Ottawa hospitals, need some tips

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Specializes in SICU,MICU,ER,trauma.

Hello all,

I'm moving to the Ottawa area this summer and would like any information folks would like to share about the ottawa hospitals. I haven't found much on either the Ottawa hospital system (civic, main, etc.) or the other outlying hospitals like Queensway Carleton. I've emailed the human resource people there and they've answered some basic benefits questions- VERY vaguely.

I've found a place to live in Kanata (I think) for my wife and 3 kids and I want to put in some applications this summer after we're settled. Just so you know I've gotten clearance from the CNO to write the boards in Ontario in Kingston in June. I'm aware of the ONA contract, pay scales, etc. (the off shift differentials are confusing though)

I'm American and now have a permanent resident Visa for canada. I've been a Critical Care Nurse (trauma, ICU, ER, code team) for 9 years and worked in Tele for the other 3.

I can't get a sense of the culture of the facilities, the management, workloads, etc. I'm sure there are some similarities to working here in upstate NY- but I'm also well aware of other differences (how care is paid for, language issues, etc.)

Let me give you an example. I currently work at a facility with a highly punitive environment, and the tension is more than palpable. This is without taking into account the workload. Everyone is constantly terrified of making the slightest errors- because these mean immediate leave, investigations, write ups,termination etc. The nursing/medical administrators treat staff either like serfs or idiots. I wouldn't call it a happy place. Anyhow, just trying to get a sense of what I'm walking into.

I like the ottawa community, I like canada and canadians and I'd like to make it my home- I just need help figuring out a bit about the places to work. I'm looking for some challenging ICU work.

I have a half dozen canadian friends here- but ironically they've never worked there (they left in the 90's during the "reorganization" that caused the exodus to the states), so they're not much help.

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Does it have to be right in Ottawa? I live in the Ottawa Valley and my ICU is relatively small, but it is challenging because we are on are own for the most part. There are no MDs there 24/7. It is a general med-surg ICU, but we have a high cardiac population. The staff is very tight-knit and a wonderful bunch of people. It is an all-RN staff. There are several people who will be going off on mat leave/retiring/surgery/etc in the near future so it is a good time to get in.

We are just a short car ride to Ottawa and

PM me if you'd like more info :) Good luck!

I know the unit manager of the General campus ICU personally and they are not hiring at this time. I imagine the Civic campus is the same, but I'm not positive... The Heart Institute is hard to get into from what I hear, but an amazing place to work (I don't know first-hand). I don't know much about the Queensway Carleton. Traumas/cardiac go to the Civic ER. CHEO is a wonderful place to work...

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I think I know where you are RescueNinja... Would there be a "controversial" community not far from you?

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Specializes in ICU, ER.
I think I know where you are RescueNinja... Would there be a "controversial" community not far from you?

Hmmmm...could be! Lol

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Hmmm... Closest border with another province is about 5 km away on water but by road is about 50 km? And that controversial community has feet in three worlds??

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Specializes in ICU, ER.
Hmmm... Closest border with another province is about 5 km away on water but by road is about 50 km? And that controversial community has feet in three worlds??

Sounds about right ;) ...are you in the Ottawa area?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Nope, I'm out west. But I was born 100 km further down the 401 and my eldest child was born in Ottawa. We lived there for about 2 years. I have lots of family in that area, and said child is now a geneticist in Montreal.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Small world! Nice to "meet" you :)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Very small world. Back at ya!

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Specializes in SICU,MICU,ER,trauma.

I may be open to smaller facilities, but where is the Ottawa valley? Remember, I'm new to the area. Are you talking east of Ottawa?

I'm glad someone replied to the post. I was getting lonely! I thought maybe this was an all west coast canada forum.

I'll pM you in the future I have a few questions about the ottawa hospitals. I notice job postings for the ER and ICU on the Ottawa hospital website. I wonder if these are for Civic?

Thanks talk to to you soon.

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Hi Saltcity,

I used to work at the Ottawa Hospital. I think you will find the culture very different. Not punitive at all, no write-ups and to terminate you need a ceiling high stack of paperwork documenting obvious errors and issues with refusal or inability to resolve. Obviously still lots of little political / dynamic type tensions at times but overall the culture is a very friendly one. The workload in some areas can still be high but generally it is much safer than what I read on here about some U.S hospitals.

The Ottawa Hospital is actually made up of three sites - the General, the Civic and the Riverside (no longer has beds). The job postings are all on TOH site but should tell you if it is at the General or Civic. Both have big busy ICU's.

Some positions are designated bilingual, the rest are English. If you take an English position you aren't expected to speak French, although learning a bit is good so you can have very simple conversations with French patients in passing. There are incentives and opportunities to learn French and often higher up management / admin positions require French and English.

Ottawa is a great city! I'm sure you'll love it.

Welcome!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Technically RescueNinja isn't in the Ottawa Valley, but very close (south-east). See this map for an idea of the area: http://www.ottawavalley.travel/docs/ottawa_valley_map_2010.pdf I'm related to just about every Irish- and Polish (Kashub)-Canadian family in the Ottawa Valley in one way or another.

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