Moving to Ottawa

[Joyce22]

Hi everyone,

I am a final year nursing student in one of the colleges in Toronto. I and my family are planning to relocate to Ottawa after finishing my degree program by May next year. I am also planning to get a job with The Ottawa Hospital.

Please, I need information about working in the hospital vis-a vis, the nurse

atient ratio, general working condition, and the possibility of building a career and growing with the hospital. Furthermore, I need your input on livable area in the city in respect to good and affordable house (mortgage), children-friendly and safe environment with easy access to the hospital.

Your inputs will be highly appreciated.

:argue:

[Fiona59]

So the plans for Edmonton fell through?

[Joyce22]

Thanks Fiona.

We change our minds on Edmonton because of high cost of living there, especially housing.

[JulieNICURN]

Hi Joyce,

The Ottawa Hospital is a nice place to work, there are a lot of opportunities to work in pretty much any area of nursing. There are a lot of opportunities to move around and "grow" within the hospital like you said. Two of my friends and I started at TOH as new grads working on a surgical unit and less that two years later I was working in NICU, one is working now at the Civic campus adult ICU, and one is at the Cardiac Surgical ICU at the heart institute. For the adult ICUs the hospital paid for my friends to do a three month critical care course which was a combo of theory and clinical buddy shifts followed by a month of buddy shifts before starting on their own. So yeah, lots of opportunity to learn and develop skills as well as lots of room to move around which is nice - especially for a new grad who might not know exactly what area of nursing you'll like the most right out of school - I know I sure didn't!! Good Luck!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Joyce22, just so you know, housing prices in Edmonton have been falling fast for months now. It's turned into a real buyer's market out here. I can't imagine that prices (or taxes) in Ottawa are that much better. Of course, gasoline is ALWAYS much cheaper there than here.