Alberta: Do Not Move Without an Offer!

Although this topic has been discussed at length here on the Canadian forum, I've decided to repeat again, because every week, people continue to ask about jobs in Alberta. There are few jobs across Alberta, or anywhere else in Canada for that matter. Do your own research online, and you will see numerous news articles about Alberta Health Services cutbacks.

The unions are fighting AHS due to proposed cutbacks right now and this has been going on for 2 years. Probably at least 500 nurses have been laid off and/ or had their hours reduced during this period, and AHS is not finished. As a result, the internal applicants have been struggling to find new positions within the system.

In order to get a job in Alberta, you need to be an internal applicant. This is true for every Province, and they are all struggling with the same issues. Most positions in the cities have 50 plus INTERNAL applications. Hiring managers do not have the time anymore to see people, and unless they know of you, you're wasting time going in person, especially if you're an external applicant.

Small towns will hire, but rural nursing is not for everyone, especially many new grads. You're on your own most of the time. Casual is often the only option, and those positions are now hard to find too.

If you have 3-5 or more years of experience, and a specialty, and you're flexible with all shifts, then finding a job will be easier but still not guaranteed.

So, I don't mean to discourage anyone, but this is the state of nursing everywhere. Do NOT move without a job unless you have enough funds to last at least 6 months AND you have two or more years nursing experience to sign with a temp agency somewhere.

People also ask about travel nursing. Are you adaptable? Can you just take off whenever? Are you prepared to handle the unknown? More importantly, contracts are in remote areas usually, and agency nursing requires 2 years of full time experience somewhere before you can sign on. The facility does not have time to train. I've worked with contract nurses, and after one or two shifts, they're on their own.

Again, do your own research. Google and search the net. I'm not saying you will never get a job. Eventually, something will happen. However, you need to be prepared and realistic while you look. And Alberta...that's the last Province I'd look at for a while if you're just starting out.