to have an interview with a big hospital downtown that I consolidated at this week and am awaiting their final decision.

But if I was to not receive this position, I would definitely take any job offers, even if it was casual. You can also work multiple jobs too. I have friends who live more West in Hamilton/Burlington who have two jobs in nursing (each have full time nursing jobs and another nursing job starting on top of that). With casual positions, it would be very manageable to work for different hospitals too.

So if you were to take the casual position, I would not think you're stuck there. You could take on another job while you're making yourself known to the organization. You'll have a great chance to get offered full time in the future! Any experience is better than none. Good luck! :)

Even Burlington and Hamilton are tough. I have years of RPN experience and still can't find a FT RN job in that area. It's even hard to get interviews! :(

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Definitely, I have had only one interview so far. I would consider my friends pretty lucky to land the jobs where they did and even be offered two positions, while the majority are still hunting to get interviewed.

Good luck CanadianGirl79 in the job hunt, I can relate to the frustration and test of patience in this process. Let us know if you hear back!

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