Graduating Nurse from Ontario Moving to Calgary

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2013

AB is cutting health care services as we speak, and it's harder to get into Alberta Health services as an external applicant. Internal applicants have priority. The cities are also very competitive. Make sure you have a job lined up before you come out to Calgary, or at least 6 months savings. If you are willing to work rural to get into AHS, then you should be fine.

Fiona59 · Feb 15, 2013

You need a car in Alberta. Public transit is very difficult for shift workers to use. I have coworkers who leave home at 0500 for a 0700 start. That's in the provincial capital.

Alberta isn't the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for jobs,especially government funded jobs

lilaclover6984 · Feb 15, 2013

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

I work at Foothills in Calgary and I really like it there. I pay a little extra in rent since I live right downtown,directly next to a train station. But it saves me money in the end because I HAVEN'T needed to buy a car. It takes me about 20-30 mins to get to work via train and a quick transfer to a very frequent bus. There are 6 of us from my unit that all do this and I have had no problem at all.

itsmejuli · Feb 15, 2013

Apartments are difficult to find in the downtown area of Calgary so rents are really jumping.

So if you decide to come out here make sure you have plenty of money saved to support yourself while you're looking for a job.

As I've posted in other threads, its very difficult to get into AHS.

petethecanuck · Feb 15, 2013

Keep in mind you will also be competing with 100's of Alberta RN grads and AHS's "mandate" to hire > 70% of said grads.

Please see page 68 in AHS Q2 performance report 2012/2013: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/Publications/ahs-pub-pr-2012-12-performance-report.pdf

blissity · Feb 16, 2013

Well thats quite disheartening to hear. :/ I do have about 4 months worth of savings for this move and I know people there as well. I guess I will try to apply early by April and have a side-job lined up too. I am willing to take part-time or casual to get into AHS so I think it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Or maybe I am just being overly optimistic haha.. Anyways, thank you so much for the info guys.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2013

AB is cutting back similar to ON 5 years ago. Even to land a casual position....yes, it is possible, but you are applying as an external applicant with AHS. The way AHS works is that internal applicants are selected first, because they are already in the system. External applicants are selected last. So part time or casual is still an issue for you because you aren't in the system. AB works differently than ON. As Pete mentioned, you are competing with local grads. If you plan on living in Calgary or Edmonton, 4 months of savings will run out quickly. I wouldn't leave without a job if I were you. To put things in perspective, it took a friend of mine (who is with AHS) almost three months to land a casual position.

Fiona59 · Feb 17, 2013

It's taken me the better part of five months of applying for part time jobs to even get an interview for one. I'm internal and have over 5 years of service! I'm just looking for a lateral move.

witness2012 · Feb 17, 2013

What is the best solution for new grads now?

Fiona59 · Feb 17, 2013

What is the best solution for new grads now?

Well, Alberta's priority is finding jobs for Alberta eduated nurses, as Pete said above they are promising to hire 70% of new grads. They haven't said how they are funding this, if they will be full time or part time lines.

I wouldn't move here without a job. I would be prepared for a lot of time spent applying for jobs and not that many interviews.

It's almost as if Alberta is going back to the early '90s and those were not good times for healthcare workers.

Trishrpn80 · Feb 17, 2013

It's almost as if Alberta is going back to the early '90s and those were not good times for healthcare workers.

I think its nationwide not just alberta...

My mom was a nurse in that time and we ended up in the USA..except now the states is as bad as here..