New Grad RN can't find work!

MPKH, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2013

Try to apply to rural areas--they're always looking for nurses and most are willing to train new grads. Don't just limit yourself to urban areas, or hospital settings. Apply to every job that you are qualify for. But otherwise...good luck.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2013

Unless you're willing to work rural, it's highly unlikely you will find work in AB. Alberta Health Services has a hiring freeze in effect since March and nurses have been laid off since March as well.

Small northern towns, Northwest Territories and the Yukon are about the only places in Canada willing to hire nurses right now. Be willing to look into some of these options if you need work.

NewtoOR · Jul 6, 2013

Hi,

Congratulations on graduating from nursing school!

I went through a similar experience when I graduated in BC over a year ago. I went back to the wards that I did my final clinical rotations and got a casual job. I was willing to be 100% short call which meant no pre-booked shifts and willingness to respond to any call for work that I would receive for day, evening and night shift. Try going to the wards you worked at during nursing school and speak to the managers. The face-to-face contact makes a big difference. Also, be open to taking whatever position you can get within any health authority and then apply for internal positions. Be open to taking 100% short-call positions which means being open to taking last minute staffing request calls and showing up on short notice for work. The market is tough for new grads but do what you have to do to get your foot in the door. Also, I did volunteer work as an RN in order to get more experience and network with other nurses. One year later, I am still struggling myself. I'm applying up North and the Interior in order to get more shifts and consolidate my nursing skills. Try the rural areas, Interior, Vancouver Island or Northern Health as well. Good luck in your search!

lemur00, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2013

Small northern towns, Northwest Territories and the Yukon are about the only places in Canada willing to hire nurses right now. Be willing to look into some of these options if you need work.

While we aren't desperate or anything, SK is hiring. You do have to be willing to work in whatever field staff are needed however, because only certain units really need staff. And you have to time your application right (not in december when most grads get out of school).

I got a permanent full time line before I even graduated--partly because they want to keep our grads, but there are grads from both BC and AB that work on my unit (who predictably couldn't get jobs in those provinces).

Mewsin · Jul 10, 2013

While we aren't desperate or anything, SK is hiring. You do have to be willing to work in whatever field staff are needed however, because only certain units really need staff. And you have to time your application right (not in december when most grads get out of school).
I got a permanent full time line before I even graduated--partly because they want to keep our grads, but there are grads from both BC and AB that work on my unit (who predictably couldn't get jobs in those provinces).

lol shhhh wait until I graduate before telling everyone to come here Every grad in the intake before mine had a position before we started classes. (They finished in November, we started in February)

lemur00, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2013

If you're a PN student, I think you'll be just fine. They're usually always shorter on LPNs than RNs, though again, you just have to be willing to go where you're needed.

There is going to be a major glut of BScN students in 2015, because that's when the first classes from the two new programs graduate. I think it will become more difficult then to get work as an RN. But by that time maybe BC and AB will be hiring again. :)

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2013

Which new programs are you speaking of in 2015?

Also, keep in mind that nursing comes in cycles. Between 2015 and 2020, more nurses will be retiring. Many nurses are continuing to work longer simply because they can't afford to retire (true for many people).

Mewsin · Jul 11, 2013

If you're a PN student, I think you'll be just fine. They're usually always shorter on LPNs than RNs, though again, you just have to be willing to go where you're needed.
There is going to be a major glut of BScN students in 2015, because that's when the first classes from the two new programs graduate. I think it will become more difficult then to get work as an RN. But by that time maybe BC and AB will be hiring again. :)

Yeah I happen to live in a "rural" area, although I don't think it is really that small. Ok it's small, I've lived in Regina and Saskatoon and I can now drive anywhere in town in less than 10 mins.

lemur00, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

SK is kind of behind the curve and we have yet to really reach glut levels, probably because we have better ratios than some other provinces, and a lot of our population is rural. We also haven't been the destination province many people want to go to as BC, AB and ON have been. But it isn't like you can just pick the job you want. Retirements and Saskatoon's Children's Hospital to be built will make new positions, but that's all a way off for us yet.

We originally only had one BScN program across the province called NEPS (the degree was granted by the University of Saskatchewan, though we were students of three separate institutions at times)--this was replaced by two separate programs (one from the U of S and the other from the University of Regina/SIAST). Both schools have campuses in both major cities (this is due to some left over things from NEPS). They're also anticipating a higher need in the future for the above reasons.

BUT. The first students to graduate these programs will complete in 2015--this means almost twice the number of new grads than in the past. They also have done away with the early exits that we had so the grads will all come out at the same time, rather than in waves in September, December and April as has been the case for the last decade. None of the new positions are in place so demand isn't increasing, but the province does tend to try to hold on to its own grads. So I think there's going to be some pretty stiff competition at that time that the rest of us never really had.

LPNs on the other hand I don't think will have a problem. While they're much younger on average, there is still pretty high demand for them.

Mewsin are you taking the PN program in Swift Current?

nobu · Jul 11, 2013

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I just accepted a job offer today. Things worked out eventually.

Mewsin · Jul 12, 2013

Mewsin are you taking the PN program in Swift Current?

No I'm taking it in N.Battleford.