Getting a job in BC, please help.

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Hi all,

Just looking for some advice. My dream is to move to and work in british columbia, Ive heard so much about job cuts etc there but i am determined to get there. Have applied for elegibility. I currently work on an emergency surgical ward and have done for the past 10 years. Been looking for jobs in bc and many are casual, do these jobs ever get made permanent? Also seen that there is a high demand for ITU nurses.

Just some questions i have that would like advice on please.

Now i am wondering whether to move to the surgical special care unit at my current hospital, they dont have fully vented patients but everything else (CPAP etc) so would that still count if applied for a itu post?

Is a good way of securing a permanent full time job in bc.

Is it right that you need 12 months experience in your field? Was thinking of applying for PR so by the time that came through i probably would have the experience.

Do i have a better chance of getting a job if i apply for PR?

Sorry for the many questions but like i say im very determined and would like to know the best way of securing employment, Amelia.

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You're missing a big factor. The Nurses Union. Seniority is a hiring factor as well as experience. That is why local new grads are grabbing any position they can get. The chance to start building seniority.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I heard something interesting on that subject the other day. In Alberta and BC, nursing students have the opportunity to work as employed nursing students (BC) or undergraduate nurse employees (Alberta) while going to school. At one hospital in Edmonton, Tim Horton's and PizzaPizza are franchised by the facility, meaning that their employees are also employees of Alberta Health Services. It seems some nursing students have been working at Timmy Ho's selling donuts and coffee for some time and are using those hours for seniority when applying for nursing positions after they graduate. What a loophole!!

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I've heard that one as well, and trust me a lot of people at RAH think it should be closed.

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Hmmm, interesting! Well maybe im in with a chance with my experience then. Still would like advice on the above though if anyone can help i would really appreciate it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.
Hmmm, interesting! Well maybe im in with a chance with my experience then. Still would like advice on the above though if anyone can help i would really appreciate it.

I'm not sure you read what Fiona59 posted. SENIORITY.

There could be 5 INTERNAL postings for the position you desire. If you are not an employee of the health authority, you cannot apply.

If there is an EXTERNAL posting for that position, then you could apply and perhaps your experience would be an asset over other candidates.

If you are an employee of the health authority and you see the job posting you want, you can apply for it. If 3 other qualified candidates apply for it, whoever has the most SENIORITY will get it. That's all there is to it.

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sorry, ive misunderstood. So it seems that my seniority doesnt count here then, i have to build it up when i get there. So moving to itu now would probably not do me any favours. This is all new to me as here a person gets a job if they meet the requirements and perform best at the interview. Thanks for informing me of that.

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sorry, ive misunderstood. So it seems that my seniority doesnt count here then, i have to build it up when i get there. So moving to itu now would probably not do me any favours. This is all new to me as here a person gets a job if they meet the requirements and perform best at the interview. Thanks for informing me of that.

Here, if you are within the system, meet the requirements with experience and courses, the internal applicant will get the job before an unknown, outside candidate. The Health Service knows how the applicant works, interacts with others, knows the system, etc. It's preferable to train your staff that exist rather than hire the unknown.

Because if the outside applicant doesn't work out, it can be very difficult to remove them.

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Thats fair enough. Well like i say i will just keep pursuing it and just may have to look into another province until things pick up in BC. Any suggestions where there is more work for IEN's ?

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