Job application- Alberta Health Service website.

witness2012 · Mar 5, 2013

Is there a hiring freeze yet in alberta? How long that may last?

petethecanuck · Mar 5, 2013

Not really a "hiring freeze per se". AHS made a commitment to hire 70% of new Alberta RN grads. Combine that with a projected $4 Billion dollar budget deficit, (we will know more on Thursday) that will result in cutbacks accross the board and you have the ingredients for a bleak outlook for new nurses trying to find employment here.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 5, 2013

As Pete says, technically there ISN'T a hiring freeze, they're just not filling all vacancies. There have been a number of layoffs in the last couple of weeks, when those transition units closed. Those nurses have the ability to bump into another job, thereby displacing someone else. It's the old seniority-domino-drop game.

witness2012 · Mar 5, 2013

It's kind of stressful when you spend so much money for the school and you yet don't get a job I wish there will be some light for new grad nurses soon in Canada . # desperate and a broke nurse .

Fiona59 · Mar 5, 2013

My manager said last week that their is a freeze. Oh, and for added fun the company that evaluates all the lines is back. More changes are acoming.

The way she said it, was that posted positions will be filled with existing staff. So casuals getting hired for lines because they are in the system?

Who knows.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 6, 2013

They cannot arbitrarily increase anyone's FTE. They can't force casuals to take positions. I've seen the evilness they've inflicted on our master rotation through that centralized evaluation process. The local is still "working with them" to fix them so that they're collective-agreement-compliant but that doesn't mean they'll be workable. The line I have right now is brutal and the new one doesn't look any better. As a 0.7 I shouldn't be working nine 12-hour shifts in a two week period... ever - never mind bouncing from nights to days to nights to days and back to nights over those nine shifts. Who can work that kind of schedule?

Fiona59 · Mar 6, 2013

mindless automatons with no life?

witness2012 · Mar 6, 2013

So casuals is the way to go? At least some work is better than no work . But yes definitely AHs over works the nurses up . Am sure Evrey one is Burnt out ! Ghosh they need to bring these issues up ASAP !

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2013

In the northern areas is housing subsidized through your work or is it all private apts?

It depends where you are in the North. Many of the apts are not subsidized through work, but some areas provide a Northern allowance. My area did not until recently, and even with incentives, we still can't get staff.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2013

Most places overwork their staff. This is one of the key reasons I'm leaving my position, even though it is not an ideal time. I'd rather take my chances and find a casual job somewhere than work the 15-16 shifts a month many of us have been working for the last 6 months. All the hours are slowly sucking the life right out of most of us, with no end in sight. And 9 shifts in two weeks is too much.

wagon198 · Mar 6, 2013

Hi! I am an IEN who wants to apply at AHS. Is there a possibility for an IENs to be hired as Nursing Attendant at AHS or do we need to have a certificate as Nursing Attendant before we can apply?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 6, 2013

Hi! I am an IEN who wants to apply at AHS. Is there a possibility for an IENs to be hired as Nursing Attendant at AHS or do we need to have a certificate as Nursing Attendant before we can apply?

Have you been reading these threads on AHS? There's an informal hiring freeze! But in answer to your last question, AHS does require certification for nursing assistants. Last year every non-certified NA in the province was required to take a course and become certified to keep their jobs - even those who have been doing that job for 30 years.