Graduating Nurse from Ontario Moving to Calgary

World Canada

Published

Hi there,

I am looking for information on the nursing job market in Calgary for graduate nurses. Are there any full time positions available this coming summer? Ideally I would like to get hired for August/September (once my RN licence and registration is done) What's the nursing atmosphere like at Peter Lougheed or Rockyview for those who are currently employed there? I would love to work at South Health Campus as well but since it appears to be at the outskirts of the city, transportation would be an issue for me unless I can get a car. Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

- Kim

Specializes in geriatrics.

Take whatever you can get, wherever you can get it, in order to gain experience. If that means working rural for a year, do it. Times are tough for experienced nurses and new grads have it worse. It won't last forever, but for the next few years, probably.

0 Votes

So should I be applying right now while I am still finishing up my consolidation? And just write in the resume that my graduation is June 2013 and CRNE exam + licensing is in progress? Or should I wait till I finish writing it and getting registered+licensed in Alberta to apply? I just looked over the recent posting for RNs and most are asking start date to be ASAP or early March 2013..

Also, would it okay to contact the departments I am interested in working prior to applying to AHS online? Not sure if the online application is the ONLY WAY to get into AHS.. I would prefer to meet up with clinical coordinaters of the units and talk to them about possible job openings that they may have. I know I can easily get hired where I am consolidating at right now (Inpatient Neuro) in London, Ontario. But I have my heart set out west...

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

I would suggest applying to CARNA for your license first. They might be willing to issue a temp conditional license. Most employers won't hire you unless you have your Alberta license first, because there are many local grads who will have it. After you have your AB license, then you can start applying for jobs. And not as though we are trying to dissuade you from moving here...but I would suggest googling "AHS health care cuts" or something of the sort, so you have a picture of the economic climate out here. It's not pretty. Also, you could try calling units, but they will still direct you to the online site. I figure your fastest way in to AHS is to go rural. The rural areas are always hiring.

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I just looked over the recent posting for RNs and most are asking start date to be ASAP or early March 2013...

Funny thing about that. Take a look at the closing dates for the postings. They're usually only a week or two before the desired start dates. It's impossible. I applied on a posting that closed January 25. I had my interview on February 15. Now they're doing the BackCheck, a reference check that's performed by a company in Manitoba. The hiring manager told me the earliest she would know if I'm hired is February 26. Then there's the dickering that goes on with my current unit over how soon I could start the new job - probably mid- to late March. The stated start date in the posting? February 11, 2012.

Not sure if the online application is the ONLY WAY to get into AHS.. I would prefer to meet up with clinical coordinaters of the units and talk to them about possible job openings that they may have. I know I can easily get hired where I am consolidating at right now (Inpatient Neuro) in London, Ontario. But I have my heart set out west...

Online application is the ONLY way to get into AHS. Even when you're already with AHS. Refer back to my little story above. I have known the hiring manager for several years, in another capacity. She's only been in this manager role for about 18 months. I had a chat with her last summer when I learned that she's taken that job and told her I thought I might like to work there too. She said, "I can let you know when I post a position." Not, "That would be great, I'll see what I have for you". So sure, clinical coordinators will talk to you about possible vacancies and maybe make a note of your eagerness, but the Big Machine that is AHS will require their process be followed. When I read the bolded part, my instinct was to tell you to do that, get some experience behind you and then apply out here once things stabilize a bit. It's not like Alberta's going to just disappear.

0 Votes

Ah, Jan, the great and might unit managers at AHS can hold us for 28 days to meet their staffing issues. I had it happen to me about five years ago.

Hope the job hunt goes well.

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Actually, they can't. There's only a 28 day notice period for people who resign from AHS. Just had a spotlight on that from UNA. There is no specific time frame for transfers.

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiology.

@ blissity To apply for an RN job with AHS you need to be registered (or eligible to register) with CARNA. To meet that requirement, you first need to pass the CRNE, become registered with the CNO and then transfer your license to CARNA. So you're probably looking at the Fall 2013 or Winter 2014 before being eligible to work in AB.

0 Votes

Well I was hoping to write the CRNE in Calgary and not have to transfer license to CARNA. I am just waiting for my CNO package right now to figure out whether they would do that for me or if I have to fill out the online application from CARNA directly. Worse case scenario would be working as a server + health care aide while waiting to get into AHS or going rural.. Maybe I'll pick up bartending as well as I've heard they pay well over the summer (could get me through till Fall 2013/Winter 2014)

P.S. Would Airdrie, Okotoks, and Cochrane count as rural?

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

Rural AB basically means in the middle of nowhere. Nothing to do, nowhere close to go. You work and sleep. Great for experience and saving money. Rural is Northern AB. Many small towns that are in need of staff across the North. Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie are not considered rural. These are major centres (as far as AB is concerned). I don't understand why you wouldn't accept the neuro job for a year, or even 9 months, then move to AB. As far as building your skills and gaining nursing experience, working as an aide or a waitress is not going to set you ahead. As far as your nursing career is concerned, that doesn't make sense, IMO. Work smart, not hard.

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

To answer your edited post about rural, no Okotoks et al is not rural. Rural is Northern AB. Okotoks is near Calgary.

0 Votes
Well I was hoping to write the CRNE in Calgary and not have to transfer license to CARNA. I am just waiting for my CNO package right now to figure out whether they would do that for me or if I have to fill out the online application from CARNA directly. Worse case scenario would be working as a server + health care aide while waiting to get into AHS or going rural.. Maybe I'll pick up bartending as well as I've heard they pay well over the summer (could get me through till Fall 2013/Winter 2014)

P.S. Would Airdrie, Okotoks, and Cochrane count as rural?

Uhm, Airdrie, Okotoks are commutersville for Calgary. Almost suburban!

Rural is out in the middle of nowhere and no Stettler isn't really considered rural

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiology.

Pretty soon all those communites will be within the city limits ;)

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment