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?
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.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Rental rates aren't terribly high in some communities, but the vacancy rate in many of them is quite low. Remember to figure in the deregulated utility market out here too. What does that mean? The government decided that utility rates would drop substantially if there was competition in the marketplace, so they deregulated service delivery. Well guess what... there is no competition to speak of and rates are among the highest in the country. That means that the price of electricity and natural gas fluctuates sometimes on a day-to-day basis. Fixed monthly costs are fairly high too. It's not unusual to see monthly gas bills in the winter in the $400 range and electricity (not Hydro out here, but from coal-fired turbines) in the $150 range. Of course, gas for your car is a bit cheaper out here, but you'll be running your engine for prolonged periods int he coming months to warm it up before departing for anywhere. Car insurance rates are among the highest in the country too.
Thanks soooo much! I actually just got back from Alberta on Sunday, did a little scouting mission and visited my family. I absolutely love it there. I'm planning to start applying in the new year and I'm definetly not going to give up. At some point I will be living and working in Alberta I've been comparing prices from here and there and I mean there is positives and negatives to both places, I think in the end it kind of evens out but despite that, the kind of lifestyle I want to be living is not in the GTA area lol. On my days off if I lived in Alberta I'd be doing more outdoor activities.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
...the kind of lifestyle I want to be living is not in the GTA area lol. On my days off if I lived in Alberta I'd be doing more outdoor activities.
Gee, I thought EVERYBODY wanted to live in Toronto! (Not me...) So I guess you're not afraid of snow up to your hips, a stiff breeze and windchills in the -40 range. (heeheehee) I must admit that the summers can be perfect, and this fall has been very nice. Now if we could fast-forward to April!
Hahaha actually I'm totally a country girl at heart and the GTA mentally especially the fact I actually work in Toronto is kind of killing me. Also I've been having a hard time breathing here in the summer because its so humid and I actually love the winter so I'm not afraid, I use to work at a ski hill where I worked in -45 before, and our lame hills are definitely nothing compared to your wicked mountains Alberta can bring on all the weather it wants cause I know I'll be happier there. I'm going to apply for an Alberta license in the new year because I've been told you can have two at once, that way when I apply hopefully it'll look better to employers if they see that I'm definitely commited to moving there.
I actually just got back from Alberta on Sunday, did a little scouting mission and visited my family. I absolutely love it there. I'm planning to start applying in the new year and I'm definetly not going to give up. At some point I will be living and working in Alberta
canadian_girl75
44 Posts
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!