Alberta Job Situation

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Dec 28, 2014

Alberta Health Services is the poster child for micromanagement. Unit/patient care managers have very little say in which applicants they interview. And in some cases they have NO say in whom they hire. Human resources has a lot of influence. So I think it would be a waste of effort to go to the units and hand out resumes. Even casual positions may have to be formally posted. In general, casuals are people who worked on a unit but left for greener pastures who want to keep their foot in the door. For example, Nancy has a full time position on Station 55. She wants a part time 0.8 FTE position but there are only full time and 0.5 FTE positions on 55. So she applies for and is hired into a 0.8 FTE on Station 27. But she likes the work and the staff on 55 so she picks up extra shifts there when they fit into her schedule. Or another case - Nellie works in the ICU and loves the work, but can't handle the politics so she takes a position as a home care liaison nurse but also works casually in the ICU (usually on stat holidays because she's discovered she really enjoys the M-F, 8-4 lifestyle). That's the way it works at my facility, but I don't imagine it's any different at the Foot.

Fiona59 · Dec 29, 2014

The unit's I've worked on? Managers don't have the time to take cold calls and if they do, they explain all vacancies go on the posting board.

Every posting has multiple internal applicants which are looked at before an outside candidate.

The last new grad that was hired told me she had applied for 53 postings before getting an interview

Correction always has openings as do many LTC. New grads can't be fussy, more so now with the govt. threatening hiring freeze due oil prices.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2014

Covenant Health, the Catholic organization in AB is also undergoing major re-structuring. There have been approximately 20 RN positions eliminated and 650 Health Care Aide and LPN positions eliminated recently to make way for new rotations.

I have friends working at U of A through AHS who are awaiting rotation changes. You can try approaching managers, but many of them will not have time to see you, especially if you haven't already applied online.

Keep applying online. Consider applying to small towns. Many small towns are desperate for nurses.

RepublicanNurse · Jan 2, 2015

Hi thanks for the responses thus far. I am getting a bit down after reading what some of you had said and I do not know if that is because you had a bad experience when you graduated but that does not mean that I have to settle for LTC or corrections.

I just was looking at the government of AB website and they have a program for bringing over foreign workers. This is not right they should be making sure they hire all new grads before allowing foreigners to come here and steal our jobs.

I do not have any income right now to even consider a move to a small town.

Some nurses I have spoken to tell me to go directly to managers. I think this is the next step in trying to find a job. It is a real shame when you spend 4 years in full time university only to be on the verge of bankruptcy and unable to find a job. There is something not quite right with this picture. I am sure you all can agree.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2015

It is very unfortunate that the schools don't educate students to the realities of the job market.....but of course they won't. Four years ago when you entered your program, things were already dire in the US and most of Canada. The warning signs were already here in AB.

You can try approaching managers, but unless you've already applied online with AHS or Covenant, they cannot hire you. There is a process. Apply to casual postings online or whatever interests you and then seek out the manager if you must.

Fiona59 · Jan 2, 2015

So, let me see if I understand you. Rather than gain experience in LTC, Corrections, or Home Care, you'd rather "settle" on being unemployed?

RepublicanNurse · Jan 2, 2015

Fiona59 I do not need to be told by you what to do with my life.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2015

I don't think that anyone was telling you what to do with your life. We understand that you are feeling stressed and over whelmed at not finding a position. Many nurses are in the same position as you right now. Unfortunately...when posting on any social media site you might not get the answers you want to hear but that doesn't mean they are telling you what to do with your life.

The current job situation is bleak right now....In Canada and the US. Many new grads were either sold a bunch of goods...or they ignored the truth, thinking people were just burned out at their jobs. Nothing is further from the truth.

The reality is that many new grads in the US and Canada are having difficulty finding a job in hospitals. Many new grads are taking jobs that were not their first choice because they need to work then continuing to apply to the job they desire to end up in. Once you get a year under your belt it improves your chances of finding that position you are looking for right now. Forigen nurses have found it increasingly difficult, to impossible, finding positions in the US and Canada.

Allnurses has a plethora of experienced nurses who can help you....I would hear what they have to say and take it into consideration before you make snap judgements about why they are posting...maybe they have first experience that can save you a ton of frustration and disappointment.

Here at allnurses our goal is to be supportive. I wish you the best.

Red Kryptonite · Jan 2, 2015

This is not right they should be making sure they hire all new grads before allowing foreigners to come here and steal our jobs.

This is really.......unattractive. That's the word I'll go with.

Novo · Jan 2, 2015

Everyone has gripes with foreign workers taking priority over locals but your post reeks of entitlement. Even if they get manage to get a license they still have to jump through all the hops i.e interviewing, orientation like everyone else. You either have a very poor resume or weak interviewing skills so don't blame foreign workers for your ineptitude in finding a job. Furthermore, it sounds like you graduated from Canada and went to the States for work, by your deranged logic you shouldn't be stealing their jobs.

The system wants needs/wants the best nurses, if foreign trained nurses are better than you than boo-hoo you need to upgrade your skills or learn to write a better resume.

I suggest you take what you can get be it LTC or get used to eating fried beans out of a can for awhile.

Fiona59 · Jan 2, 2015

Everyone has gripes with foreign workers taking priority over locals but your post reeks of entitlement. Even if they get manage to get a license they still have to jump through all the hops i.e interviewing, orientation like everyone else. You either have a very poor resume or weak interviewing skills so don't blame foreign workers for your ineptitude in finding a job. Furthermore, it sounds like you graduated from Canada and went to the States for work, by your deranged logic you shouldn't be stealing their jobs.
The system wants needs/wants the best nurses, if foreign trained nurses are better than you than boo-hoo you need to upgrade your skills or learn to write a better resume.
I suggest you take what you can get be it LTC or get used to eating fried beans out of a can for awhile.

Look at the OP's posting history. At one point they were looking into going to the US.

It's just plain hard right now to get your foot into the door with AHS and any of it's partners like Covenant Health. Hard for nurses, clerks, any job healthcare related. I know a radiology tech that is casual and will pick up as a unit clerk to make ends meet.