IEN in Alberta- any luck with jobs?

Published

I've been keeping up with what's been going on with the AHS and things look very grim. There seems to be a lot of home health positions but I haven't heard any good things about that either (low pay, high case loads, no mileage reimbursement). Any IENs have any luck finding ANY job? Nursing or non-nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not international nurse, i got education locally, just want to share info. Couple years ago(back to 2006 to 2008), I believe the employer had hard time to hire nurse to work as home are nurse, now situation seems totally changed, I got interview last year, but I didn't get the job as home are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an IEN from the US and I was hired on as a casual employee with AHS a few months after I moved to Canada in early 2012. What a mess it was then, and seems to have only gotten worse. Now I am working in a private clinic downtown and have been since June of last year. Not sure if I was just lucky and applied to the right place at the right time, but private seems to be the way to go right now if you can find any openings.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am an IEN from the US and I was hired on as a casual employee with AHS a few months after I moved to Canada in early 2012. What a mess it was then and seems to have only gotten worse. Now I am working in a private clinic downtown and have been since June of last year. Not sure if I was just lucky and applied to the right place at the right time, but private seems to be the way to go right now if you can find any openings.[/quote']

This is good to hear , seeing how I am considering leaving AHS for a potential opportunity at a private clinic

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Responding to aywl, since I haven't posted enough to send you a private message back... I have a BSN from the states and I came to Canada on a marriage visa. I applied to CARNA right after I got permanent residency and it took them about 4 months to review and approve my application for a temporary practice permit. I waited a couple more months after that to take the CRNE and then it took 6 weeks for results, after that I was able to register for my license... all together nearly 8 months from start to finish. A pain, but not as bad as immigration was.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Responding to aywl since I haven't posted enough to send you a private message back... I have a BSN from the states and I came to Canada on a marriage visa. I applied to CARNA right after I got permanent residency and it took them about 4 months to review and approve my application for a temporary practice permit. I waited a couple more months after that to take the CRNE and then it took 6 weeks for results, after that I was able to register for my license... all together nearly 8 months from start to finish. A pain, but not as bad as immigration was.[/quote']

Thanks for your detailed reply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not an IEN, but I am well versed in the situation Alberta nurses are in. I work for AHS myself. Right now they are currently "reorganizing/restructuring" our health care system. This is consisting of making nurses work full time in order to reduce the head count, as well as replacing educated and regulated nurses with unregulated HCAs. Approximately 400 nurses will lose their jobs according to an AHS document released to the public by one of our government opposition parties. The last hired, will be the first ones to be laid off. Nurses educated in Alberta (including new grads and experienced nurses) are leaving the province to find work somewhere else. Meanwhile- AHS is falsely advertising that they are looking to hire more full time nurses and they are even going as far as recruiting to the east coast of Canada. They say they need more full time nurses- however... depending on the job postings on average only between 20 and 30 percent of jobs listed are for permanent full time; the rest are all temporary, part time or casual. Coming to Alberta to work as a nurse is not a promising career move at this point in time. I'm sure though in a few years once all of the nurses have either: quit, moved or changed professions that AHS will be all shocked when there is an actual nursing shortage and it will be because AHS drove them all away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care.

I work for a private home care company. I love my job. I get mileage, I get overtime and my pay and benefits are decent and my job is secure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jrennie15, So 2 years later... to the date... would you say this is still true? I am applying for jobs in Alberta. Have applied to about 50ish and nothing. Wondering if you could give any insight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am not an IEN, but I am well versed in the situation Alberta nurses are in. I work for AHS myself. Right now they are currently "reorganizing/restructuring" our health care system. This is consisting of making nurses work full time in order to reduce the head count, as well as replacing educated and regulated nurses with unregulated HCAs. Approximately 400 nurses will lose their jobs according to an AHS document released to the public by one of our government opposition parties. The last hired, will be the first ones to be laid off. Nurses educated in Alberta (including new grads and experienced nurses) are leaving the province to find work somewhere else. Meanwhile- AHS is falsely advertising that they are looking to hire more full time nurses and they are even going as far as recruiting to the east coast of Canada. They say they need more full time nurses- however... depending on the job postings on average only between 20 and 30 percent of jobs listed are for permanent full time; the rest are all temporary, part time or casual. Coming to Alberta to work as a nurse is not a promising career move at this point in time.

So 2 years later... to the date... would you say this is still true? I am applying for jobs in Alberta. Have applied to about 50ish and nothing. Wondering if you could give any insight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Unfortunately, this is still true across Canada and the US. AB is no exception. For the past 8 years, health authorities have been "restructuring" and trying to balance their budgets.

Aside from small towns, there are few jobs. You may be able to find a casual line, but there are no guaranteed hours. Given that AB relies on oil, the nursing employment situation will not likely improve.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello,

I am an IEN (U.S. citizen) with operating room and medical floor experience. I am still in the process of completing the NNAS requirements. I will then apply to CARNA.

I was hoping someone could share the job outlook for registered nurses in alberta right now. Is it still terrible? Do you think perhaps in a year or so it will improve?

I look forward to hearing any response :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion