Graduating Nurse from Ontario Moving to Calgary

[blissity]

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

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Nursing fluctuates in cycles, and this has always been the case. Eventually, everyone will be desperate and hiring again. I think you need to be flexible and adaptable, no matter what the situation is. Research the areas you might want to work and live and just apply. Be open to going rural if you want to work sooner, rather than later. There are jobs, just not nearly as many as there was. Most every Province will hire nurses in rural areas because these areas are hard to recruit. Your best bet is to start researching and emailing recruiters.

[Fiona59]

And for the love of gawd, don't say you'll work shift when you have no intention of doing so. So not expect to walk into a M-F day shift line as a new grad. Do not expect full time hours if you are hired as a casual.

Too many new grads have really unrealistic expectations of what the real world is about.

[RoShMa]

Hi everyone,

I am a soon-to-be New Grad graduating in BC but moving to Calgary to be with my partner in May. I am not having a lot of luck finding out what the climate is for new grads (or external applicants in general) lately for AHS and Calgary in particular - anyone on here have any insights? Has anything changed in the last year since the conversation on this board happened??

Thank you for any help!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

There are numerous threads on this topic here. The climate in AB and everywhere else is terrible, especially in the major cities, for new grads and experienced nurses.

Be prepared to accept casual or temp in whatever area you can find. AHS continues to mess with the system, and you're an external applicant which will make it more difficult. You need to be in the system to have first pick of the jobs, and even then, it's difficult.

[RoShMa]

Thanks joanna73 - I was afraid of that! I have read every thread on here that I could find on this topic, and some written last year mentioned that things may start turning around in a year which would be around now... looks like I'll be going rural!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I wish I had more positive news, but unfortunately, nothing has changed in AB. AHS continues to shuffle staff around. The new South Calgary hospital still isn't fully operational due to staffing and budget constraints, and many of the displaced staff from months prior have not secured full employment.

[itsmejuli]

FYI When I moved out of my downtown Calgary 560 sq ft one bedroom apartment in August 2013 the manager upped the rent to $1100 a month. It got rented immediately.

I did not get a single interview for any of the casual positions I applied for with AHS Calgary. I did get an interview for a part-time position but didn't get it because it went to an internal applicant. And the sad part was that the managers wanted me for the job.

[M3BWN]

I just went for an interview today at a hospital in the Edmonton area.... Casual posting... over 50 applicants for CASUAL!! lol

[Fiona59]

I just went for an interview today at a hospital in the Edmonton area.... Casual posting... over 50 applicants for CASUAL!! lol

That's what we've been telling people and they just don't believe us! The last vacancy on my unit had 64 INTERNAL applicants.

When we say don't move here without a job, we aren't being nasty, we are just trying to warn people.

[Novo]

Wow...

[FiveAlive0]

Just wondering if the situation in Calgary remains the same? I moved from MB and got a job in rural 6 months ago, work full time in a permanent line within AHS. Is Calgary still saturated with applicants? Should I wait until the 1 year mark to start applying, if it's still a long shot?

[Fiona59]

last posting on my unit in Edmonton has 122 applicants. Some had 20+ years seniority for a .75 FTE