Job Prospects in Toronto for New Grad RN

[kate.l]

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!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I applied for CARNA registration after I had the job. That takes at least 2 months.

[27400]

Thanks joanna73, do you have any relatives/friends in AB? I'm just wondering how the transition was because if I get a job there, I will have no body.

[chrisman10]

Hello

I'm sorry about the people who are having such a bad time finding jobs. A neighbour of mine is a RN and Case worker at a hospital. She also told me she helps with recruitment of nurses, she has been a nurse for a very long time. Since I was interested in being a nurse , I naturally walked onto her porch and started asking questions, and she was very nice about everything. I asked her about jobs prospects about nursing. She told me that we get approximately 60 applicants every given month, and a lot of them tend to be a new Grads from College, but most get rejected because of the lack of experience or college attended. How does that make any sense how are you suppose to get experience if you don't get hired in the first place... confusing. Right before are chat end she explained to me that make sure you try to get into a University, instead of a college because people with University degrees definitely get hired fasted than college students.

Why does it make a difference if you go to college or university. Why are University people more prone to getting a job.

I'm still in high school and hoping to pursue nursing. One more grade to go

[Fiona59]

Hello

I'm sorry about the people who are having such a bad time finding jobs. A neighbour of mine is a RN and Case worker at a hospital. She also told me she helps with recruitment of nurses, she has been a nurse for a very long time. Since I was interested in being a nurse , I naturally walked onto her porch and started asking questions, and she was very nice about everything. I asked her about jobs prospects about nursing. She told me that we get approximately 60 applicants every given month, and a lot of them tend to be a new Grads from College, but most get rejected because of the lack of experience or college attended. How does that make any sense how are you suppose to get experience if you don't get hired in the first place... confusing. Right before are chat end she explained to me that make sure you try to get into a University, instead of a college because people with University degrees definitely get hired fasted than college students.

Why does it make a difference if you go to college or university. Why are University people more prone to getting a job.

I'm still in high school and hoping to pursue nursing. One more grade to go

Where in Canada do you live???

The only way to become an RN is via a university education.

LPNs are educated at a two year college level.

Several provinces have new grad hiring initiatives or like AB have stated they will hire 70% of a graduating class.

Your neighbour may not be the best source of information.

[27400]

Hello

I'm sorry about the people who are having such a bad time finding jobs. A neighbour of mine is a RN and Case worker at a hospital. She also told me she helps with recruitment of nurses, she has been a nurse for a very long time. Since I was interested in being a nurse , I naturally walked onto her porch and started asking questions, and she was very nice about everything. I asked her about jobs prospects about nursing. She told me that we get approximately 60 applicants every given month, and a lot of them tend to be a new Grads from College, but most get rejected because of the lack of experience or college attended. How does that make any sense how are you suppose to get experience if you don't get hired in the first place... confusing. Right before are chat end she explained to me that make sure you try to get into a University, instead of a college because people with University degrees definitely get hired fasted than college students.

Why does it make a difference if you go to college or university. Why are University people more prone to getting a job.

I'm still in high school and hoping to pursue nursing. One more grade to go

Since this is in a Canadian forum, I'm guessing that you're Canadian citizen or at least a landed immigrant here in Canada. The entry to practice requirement to become an RN in Canada is a bachelor's degree-- you can't earn that if you attend college that is not affiliated with a University. You can take the PN (practical nursing) route if you're interested in getting into the field quicker but you earn a diploma from an accredited college. Right now it seems though both RNs and PNs are having a difficult time finding a job... at least in the Greater Toronto Area. =(

[chrisman10]

I am a Canadian Citizen. I might have phrased a couple of things incorrectly. I really have do some research.

Thanks for the information everyone

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

The transition was not easy, and I am homesick right now. I lived in TO for 30 years. However, you sometimes have to make sacrifices. I had one friend out here, but I came anyway. Better to move than be unemployed or underemployed in TO. You aren't gaining any experience sitting there waiting. Not to mention, I have loans. Since moving here, more than a 3rd is paid. Also, I make what a 3rd year RN in Ontario makes. I have no intention of moving back anytime soon.

[Tetecakes]

@joanna73...Hi i am a new graduate also looking for work and having a hard time in the GTA...thinking of relocating if I don't get a job by end of october....in regards to Alberta...how is the cost of living comparable to GTA. And how did you do your applicant process? (re: applying and interviewing) Thanks

[Fiona59]

It all depends on where you live in Alberta. Calgary and Edmonton are no longer as inexpensive as they once where. Some of the bedroom communities are even worse (yes, St. Albert, I'm looking at you).

AHS is a strictly on line process.

All the AHS jobs and many of the LTC ones are unionized. It's the not-for-profits that are non-union, and they usually are pretty close to union wage.

[27400]

Thank you everyone for your input. I'm seriously considering it now.

[electricblack]

So I graduated at Ryerson 2011, and recently just did the CRNE this October 2012. It's been more than a year and there are a lot of job openings in various establishments. I have tried many times to apply and tweeked my resume and cover letters yet I get nothing in reply. I feel like as each day passes I am getting farther and farther away from starting my career. I do try to study and keep up with what I have learned but it is completely different from having a current hands on experience. What do I do to make myself more applicable with these job openings. I also have dropped in resumes with HR and Unit Managers to no avail.

Anyone with experiences in getting out of this so called "rot" that I'm in?

[loriangel14, RN]

Where are you looking? Are you willing to move outside of the city?