I am a new grad RN that cannot find a job. I graduated in April and passed the NCLEX shortly after. I applied to the Nursing guarantee initiative and unfortunately did not find a job, now I am stuck feeling so depressed. I have applied ALL OVER Ontario, also Nunavut, I have sent so far OVER 240 resumes with only one response. I went to the interview, stayed over night since it was 8 hours away from where I lived and bombed it because I was so nervous, not only that I was not prepared for medication type of questions (
I have had my resume looked over by TWO employment agency services. I change my cover letter for each job postings.
I have contacted the RNAO for help but they are useless, I have emailed the lady that reviews resumes 3 times and I doubt she even read my email since she has not even responded.
I have contacted health force ontario which claims to be committed to supporting nurses and they are also useless, I was told just to keep applying for jobs from the HFO and RNAO sites.
I have applied for a job in the U.S and they called me within a week. However, I was not aware of the LONG and EXPENSIVE process to become licensed in the U.S. So as of right now I want to focus on getting a job here in Ontario. Of course if I am still out of luck I will have no choice but to apply to the U.S.
I have become very depressed and I cry all the time, I am so frustrated that most jobs require at least 1 year experience, I am also frustrated when I see nurses complain about their shifts when theres nurses that cannot find work that would die for that chance.
As bad as it sounds I would work for less, I love nursing I would take a big pay cut just for the opportunity to work as a nurse, unfortunately with unions I know that is not possible but if it was I would do it.
I need help, places that would give a new grad a chance.
What does your union have to say? I've worked 17 hours when I worked the floor, which was brutal.
I'd do 24 hours once and only once. I would also be informing management after that shift that I would not be in the next night or day, and calling the union.
That's one of the reasons I won't work the floor anymore. The staffing levels and expectations are just ridiculous and very unsafe.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Union is aware but nothing happens very tired at the moment as short staffed and at times on days we work 1 trained staff for 36 patients so only basic gets done which is hard and sad. Looking elsewhere but because I don't have Canadian experience or just LTC it tends to be a hinderanc esoteric trying to get casual work so at least foot gets through the door
You must be exhausted. I realize it's not easy to walk away from a job these days, but I would be asking your managers what their contingency plans are. Obviously, the staffing is not an emergency. They know they're short staffed.
At my last job, we informed the manager that she would have to start working the floor. She didn't like it, but we were always short and working additional shifts. After a while, enough is enough. The managers can suck it up and relieve their staff.
Have you thought about moving to BC? The BC health authorities and the BCNU (BC nurses union) have just signed a deal to hire a lot of new nurses by March 31st 2016.
Thanks, I am now in the process of getting my paperwork for the U.S. I have checked out the information on the new grad hire in B.C. and I see that individuals that are from B.C will be given priority. I understand that many nurses in BC cannot find jobs so I can only imagine it would be tough for me to find a spot.
Long term care will gladly take you. THEY ARE NOT PICKY!!! My managers used to say new grad RN's don't want to come to LTC. They want someone to follow the rules, to be able to do the job well. If you show dedication and the willingness to work.. they will hire you.
I have applied to a few long term care facilities without a callback. I will continue to apply.
@companisbiki, LTCs in Toronto are not in need of many RNs, they are more interested in experienced RPNs and PSWs. RNs are expensive and new grads require mentoring. Whereas, an experienced RPN is cost effective and they will be more likely to catch subtle changes and rescue patients than a new grad RN who has not been mentored.
This is what I've been told about long term care facilities, they hardly hire RNs.
Try home health? There's a home health agency in Ottawa that was ready to hire me when I was there for 6 months. I think they're called Bayshore Home health. Also try small clinics, Doctors Offices, you might have to go apply personally.
my problem is that most home care facilities require a car, I do not even have a G2. I went to some Drs offices and they are only hiring RPNs.
We hire many new grads in LTC where I work and most are very overwhelmed. They lack the assessment, prioritization and delegation skills required. Residents are more acute than ever. New grads really do need to be mentored, rather than trying to cope with competing demands and 30+ residents on one shift.
I am worried about the safety issue of having to care for 30+ residents at once. Especially with medication administration, there is such a narrow window period to do all the necessary assessments (BP, pulse, glucose checks) prior to administering medication to ALL those individuals.... At the same time new grads need to start somewhere, there are also some new grads that get hired in ER and ICU.
What type of US employer is not able to attract and keep American grads in this economy? American hospitals used to come to Toronto to recruit nurses, but they haven't actively recruited in Canada since the economy tanked in 2008, it makes me wonder how bad of an employer they are that they are recruiting from Canada.
What type of US employer is not able to attract and keep American grads in this economy? American hospitals used to come to Toronto to recruit nurses, but they haven't actively recruited in Canada since the economy tanked in 2008, it makes me wonder how bad of an employer they are that they are recruiting from Canada.
I phoned a couple recruiters in rural U.S. they are hiring new grads, I assume it is also places that not many would want to work. I have to go to where the jobs are, it beats staying here doing absolutely nothing.
What type of US employer is not able to attract and keep American grads in this economy? American hospitals used to come to Toronto to recruit nurses, but they haven't actively recruited in Canada since the economy tanked in 2008, it makes me wonder how bad of an employer they are that they are recruiting from Canada.
Also to make it clear, they did not look to recruit anyone from Canada. It was another Canadian RN I spoke to that went to the U.S when she could not find a job here. Yes, she worked horrible working conditions in a rural hospital with a very high turnover rate (Which is one of the hospitals I phoned). She said because she was Canadian she had to stick with it (2 years) and suggested I look into. Even though it may suck for a couple years, its a sacrifice I can make.
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joanna73, BSN, RN
4,767 Posts
What does your union have to say? I've worked 17 hours when I worked the floor, which was brutal.
I'd do 24 hours once and only once. I would also be informing management after that shift that I would not be in the next night or day, and calling the union.
That's one of the reasons I won't work the floor anymore. The staffing levels and expectations are just ridiculous and very unsafe.