Moving to Nova Scotia

Things can be tough and what I find over here is the no response or long wait for response that you get. I know of several nurses living in Halifax that have tried both by sending resumes and following up and still waiting several months later for a job despite being told they are perfect for the job due to the experience they have

Good luck and hope it pans out well for you. Where in NS roughly will you be?

I have found the long wait times the most frustrating - I was contacted in July for an interview for this job, and got the job offer in October! VERY hard to sit back and not pester them to hurry up already! LOL

There were several jobs in Halifax Infirmary that I applied for in March that I have *still* not had a response too, and they are still advertising the same job (same reference # etc, so I can't reapply because it says my application is still current)

Anyway, as I said - have finally got an offer, and am very happy with how it has all worked out. We'll be heading for Truro, which I have been told is a lovely little town and great for the kids too (hope its all true!) So we are all getting very excited (and slightly nervous!). We're hoping to get there before Christmas - although its going to be a HUGE culture shock going from middle of summer in a tropical climate to goodness knows what kind of temperature in the middle of winter!

Expect snow (temp will vary from +4 to -20), Truro is about an hour from where I live and about 30-40 mins from the airport. Plenty of things to do in the Summer, not sure about the winter. Shops seem OK but have only really travelled through.

minus 20!!!!! geez - the warmest bit of clothing I own is a pair of lightweight jeans! I think i'm going to have to budget for a HUGE shop the minute we step off the plane! I don't even own a jacket! LOL

(I do however have a pair of wool gloves - go figure!)

I would just buy what you can over there and buy the rest here in NS where everything is geared up to the temps. I live in jeans when not working and once the weather changes i.e. snow on the ground I will be getting changed at work and travelling in warmer clothes in case the road gets bad. Definitely get a jacket.

This was taken last year

Wow! It looks like a postcard! I'm sitting here in shorts and tshirt with the aircon on looking at that! Yep, i think a jacket is definitely in order!!

I'll be buying very little over here - it just would not cope with the climate in canada. And its not worth paying the $300 - $400 for a 'snow suitable' jacket you'd have to go to the ski shop to buy! I'll probably keep it to one outfit to wear OFF the plane to cover us until we empty walmart out of all their winter stock!

Walmart is good but so are a few others like Mark's warehouse, Canadian tire and Zellers

Congrats dvsbec!

I was thrilled when I read your post. Honestly, I am about to lose hope of getting a job in NS. I sent inquiries to different health authorities and only 3 of them replied. They told me that I should pass first the CRNE before I can get hired. Ive never heard from other authorities though. Presently, I am still in search for a recruitment agency, or any LTC or hospital that is hiring IENs. If you dont mind, could you please share your experience regarding job hunting? or any tips or websites that would help me to find a job?

Thanks! By the way, I feel excited for you! Goodluck!

donRN - I totally understand where you are coming from. Even the place that have hired me have suggested that I come for a 'visit' and sit the CRNE first prior to starting. They don't seem to realise that for me to just pop over and visit will cost in excess of $7000!!!! LOL I would rather use that money towards relocating!

I'm not sure if it helped or not - but I always included a cover letter with my application and stated that I was eligible to sit CRNE and was eligible for a temporary licence, so that it was clear that I was able to start whenever was convenient.

As I said before though - it has been a very long process, and very frustrating to not get any responses. I know I'm a good nurse, I have a lot of experience and qualifications to support my practice. So I basically had to keep telling myself it wasn't ME that was preventing me getting the job, but the fact hiring an IEN was too much hard work!

In terms of looking for the job - I was with an agency HCL international, but they were slack and kept saying there was a job in NS, but then stopped contacting me, giving me the run around etc. So I decided to do it alone - I used Career Beacon to keep an eye on the jobs coming out. And then took my daughters advice (gotta love kids) who said to lower my expectations a bit. I was only applying for jobs in emergency at that stage. So I started branching out a bit and applying for jobs in other areas, and then started applying for jobs in smaller areas outside of Halifax. Figured that if it was meant to happen, the right job would come along and I would end up in the right place for us :) And worse case - if we end up somewhere awful, I only have to stick it out for a year and we can move along, but i'm sure it will be easier getting a job once you're in the system!

Just stick with it - give yourself a deadline, and if you still hear nothing, take a break from it. You never know your luck. I gave myself a deadline for the end of October and I was giving up. Oh, and there is always good old Murphy's Law. I had basically reached the point where I thought this was never going to happen, and purchased a large expensive item that I had been wanting for a long time (and was going to wait until we got to Canada to buy!) I got the job offer the next day - go figure! LOL

Keep thinking positive thoughts - I'm sure something will come along soon!

Bec

Wow! Congrats dvsbec! Happy for you...

Hi Bec,

Very happy for you,gives hope for the rest of us!may I know which hospital gave you an offer? Got an LTC job offer but not sure wether to take it as the hourly rate offered is lesser to what I am getting here in Australia.Have you filed for your WP? How long ago,heard from it already?Thanks again congratulations.

Hi Arrianna - I got a position at the main hospital in Truro. The hourly rate is slightly less than what I get now, and I think the penalty rates are definitely not as good as what we get here in Australia either.

But, all said and done - my reasons for wanting to work and live in Canada have never been about the money. Its about experiencing a new culture and developing my professional practice. Which I guess probably sounds a bit conceited? Not that I would be insane enough to take a job for a massive paycut! I still need to live after all :)

I've filed for my WP - had a reply in less than 2 weeks to go get my medical. The one and only doctor that is able to do the medicals has a 2 week wait, so more waiting, and then hopefully not long after that is done to get a final answer. The LMO took 2 weeks also.

How much is the hourly rate for the LTC job? Would it still allow you enough to live off? Because if its for a full time permanent position and you were looking for sponsorship for perm residency, it would allow you to get all that. And then once you are living in Canada with PR, you are free to continue looking for a *better* job. Just a thought....