Nursing as a Career in Canada (Calgary, AB)

[jrsmrs]

Hi all!

I'm new to the site and have so many questions!

I am fairly certain that I have decided on nursing as a career, and will be applying to U of C shortly, to attend this coming September. I've spent the last few days reading the forums and some of it seems a little disheartening, I guess.

My ideal job is in the L&D ward, or post-natal care if it comes to that. Honestly, I just don't see myself doing anything else long-term. Are things really as bad as I've been reading? Is it a pipe dream to think that I will be able to get into my chosen area relatively quickly (even out of school?!)? Will I be forced to work nightmare 12 hr night shifts 6 days a week and be cr@pped on by my superiors, all the while making less than stellar wages?

I guess I'm just wondering what the reality of it all is. I don't personally know any nurses so have no one I can ask about these things before I make the jump. I quite honestly don't know the first thing about the logistics of the career and just want to know the basics I suppose.

I'm a 27 yrs old married mother of two and I want and need a stable career that will still allow me time with my family, and a decent salary. How easy will it be for me to find this? I'd rather find out the reality sooner than later!

Any insight or advice anyone can offer is very much appreciated :cheers:

[globalRN]

with the nursing shortage, I don't understand why admin doesn't pay a large premium for weekends, eves and nights. Large enough to make it worthwhile.

Say working nights on w/e would be equiv to fulltime pay or double pay.

I am sure there would be takers. working all shifts and 50% w/e would definitely

put many nurses off fulltime nursing.

I know that I would not want to work shiftwork or weekends. In fact, at one point in my career I was ready to give up nursing because the shiftwork got to me and that is when I left shiftwork nursing.

if I had to stay doing shiftwork....I'd be an accountant today instead of an NP

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Alberta's collective agreement has provision for weekend workers. People desiring to work this arrangement work the equivalent of 0.8 and are paid for full time hours. They may choose only nights, only days or a mix.

There are permanent night positions available on request and the manager cannot unreasonably deny these. There are permanent day positions available in clinics and on some units. However, these day positions are fewer than the night ones due to the availability of advanced practice personnel on days to assist with the workload and the absence of same on nights.

Shift differentials are the most generous in the country: evenings attract an additional $2.50 an hour, nights $4.25 and weekends $2.75. They are set to increase again April 1, 2009 by $0.25, $0.75 and $0.50 respectively.

Let's not forget that there are two parties at the table when contracts are negotiated. Both parties must compromise on certain issues in order to keep the process moving. Agreements on wages and benefits will never make everyone perfectly happy. When it all comes down to it, someone ahds to do the work, and by dividing up the good shifts as well as the bad it's a fair compromise.

Unfortunately GlobalRN, your solution is not available to most nurses in the early years of their career. It takes time and experience to work one's way into a position of authority and autonomy.