Alberta Health Services

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 21, 2009

Isn't that the truth? I always make sure I thank the cleaning lady, and the porter, and the x-ray tech and anybody else who helps me provide care for my patients. Not one of us can do this work alone.

itsmejuli · Oct 23, 2009

hello to everyone

I'm Canadian living in Florida as a permanent resident. I want to return to Alberta in a few years where I hope to get a nursing position. I just got licensed as a practical nurse and am planning on going on to RN. Well, that was until I read this thread. Now I'm starting to wonder if going ahead with RN and then BSN will be worth my while.

I'm 46 so its not like I have all the time in the world to think about my career :eek:

So now of course I'm wondering if I'd be better off staying an LPN and working here for a few years as an LPN in skilled nursing. Or in an acute facility, if I can get in.

Here the hospitals are staffed with RNs and the push is on for BSNs.

But from what I've read in this thread if the Alberta gov is pushing for more LPNs then I'd be wasting my time going onto RN.

I appreciate your advice.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 23, 2009

Juli, this push for more LPNs in the system is a really new development. As recently as May there were aggressive and expensive recruitment efforts for RNs in all health regions in the province. Then Mr Liepert and his hired gun Dr (of Economics) Duckett decided that we weren't really short of RNs, we were short of RNs working full time and short of people to do all the tasks that aren't specifically the purview of RNs. Who knows, by the time you're done with your educational upgrading, things may have done another complete 180. There will be an election eventually and it's more than likely that the current government will find their wings severely clipped - or chopped off entirely - and health care will be a social benefit again and not a black-hole money pit.

In the same way that Alberta went from an $5 BILLION surplus to a $5 BILLION deficit virtually overnight, the nursing shortage turned into a nursing surplus - at least on paper. Blink and it could all change again.

itsmejuli · Oct 23, 2009

Thanks for your quick reply.

My mom was telling me about all the issues going on in the AB gov.

I'm looking forward to the day I return to Alberta. Living in the US and especially Florida has changed for the worse over the last few years and I don't see it getting better for a long time.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 23, 2009

The premier, Ed Stelmach, is going to have his leadership reviewed on November 7 and the sense is that it will be found wanting... REALLY wanting. The leadership review is the one chance the MLAs have to express their opinions on what's been happening with complete anonymity. Ralph Klein has told Ed that if his approval rating is less than 70% then he's obliged to step down. Going by the comments posted to the Edmonton Journal's and Calgary Herald's online editions, and other comments I've heard and read about constituents' complaints to their MLAs I'd predict it will be far below 70%... Stay tuned!

RGN1 · Nov 7, 2009

He'll squirm & slime his way out of it - like all the others! I can't believe Liepert hasn't had the hounds baying for his life!! He would have been forced to step down in the UK for sure. NOT that I'm saying for a minute the UK is any better but we do have a tradition of leaders who, when they know they've messed up big time, doing the honourable thing. Liepert & Stelmach should be 1st in line!!

Fiona59 · Nov 7, 2009

Nah, they don't play for the Flames.... (ducks and runs)

krisaj · Nov 11, 2009

RNs from Edmonton please explain

Is there a nursing shortage on your units, I know they don't hire ext applicants, so are there enough nurses or you have to work overtimes. Is it gonna change soon, do you know? I cannot believe, you said there were a hundred jobs posted

few months ago, so were the hospitals hire unnecessarily, if the casuals go for part-full time, are the casual positions open?

Just passed the test, and had to move to Edmonton cause of husbands's job, I'm staying home with my baby but in a few months I need to look for a job. Don't know what to think. It is hard to move again, but I really want to work. I'm sure many people understand.

Thank you

Fiona59 · Nov 11, 2009

The part timers are being requested to pick up extra shifts. There are still casuals. Minimial overtime on most units.

What really bothers me is that last summer the casuals were expected to work weekends and it was good on the units. Fast forward a couple of months and the staffing office has a hard time enforcing the rules. The summer students are gone (which is a relief because they only worked "A" shifts leaving the casuals and part timers picking up all the unfilled lines of evenings and nights).

It's like that for both RN and LPN lines. There are times each fills the others lines.

I don't see it changing anytime soon unless there is a lightening bolt and somebody forgets to Duckit.

krisaj · Nov 11, 2009

Thank you

Seems like we are gonna pack again:((

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 11, 2009

On our unit we have 34 vacancies. Yes, I said THIRTY-FOUR. None of them will be filled. The nature of our unit is such that they have to approve at least some overtime. Most of our shifts are staffed with about 35-33% OT right now. Some shifts are filled with straight time but very few. We don't have many casuals who are willing to work 12 hour shifts and there's a ban on 8 hour shifts on our unit, so the casuals just don't bother picking up on our unit. So we either have a lot of people in on OT or we work short. Even when we have lots of OT we work short. And our management is poor at predicting what might happen on the next shift or the shift after that so they often cancel some of the OT and then we work REALLY short.

Dr Duckett is still talking about layoffs if his voluntary exit program fails to produce the expected number of retirements. Since the deal is such a pale imitation of the one offered to those out of scope and to management personnel, I don't think there will be that many willing to walk away for a few $1000.

I looked at the Edmonton zone job listings the other day and there are very few positions posted. Only a couple were open to the public and they were small part times. Mr Stelmach's leadership review came out in his favour, or rather NOT in favour of a leadership change, so the current "plan" for health care will continue unchecked.

krisaj · Nov 11, 2009

Thank you janfrn, I'm learning something new every time i read through the posts.

Not all of it make sense to me, but i'm young, beautiful and just passed an exam and there is a perfect job offer waiting for me, and.........................it feels much better to think like that:))))))))))))

Best wishes