Advise On Where To Go In Vancouver

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 16, 2008

I'd recommend Vancouver Island, not the Lower Mainland, for family-oriented sea-side living. The pace is slower, although the cost of living isn't that much lower. BC is divided into health regions or authorities and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA: http://www.viha.ca/) administers health care on the Island. There are currently 241 positions posted for RNs and 29 for LPNs. Online application is not only possible but the best method. I would suggest checking Wikipedia for information on each of the cities and towns listed on the postings you're interested in then choosing which to apply for based on the community it's in. Good luck.

KING ARTHUR · Oct 16, 2008

Thank you Jan. That's the one that I've actually interested in but has not had much information. I'll try to search a bit more and I'll post back any progress.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 16, 2008

Maybe I can help you pull as much out of their site as possible. Let me know what you want to know that you're not finding.

KING ARTHUR · Oct 16, 2008

I was trying to look for ICU jobs first thru that link and found out 3-4 full time positions that are mainly in city of Victoria. It looks like only few options to choose. A few positions are part time and casual. I am unsure as how big is the island and how many hospitals there is. Will do more research I guess.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 16, 2008

The site says there are >752,000 people on the island. Landmass is 310 miles from northern-most community to southern-most (Port Hardy to Victoria) and about 75 miles wide at its widest point. There's a range of mountains that runs down the centre. The VIHA site has a number of lead-ins to different aspects of health care on the Island. Click on the link for how to get the care you need and a map comes up; click on one of the three districts and a list of health care facilities comes up. The link "About VIHA" gives a lot of choices for information about the region's health care and its providers. Have you followed those?

Canadian Girl · Oct 23, 2008

Hi gals and guys,
I have found out today from my CRNBC assessor that my application has been completed and that I am eligible to take CRNE exam but haven't received official documents from them yet.
My wife and I are UK nurses and hoping to migrate to Canada. I am just starting to look for empoyers in BC. I am hoping that you guys might give me some tips in my decision where to look for a job in BC. We have 2 school age children 10 & 9 and hoping to find good schools in the place where we could find a job and family oriented environment. We have been living in the northeast of England a seaside town resort hence we would also prefer to live near the sea. We've been to Toronto but never been in Vancouver hence I'm hoping that you guys could give us some ideas and which potential employers that we need to approach. I would be grateful for all replies.

I grew up in Victoria, and I think you would like it. It has a very British feel to it, especially downtown. You should look at www.VancouverIsland.com . There is a lot of good information about the island there. You will find everything you need in Victoria and Nanaimo. I'm pretty sure that the nursing wage for hospital jobs in BC is based on the BC nurses union, and therefore the same throughout the province. So the cost of living is very high in Victoria, and the wage would be the same as living elsewhere where the COL is low. As far as the best hospitals to work at: you would want to look at the Victoria General, and the Royal Jubilee Hospital, both in Victoria. The second biggest city on the Island is Nanaimo, and I think their ICU is fairly basic, from what I've seen a long time ago. The other hospitals on the island are quite a bit smaller, to the point of being very rural. If you can afford a house in Victoria or the surrounding areas (houses in Victoria starting at over $400,000 CAD), you'd be in your element: by the sea, lots of things to do outdoors. Cycling friendly city. Good luck. Let me know if you have any questions about Victoria.

KING ARTHUR · Oct 23, 2008

Canadian girl thank you so much for that very valuable information. I do believe that it's a beautiful place. I've spoken to employment adviser at VIHA and have sent my resume. I'm just hoping that I could get a phone call from them. But while waiting I'm also looking at other areas in Vancouver such as Vancouver coastal health authority and Fraser Health. Am I right in saying that their coverage is also south of Vancouver and near the coast as well? I would try to give them a ring as well and what job opportunities do they have.

Canadian Girl · Oct 24, 2008

I do believe that those two hospital systems cover south of Vancouver (although there's not much to the south before reaching the US boarder) and the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine coast is beautiful, but I do believe it gets very rural very quickly (such as needing to take a ferry to access some areas, and a little further north you'd be coming across Native indian reserves and rural nursing stations). I've only lived in Vancouver for a few months, so maybe someone can correct me if i'm wrong. My husband and I would also love to move to BC (from SanFrancisco), and it is hard to find a place that is by the ocean, and where housing is affordable.

KING ARTHUR · Feb 2, 2009

It's been a while that I have not posted back. Anyway, some updates we decided to go for mainland Vancouver. I have applied thru nursevancouver.com. Fraser Health seems to have a number of hospitals so put more emphasis on finding hospitals with them. Luckily I have been interviewed recently with the ICU manager in Burnaby Hospital and offered me a job. I have been trying to searched the hospital but there's not much information out there.

Has anyone worked or have experience with Burnaby Hospital? What's the environment like working in this hospital? Do they have good schools nearby? (children 9&10) How much are the typical rental accomodation? and where would you suggest to safest place to live in this area? I would appreciate any reply and information you can share. Many thanks.

Fiona59 · Feb 2, 2009

Burnaby is across the street from Vancouver (no, really, Boundary Road is the division between the cities).

Burnaby General is on the south side of Burnaby. In a residential area. I grew up across the street in Vancouver.

All I remember about it is going to the ER there for sutures with friends. It seemed like a nice area growing up but who knows these days.

KING ARTHUR · Feb 3, 2009

Thanks Fiona. Do you know where would be an ideal family oriented neighbourhood around the area? How about schools, are there good reputable schools around as well? I'm sorry about all these questions as although we travelled a lot but never been in Canada yet. So it would be an interesting move for us and relish the challenge that lies ahead.