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Discussion

Help from Alberta Nurses

Hey Everyone,

I'm really hoping I could get some input from some Alberta nurses. I currently an RN in Ontario, graduated and got my license this year. I am working fulltime at a Toronto Hospital and although I love my job to be honest I cannot stand Ontario, I'm a country girl at heart and I really want a change in my life. For alot of reasons I would like to move to Alberta sometime next year.

Can anyone give me any advice about moving to Alberta and nursing there? Is it true that Alberta lays off a lot of nurses? How is the general nursing situation?

Any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks.

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    • Featured Replies

    Alberta, to my knowledge, doesn't "lay off a lot of nurses" I haven't heard of, or met, one nurse who has been layed off.

    Yes we have had (and still do have to some extent) tough economics here but it's been the same in other Provinces too.

    Suggest you look at the jobs that are advertised on the AHS website and take it from there.

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    • Experts

    RGN1 is correct - there have not been any nurses laid off during this recent economic crunch. BUT... the CEO of Alberta Health Services repeatedly threatened layoffs on a large scale last year and instituted a province-wide hiring freeze that has only recently begun to thaw. There are vacancies being posted daily, but many of them, particularly in the northern half of the province and the rural communities are still for internal applicants only. And having said that, the province is gearing up to move patients out of four geriatric units in facilities in the Edmonton area into a designated assisted lving/long term care facility and the nurses currently working in the losing facilities will be "displaced". A quote from the United Nurses of Alberta states:

    "Nurses within the program will be given position eliminations/transfer notification letters on August 25 or 26, 2010 and will be given the option of following the geriatric program and change employers from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to Covenant Health. There are more vacancies (FTEs and positions) at Villa Caritas than are being reduced at the AHE and the Hys Centre.

    For nurses who decide not to change employers, there is the option of exercising their rights under Article 15 of the Collective Agreement which allows them to: 'take a vacancy; displace or accept a layoff.'

    Nurses who choose not to take an AHS vacancy will be given the option to displace (or bump) commencing in September. Employees with two or more years of service can displace anywhere within AHS into positions in which they have the ability to do the work and have more seniority than the incumbent. A person who has been displaced is not restricted by their current FTE when making position selections."

    UNA goes on to explain the collective agreement provisions that apply to this situation. Approximately 60 nurses will be affected in this. I suspect that there are more moves like this in the offing.

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    Down South (:)) they are opening new medical transition units in 3 hospitals & new orthopaedic units in 1 major hospital plus recruiting for rural hospitals.They have also recently announced that they are building a new rural hospital, so the long-term job outlook seems (at the moment) to be more positive.

    Jan has a longer perspective than me though, so heed her words for sure! However, none of us has a crystal ball, so at the end of the day all you can do is keep an eye on the job postings and apply to anything that you think would suit.

    Good luck though because I, for one, love living here in Alberta and am still very glad I came!!

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    We're doing the same up here. Recruiting for a "transitional care" unit at RAH. Plus the Ortho bldg should be opening in the new year.

    But there's no money to hire that much new staff (doctors, cleaners, etc). We've also been promised a hospital out in the 'burbs (Sherwood Park, if I recall correctly), but it's never materialized.

    The best that I can see happening is a lot of casuals will find positions, opening up casual slots. But I also wouldn't be surprized to hear that nurses from Alberta Hospital bump into acute care lines and the displaced wind up in the new "transition" unit which is basically going to be glorified sub-acute. Just looking at the size of the positions created, I can see it happening.

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    • Author

    Thank you soooo much for the information so far! It makes me feel a lot better because it still gives me hope for moving there. It's really frustrating the way the nursing shortage and freeze is across the country. Last year I had friends move as far as Vancouver, there just weren't any jobs here. Even now I was extremely lucky to get the job I have. Regardless, if it is possible to find a job out in Alberta next year then I know it will be a better overall quality of life for me. I do have family out there, they just know nothing about then nursing situation.

    Does anyone know if you can apply for an Alberta license if you currently have one from another province? I have been trying to look it up online but cannot seem to find much information.

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    • Experts

    Of course you can apply for Alberta registration. They will want verification of your current active registration in the other province and some information about your education, as well as number of hours worked in the preceding 5 years. The information and a link to download the forms can be found here: College Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta - CARNA

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    Yes! The Foothills Medical Center has opened the McCaig Tower, which is home to orthopedics and day surgery currently, but many other units will be transitioning soon. I've heard that Alberta has had a shortage of nurses, but that could just be rumour. =]

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    Yes! The Foothills Medical Center has opened the McCaig Tower, which is home to orthopedics and day surgery currently, but many other units will be transitioning soon. I've heard that Alberta has had a shortage of nurses, but that could just be rumour. =]

    Alberta doesn't have a shortage of nurses. It has a shortage of positions. I know part timers that want full time lines. Casuals that would love a regular pt line. Then I know casuals that work pretty much full time but won't apply for a position because then they would have to work evenings and "gasp" weekends.

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    • Experts

    Or :eek::eek::eek: NIGHTS!!!! What, Christmas and New Year too?? Heck no!

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    Fiona, do you know what the job situation is like for LPNs in southern Alberta...Lethbridge area? I'm considering staying in LTC.

    In January I'm going to start the process for getting my Alberta LPN license. I give up on the future of being an RN here in Florida before relocating back to Alberta. I miss my sons, they're both in Edmonton but my parents are in Pincher Creek and I want to be close to them.

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    Juli

    Haven't got a clue. I'm further north. Just apply everywhere and mark down willing to accept casual shift. I know casuals who can pretty much pick up full time hours.

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    this reply might be a little late for the original poster but i'll send it anyway...

    if it's any help i just got hired for a full time position in alberta last month. they even agreed to delay my start date while i plan relocation and wrap up current commitments. it was also only a "sourcing" posting but i submitted a resume on-line and got a reply within about 2-3 weeks. having previous experience probably played a big role but it sounds like your working now so that shouldn't be an issue.

    be prepared though...licensing fees are through the roof!!!! over $500 compared to what i pay in ontario...pretty steep!! but income tax is far less than other provinces and from my housing search rental rates are pretty comparable.

    there is a link on this page that compares wages and benefits across the country and looks like ab wage is pretty good compared to on.

    good luck!

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