Job Prospects in Toronto for New Grad RN

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Hi,

I will be graduating from nursing this summer and am looking to relocate to Toronto in August/September 2011. With all the shortages of nursing jobs around Canada, I wanted to get an idea of what the job prospects are for new grads in Toronto, specially around the downtown Toronto area. I found a few posts from a year ago about this same topic, but the responses didn't seem too promising. I have my fingers crossed and am hoping it's improved since...

I'm interested in pediatric nursing and hopefully will be able to start right away in peds, although I know with the availability of positions it's not always possible to start in an area you are interested in.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Specializes in geriatrics.

Yes, its the same clear across the country. But, often casual or part time positions still amount to good hours anyway. And, after you have been working somewhere for eight months to a year, you'll be more marketable.

Specializes in NICU,MB,Lact.Consultant, L/D.
Check out the Job Bank of Canada website there are a lot of jobs posted on there.

I looked at it just for fun and found this "job". Obviously someone needs to rewrite the posting - I'd be happy to work for 65,000 to 75,00 per hour! In addition, I thought the VON was a homecare organization.

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/detail-eng.aspx?OrderNum=5529409&Source=JobPosting&ProvId=06&Keyword=registered+nurse&Category=3*&OfferpPage=50&Student=No

Thank you for all your insights regarding job prospects for new grads. I have applied for a few nursing schools in BC, Alberta, and Ontario and will need to make a decision in the next few weeks. That said, if I would like to work in Toronto following graduation, would I be in a better position if I pursued my nursing degree in Toronto? Would it be more difficult for me to find a job in Toronto as a UBC graduate (my attachment to UBC is for cost-related purposes; i.e. I would be able to live at home)?

they hire within ontario first

Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm a Torontonian. I moved to AB this year to work. Hiring freezes everywhere in TO. Bad idea. 3 of my friends left also.

I've been looking for 4 months now with ONE call-back and that was only from my final placement. I also have a previous bachelor of arts degree (which counts for nothing). Of 150 people in my program (YorkU 2nd degree entry) I believe 4 people have secured jobs. The nursing situation is terrible here; I will likely find a non-nursing job which is depressing since I've spent 7 years in university, consistently being near the top of the class, and now need to find the same job as one who has only a high-school diploma. I have accessed many career resources and none have been helpful. Toronto is a terrible. I would suggest going/living/working elsewhere or finding a non-nursing job (at least in the meantime). You can always work in geriatrics/gerontology too but I'm personally not willing to get paid less to work a job I have no interest in. Sorry!

Specializes in geriatrics.

I feel for you. AB is hiring casual and part time. The money is better out here. Toronto has been terrible for almost 4 years now. It's not you. Remember, you are now competing with new grads from the past 2 years that don't have jobs, in addition to experienced.

Try a few agencies. A friend last year got steady work from one of them, and she was a new grad. Otherwise, look at relocating. I'm also a second career nurse. I couldn't afford to wait 5 months for a job. I took a course and I had my position before I wrote the CRNE last year. I accepted the first one and packed my bags. Given the situation, it was the best decision I made.

Good luck.

Specializes in geriatrics.

As long as you're in a Union, you get paid the same for LTC. I didn't know if I would like it either, but I love working with seniors. And I'm making great money, too. Don't write off geriatrics too soon. There are always jobs, and some nursing experience is better than nothing. I want to work palliative care or psych, so for me, LTC was a good start. And the fact that OSAP was calling...

LTC is a good starting ground, you develop your skills, learn time management and are up to date on all your BP meds and insulins.

People have to start remembering that a huge part of the acute care population is made up of seniors. Ortho, GI, Opthamology, Dialysis, Cardiology, the bulk of those patients are over 60. The skills you honed in LTC are so relevant in these areas.

I've been looking for 4 months now with ONE call-back and that was only from my final placement. I also have a previous bachelor of arts degree (which counts for nothing). Of 150 people in my program (YorkU 2nd degree entry) I believe 4 people have secured jobs. The nursing situation is terrible here; I will likely find a non-nursing job which is depressing since I've spent 7 years in university, consistently being near the top of the class, and now need to find the same job as one who has only a high-school diploma. I have accessed many career resources and none have been helpful. Toronto is a terrible. I would suggest going/living/working elsewhere or finding a non-nursing job (at least in the meantime). You can always work in geriatrics/gerontology too but I'm personally not willing to get paid less to work a job I have no interest in. Sorry!

My friend is working in a LTC 1-2hrs away from T.O. and she's making ~$32/hr plus shift diff. perm P/T. She graduated 2010. Most hospitals pay $28-29/hr. The LTC she works for is owed by the city. I'm a new grad myself, and I've been applying to LTCs owned by the municipal gov'ts. It seems to me that LTC owned by the gov't or has a union of some sort usually pays equal to or more than the hospital. Nursing is my first career and I've always been top of my class too; it doesn't seem to matter. I've talked to an HR recruiter and she said that in their* hospital look highly on experience (i.e., your clinical placements). Therefore, you MIGHT be at a disadvantage if you didn't have the ever so popular med/surg exp. or the specific clinical placement that they're looking for. :uhoh3:

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