Looking for work in Alberta? Don't give up...

mariesearcy · May 1, 2014

i was just about to post something about my wanting to work in Alberta and then I saw your post and thought I'd read it first.

I graduated in 2012 but didn't writer my exam until 2013. I finally found work in later october at a long term care home. i love the place where i work but i'm concerned staying there too long could mean i would lose my nursing skills so i've kept applying for work in hospitals even after getting my first job. it's been a year now and i've yet to get a call back from any hospitals in Ontario... soooo i've decided it's about time i make the move to alberta (everyone seems to be doing it, including a couple of my friends).

working in Alberta, is there any advise you could offer someone who's considering moving to Alberta?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 1, 2014

It's actually very difficult to get a hospital job in Alberta these days, even for LPNs, whose numbers are being increased in a lot of places. You have to be willing to take casual or temporary small part time FTEs and keep applying for more regular and predictable work. Even on my unit where OT is taken for granted, I had my last two OT shifts cancelled at 5:30 am. I've been there on days when the OT was cancelled and we ran our butts off for 12 hours. I attended our union local's AGM yesterday and the news was pretty dismal. All units are short-staffed but no new blood is being added to the system. I really can't recommend that anybody - and especially anybody with a family - move to Alberta without a job lined up and the offer in writing. The cost of living here is too high for a person NOT to have regular work.

mariesearcy · May 1, 2014

wow thats actually very discouraging to hear i've finally made the decision to start my CARNA application in september/october with hopes of finding employment and moving out there spring 2015 ... but it seems like everyone on this site is saying the same thing, that there's work shortage out in Alberta, UNLESS you move to the Rural areas. Living in a rural area would mean additional expenses (ex. a car to/from work) ... which is my main hesitation.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 1, 2014

Even the rural areas don't have many regular vacancies posted. I just looked at the AHS career postings and this is what I found. Out of the first 25 postings for RNs, there were 9 full times (5 temporary including one instructor position and 2 NICU positions). There were 8 part time positions (5 temporary) and 8 casual positions. The part time positions were, for the most part, small... > 0.5 FTE. Of all the temporary positions there were only 2 that were for a year. The remainder were shorter, a couple only for a matter of a few months. And of those 25 positions I examined, 8 of them were in the cities. I expect that if I had looked at all 434 postings on the board today, the majority of them would fit into the same equation. The province touts the fact that there are over 400 nursing jobs posted at any given time, but what they don't say is that most of them are temporary or casual. Nobody can build a life with that. Another thing they don't say is that positions are posted because they have to be by the terms of our collective agreements, but there may be no intention to actually fill them.

loriangel14, RN · May 1, 2014

Yes a lot of people don't realize that jobs posted aren't actually going to be filled.it's the same in Ontario.

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

Although some people may be finding work in AB, it isn't the norm. Possibly 500 nurses within the last 2.5 years have had their hours reduced or positions cancelled out here. And seniority rules. Even if you do find a job, if someone more senior is facing a layoff, then that person could decide to bump. Last hired is first out.

There are many news articles on the net about AHS and "workforce transformation". The same cost cutting measures are happening here as with every Province.

youngblood19 · May 3, 2014

Wow... what a turn down for a thread intended to be a little hopeful. Honestly the majority of peers I went to school with who intentionally sought out positions have found regular or temporary (more than 12 months) employment as new grads in both hospital (NICU, L&D, Med, Surg, CVICU, Clinics) and community settings (Public health, community agencies, post secondary) that fit their needs - whether a low FTE or full time. The rest with casual employment because it fits with what they want right now. Plus, even if you get bumped you're still entitled to another vacant position, even if it's not somewhere you're particularly interested in working in. I definitely agree that nursing in Alberta and beyond could be better funded/staffed and some areas are working with minimal staff. But let's not forget that many nurses (new and experienced) ARE getting new work that they can make a life out of.

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 3, 2014

We aren't trying to discourage anyone, just being honest. Unless you've been in AB for the last few years, you really have no concept of what's happening with AHS. The working conditions are not good, and layoffs are a reality for anyone working in AB with little seniority.

We all wish it was different, and everyone could secure jobs but that isn't the case.

loriangel14, RN · May 3, 2014

Why do people say others are being negative when they are just being honest?

youngblood19 · May 3, 2014

The intention of this thread was to recognize the positive - there are countless other threads about the unfortunate reality many nurses are facing at this time. I'm a "realist" and a cynic at heart but also appreciate that the some good things are overlooked and focus tends to be on the bad.

I've lived in AB my whole life and have some insight into the corruption, poor planning, and budget constraints in the province and AHS especially. I've seen the layoffs and bumping when I worked in AHS but those people were still entitled to positions as a result of that. It's very distressing to see how dim things are - especially the mindset of the majority of conversations I've had with nurses about this.

Fiona59 · May 3, 2014

I've lived in AB my whole life and have some insight into the corruption, poor planning, and budget constraints in the province and AHS especially. I've seen the layoffs and bumping when I worked in AHS but those people were still entitled to positions as a result of that. It's very distressing to see how dim things are - especially the mindset of the majority of conversations I've had with nurses about this.

I notice that you no longer work in AHS. That's interesting.

I know of two nurses who were bumped and wound up as casuals in the float pool getting minimal hours and are applying for anything and everything posted.

People don't go to nursing school to wind up as casuals. You cannot build a life on six shifts a month. nobody should consider moving here without a job lined up. Well, unless their spouse is transferred here and has permanent employment to support an underemployed nurse.