Graduating with BSCN and cannot decide what province to move to! Help!

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I am graduating from a BSCN this June in Southern Ontario. I cannot decide where to live! I was thinking of London Ontario as there hospital sounds really good (LHSC) but I am also thinking of moving out to Vancouver or Vancouver Island. I like bigger cities but wouldnt mind a smaller city (with enough stuff to do and have fun)

Would it be too difficult to live on a single nurse income in BC? I am in my twenties, single and don't have kids or any major commitments. I don't drive so I would need a city where I could get around easily by walking/transportation. I would prefer a city without a ton of snow, thats why I was thinking of moving somewhere in BC, but I have never been out west before so I have no clue what city/town would be easy to live in that has a good hospital. Eventually I want to buy a condo or house, but am thinking it might be hard to do so in BC since its sooo expensive there or so ive heard...but I guess it would be an adventure if I moved out west! Ive never been out of Ontario before

Is it hard to get hired through Vancouver Island Health Authority or Vancouver Coastal Health as a new grad (hoping theres some BC nurses lurking on here...)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

The West Coast isn't immune to bad weather...

SNOWFALL WARNING: Greater VancouverIssued at 10:59 AM PST WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2008

ADDITIONAL 5 TO 10 CM OF SNOW FOR THE NORTH COAST AND 10 TO 20 CM OF SNOW FOR THE SOUTH COAST ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.

AN INTENSE PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING SNOW TO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BECOME MIXED WITH RAIN OVER MANY LOCALITIES THIS AFTERNOON. FURTHER SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 10 CM FOR THE NORTH COAST REGIONS AND 10 TO 20 CM FOR THE SOUTH COAST REGIONS ARE FORECAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. SNOW WILL TAPER TO A FEW FLURRIES THIS EVENING OVER THE NORTH COAST AND THURSDAY MORNING OVER THE SOUTH COAST. STRONG NORTHEASTERLY WINDS COMBINING WITH COLD TEMPERATURES WILL GIVE WIND CHILL VALUES BELOW MINUS 20 FOR THE INLAND SECTIONS OF THE NORTH COAST TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

And neither is Victoria...

Of course this isn't typical. The cost of living and the low vacancy rates in the sort of cities you'd be looking at might be more than a single income might be able to manage. Maybe have a look at MLS listings online and see what I mean. www.mls.ca

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Yea its been nuts all across Canada with all the snow weve been having lately...even in BC theres alot right now!. I guess London would be way more affordable than BC if i ended up there

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While cost of living is definitely one aspect to look at, there are others. I wouldn't live any place other than Vancouver Island and I have lived in many different places across Canada, including London. Ontario.

The weather has certainly been less than desirable these past few weeks, but on the flip side, I am willing to bet that by mid-March/early-April we get spring. I can normally ride my bike back and forth to work even in January, not counting on it this year though!

I would say that Victoria may be slightly less expensive than Vancouver but it is a lot smaller. It offers a lot of the big city cultural events but with a nice small city atmosphere.

I can't speak for Vancouver itself but as far as VIHA goes you should be prepared to start as casual if you are interested in Victoria. Nothing lost by sending in an application, no obligations.

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