AHS Jobs.....Poof! Gone

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Good morning everyone!

Just wondering if you've noticed the activity on the AHS job board the last few days. Today, there are approximately 200 nursing positions active on the site. Two weeks prior to the budget, there were over 1000 positions, and then shrinking daily. Yet we are all working short.

Yes, I am aware the AHS Board is freezing positions and preparing to decrease the workforce through various means. However, I did not expect this many positions to disappear almost overnight.

Hopefully, someone will come to their senses. It's either feast or famine and to what end?

History repeats itself. Sigh. I'm shaking my head, as in, "Here we go again."

Perhaps the grand plan is to work everyone to the bone so we either quit or expire right on the job. This would save AHS millions.

Various posters inquire about moving to Alberta. Well unless you have a firm offer, do not move yet. Even with a job offer, beware....seniority rules. Last hired is first out when layoffs and restructuring occurs. AB will prosper again, but for the moment prospects are grim as far as the job market is concerned.

Do your research carefully and thoroughly before making important life changing decisions

[Fiona59]

Oh, I know what you are saying Joanna, but there will always be posters who feel they are unique enough or God will get them the job.

The rumour going around my site is that the company from Calgary is back. All lines to be evaluated and as many part time jobs as possible eliminated. Nurses with less than five years seniority have been looking pretty nervous.

Down at the U, some casuals have had zero shifts in over six weeks. All extra hours going to part-timers.

If I were a casual within AHS, I'd be looking for any part time line just to get some limited protection. We all know that the casuals will be the first to go.

[lilaclover6984]

I know!! With only 2 years seniority with AHS, I am petrified!! I work .7 nights. My only hope is I hold onto my line because nobody else will want the straight nights.

[Trishrpn80]

Here we go again.. Hope everyone is safe where they are

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Working nights, Lilaclover, you will probably have more success with keeping a line. Many people do not want nights.

Our facility is also potentially restructuring itself. Time will tell. In the meantime, my plans to relocate are definitely on hold.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

Here in ON, we had 3ft lines on my floor since before December, and hired one pt....have been told the ft lines will not be filled. I don't understand how paying all the OT, sick and modified time, and fines to WSIB is cheaper then filling the lines.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

The OT and sick time costs more in the long run. Three of our staff are on long term leave extending into 6 months now. The government is extremely short sighted. We're hiring....not hiring...hiring ....not hiring. Just ridiculous, and ultimately patient care suffers.

[itsmejuli]

I'm glad I'm not employed by AHS at this time.

There are 5 LPN jobs listed for Calgary on the AHS board. I'm not applying for anything....I've booked a holiday for 2 weeks in May.

My DIL is an ADN RN from the US, she's set to do SEC soon. I've told her over and over again to get the LPN rather than RN. She doesn't want to hear the truth. She has no nursing experience, she completed school, did the NCLEX and moved here right afterwards. At least as an LPN she'd have a better chance of finding work outside of AHS.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

People need to discover the realities of life on their own, unfortunately. Your DIL will have a very difficult time finding a job as a new grad RN with no experience and a foreign degree. All new grads have it tough, but especially the last few years. There are slightly more jobs for LPNs, but since the budget, the market has dried up. I figure we may see a slight improvement come fall, but not much.

The worst part is, people continue to believe there is a nursing shortage. Yes and no. Yes, there is a shortage, no the positions are not being filled. We are expected to work short. My extended family thinks nurses can easily find another job, despite what I keep telling them about the economic climate. I've even forwarded recent articles and they still don't believe it.

In November 2012, AHS decided they wanted more nurses and aides to work full time, despite the fact that AHS created these working conditions. Now people don't want to work full time. ON is no better....ON is well known for their slash and burn tactics for 30+ years.

I suppose we have to accept things as they are for now.

[lilaclover6984]

Did you all read the latest email sent out today about the budget? It's sounds very grim..... Getting a little worried here.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

Read an email this week, the L word was used. LAYOFFs.

[Fiona59]

Ever notice it's always floor grunts and never management under threat