Nursing jobs in B.C.?

pugmum · Feb 14, 2006

hi there,
im a student nurse who will be graduating with my bscn of nursing in ontario in a year. after graduation and taking my nurses exam i would love to come to b.c. and work as a nurse.
im asking anyone who works in b.c. if there are many nursing jobs out there? yes!! what are my chances of finding work there when i go, good!!! (especially the lower mainland) and is it worth it to go? yes!(at least i think so, but living here i'm prejudiced) i hear it's such a beautiful (very true) (but expensive) (depends on where you live) province.
thankyou,
m.mullin

:)

fergus51 · Feb 14, 2006

There are always jobs as long as you are willing to work in the specialty they want you in, which as a new grad often means med-surg.

epg_pei · Feb 21, 2006

I was looking for the New Grad incentive program, I think it was Interior Health that was offering, but it seems to have disappeared. Does anyone know if that program is off the table for now? I see positions posted across the country, but few are specifically for new grads....

pugmum · Feb 22, 2006

i was looking for the new grad incentive program, i think it was interior health that was offering, but it seems to have disappeared. does anyone know if that program is off the table for now? i see positions posted across the country, but few are specifically for new grads....

i'm not sure where you are located, but presently the fraser health authority is offering placements for undergrads as well as new grads, the catch is you have to be from a bc program (i believe). check out the website http://www.fraserhealth.ca/careers/default.htm and you will find the new grad program listed on there. the deadline for new grad is end of april i believe, so if you are interested, get your application in. i know several that have applied already.

Jenthenutritionnut · Feb 22, 2006

Re: new grad incentive prgm.

I've totally looked into it. I'm from BC, live in TO and will be starting somewhere this Fall (applied in ON and BC- got in at Langara College in Van) and yes the incentives are province controlled.

Here is what I heard from ON:

" Thank you for your email. Development of this program is not yet complete,

therefore, the detail surrounding the eligibility criteria are not yet

known. The government will consider the needs of new nurses as well as

students when final decisions are made regarding the proposed program.

I will keep your email address and send you information on this program when

it becomes available but please feel free to check back with me in the next

month or so."

Thank you.

Sue Mills

Program Analyst

Underserviced Area Program

Suite 402, 159 Cedar Street

Sudbury ON P3E 6A5

Phone: (705) 564-7229

Toll Free: 1-866-727-9959

Fax: (705) 564-7493

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.health.gov.on.ca, select "Health Care Providers" then

"Education and Recruitment", then "Underserviced Area Program" or "Free

Tuition Program for Physicians"

For BC it's:

B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program

Overview

The B.C. loan forgiveness program recognizes the increasing need for skilled professionals in underserved communities in the province.

This program has been designed to provide British Columbia Student Loan (BCSL) forgiveness to graduates from accredited post-secondary educational institutions in various professions who agree to work in publicly funded facilities in underserved areas of British Columbia.

Graduates from accredited schools in nursing (including licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners) and from medical, midwifery and pharmacy schools who began their final year of study on or after Aug. 1, 2000, will have all outstanding BCSL debt forgiven at a rate of 33 1/3 per cent per year.

Students graduating on or after Dec. 1, 2004, from speech language pathology, occupational therapy, audiology and physiotherapy, who will be working with children in underserved communities, will have all outstanding BCSL debt forgiven at a rate of 33 1/3 per cent per year.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the B.C. loan forgiveness program, you must:

*Be employed (full time, part time, and/or casual/on call) at a publicly funded facility in a designated underserved community within B.C.

*Have an outstanding BCSL in good standing

*Have graduated from an accredited post-secondary institution

*Have started your final year of study on or after Aug. 1, 2000 (for nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, midwives and pharmacists)

*Have graduated on or after Dec. 1, 2004 (for speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, audiologists and physiotherapists)

*Not be in full-time studies

Note: If your file is under audit, your application will be held until the audit is complete.

How to Apply

B.C. loan forgiveness applications are available through the Student Services Branch or in PDF format below. You must complete your application and forward it to your BCSL lender for completion of the lender's section. The lender will then return the application to you.

Along with the initial application, an original letter from the publicly funded facility or health authority confirming your employment must be submitted.

Note:

*If you have a practitioner number, you must submit a letter from your health authority confirming that you serve in the community.

*Professionals under contract to the Province must ensure their employment letter also includes the contract number and ministry involved.

*Midwives must also submit a letter from the Association of Midwives confirming their registration.

An official sealed transcript showing that graduation requirements have been fulfilled must be included with your first application for loan forgiveness.

At the end of each 12 months of employment, within six weeks of your anniversary date, you must submit a letter from your employer confirming that 12 months of employment have been completed. A reminder letter will be sent out from the Student Services Branch before your anniversary date.

You must submit an application for loan forgiveness to the Student Services Branch at the beginning of each year of employment. Second- and third-year applications must be received by the Student Services Branch within 30 days of your anniversary date.

Long post but I hope it helps...I just wished that it wasn't province dependant!

PS where did you go to school??

epg_pei · Feb 23, 2006

I'm from PEI, studying in NB, so I guess I am SOL...too bad it sounded like a great program...I'd love to live in the Interior for a while, I loved travelling through that area...