LPN job opportunities

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jul 22, 2011

Now is not a particularly good time to be thinking about coming to Canada. There aren't nearly as many vacancies as there were 3-4 years ago. (Off-shore recruiting was pretty much suspended 2 years ago in most provinces.) Many newly graduated Canadian nurses are either unemployed or under-employed. The process for hiring internationally-educated nurses is cumbersome and costly. And the process for becoming licensed in Canada is not only cumbersome but time-consuming and costly.

There are many differences between provinces. Climate is a big one. Southern British Columbia and southwestern Ontario are temperate, with mild winters, although southwestern Ontario gets a lot of snow due to the effects of being surrounded by water from the Great Lakes. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have bitterly cold winters with high wind chills (meaning the wind makes it feel a lot colder, and exposed skin freezes in seconds). Summers aren't seriously hot in these three provinces excpet in southern Manitoba. Ontario and Quebec have hot summers and moderately cold winters with high humidity. The Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland have cool summers, moderately cold winters and lots of snow.

The cost of living varies a lot too. BC and southwestern Ontario are very expensive, urban Quebec and Alberta are less so but not as economical as Manitoba and the Maritime provinces. Housing prices are the biggest drivers of expense.

As far as nursing jobs go, the biggest differences are in scope of practice for practical nurses. Alberta's LPNs are probably the most flexible in scope. Other differences are in pay, with RNs in Alberta making the most, followed by BC, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and on down the line, Quebec being paid the least. Benefits are also dependent on the province. Employment is scarce in most provinces right now, Ontario and BC especially. Health care is tax-payer funded here so the economic fortunes of the province in question determines the fortunes of the health care system. Budget cuts trickle down and nursing vacancies don't get filled. If you're really interested you could read some of the major newspapers online: the Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Winnipeg Free Press, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Province... That'll give you a snapshot of the issues of the moment. Whether nursing employment loosens up again in the near-distance future is anybody's guess, but I'd say it won't be anytime soon.

airgoc · Jul 22, 2011

Thnx once more for your extensive answer,you have confirmed my doubts ,it's probably not the best time for immigration,but however I am still in experimental phase relating immigration issues!

I am just going to investigate Australian forum a little bit,seems quite dynamic over there ! Maybe it's a little better employment chance in Oz !

Or maybe I should start learning German instead of English :-)

What is the reason for so many part -time jobs in Canada ,here in Croatia we work full time or overtime ,no place for part-time :-)

Fiona59 · Jul 23, 2011

Part timers are cheaper for the government. Costs them less in pensions and benefits in the long run.

4_Sq · Jul 28, 2011

In BC Canada, nurses requested more part time lines. There is still medical & dental benefits with these part time lines, as well as Pension benefits, vacation etc.

ajaxgirl · Jul 29, 2011

Part timers are cheaper for the government. Costs them less in pensions and benefits in the long run.

In Ontario, part timers do get pensions-it's optional. Even casuals can, once they have done 700 hours.

ajaxgirl · Jul 29, 2011

Hello from Croatia!
I would appreciate if anyone of Canadian nurses could tell me something about present nursing shortage in Canada?
Is now the perfect time for immigration ,or maybe not :-) ?
Is there significant difference between provinces ?
What do you predict will happen with nursing labor market in the future ?
What could you say from your point of view?
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed !
Thanks !

Are you working in Croatia? I love the Split area.

airgoc · Aug 1, 2011

Are you working in Croatia? I love the Split area.

Hi,yes I work in Zagreb. Nice city Split :-) ,city with most olympic medals on the world in relation to number of inhabitants !