Outpost nursing in Moose Factory - New Grad?

[RN2B123]

Has anyone worked in remote northern ontario communities as a new grad? Moose Factory is hiring new grad RNs in their Weeneebayko hospital...its a 37 bed hospital and its 1 RN on nights, 2 RPN's and PSW's apparently. I don't know the exact ratio on the day shift but its more than 1 RN

Would this position be too difficult for a new grad to start out in? I talked to a recruiter and she told me they send you to a 6 week obstetric course in Kingston as eventally you are expected to assist with deliveries...

Has anyone worked in this hospital or similar outpost nursing jobs? How was the work environment, staff, support, etc?

[ERtraumanurse]

I am going to be a disaster - I have a hard time rolling my tongue around new fancy words (drugs are the worst) so going to some of these places and then trying to say the names of them is going to be very interesting LOL

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I hope you enjoy your experience and learn a lot of new things about nursing, about people and about yourself. I'd love to see your pictures... I've lived in some very remote places in my life and have some really fond memories of most of them.

[ERtraumanurse]

Thanks Jan - I am hoping for all of those things - it will be quite the adventure :)

[glittergal]

Hi there, I am a New Grad RN, and I have about 5 years experience working as an LPN.

I'm just wondering how this all went for you, or if others can offer advice.

I'm looking at two communities- Attawapiskat and Fort Albany. Does anyone have any advice on them? They are about 800-1,200 people in each. Fly or Train in only. But apparently we are never left alone, are very well trained, and always have someone to contact, there is always another nurse on staff or on call. They train you for doing sutures, annual pap tests, taking blood work, etc. And we have to be witnessed to do those skills a few times before we are considered independent to do it on our own.

Any tips or advice? Jobs in Canada are so hard to find right now. And if housing was covered I could also get ahead financially as I have considerable student loans.

Thank you,

glittergal

Thanks,

glittergal

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

glittergal... I read your post to a friend who has good knowledge of these places. She says, and I quote, "Tell her to STAY AWAY from Attawapiskat!!! They have a very high suicide rate there and it's not a nice place. Next to Pikanjikum, it's about the worst place on earth for a new nurse. And all that nice talk about being trained... it's crap." She suggests you think about someplace like Iqaluit or Yellowknife so that you can get some experience under your belt before you look at the more gnarly places.

[glittergal]

Okay, thank you for that bit of advice. What about Fort Albany, or Moose Factory, any tips on those places? Did this nurse work there for very long? If so what did she really find? I wonder if there is some way that I could contact her, cause I'm after getting the real truth about these places.

Also, would those other communities in Iqaluit or YellowKnife not have similar problems, or would they pay for housing costs as well?

I talked to a nurse earlier today who is stationed at Fort Albany, and she says that she likes it and its not bad. I just want to find a good nursing job somewhere as well as get paid well so that I can pay off my student loan. So basically good experience and good pay are what I'm after.

Any more tips from anyone else?

Thanks

Glittergal

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Iqaluit and Yellowknife have full-scale hospitals. There are supports both within the facility and in the community that are absent on the smaller remote sites. For example you're not likely to be the only nurse available at any given time, with a physician many miles away only available by phone... That makes a huge difference when you're a new grad and so far away from home.

It sounds like you're looking for a bit of a magic carpet ride... a brief, intensely exciting event with great rewards. I'm not sure there is such a thing.

[O'Cuinn,RN]

I'm so glad I found this thread!

Myself and my partner have been accepted to work in a nursing station in "Moose Factory Zone" as well! We are both RNs who graduated 2 years ago, and both of us have had the opportunity to work in critical care areas for the past 2 years. We are looking forward to this new adventure!

glittergal - I was under the impression that the FNIHB required two years of critical care experience...this has probably changed (gotta love nursing shortages), but I definitely think it would make your "northern transition" easier.

janfrn - Have you worked in northern Ontario? Does your friend have any info/opinions on Kashechewan?

O'C

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

No, I haven't worked in northern Ontario, but I have lived much of my life in remote communities. I began my nursing career in Winnipeg, a major referral centre for parts of northern Ontario and all of northern Manitoba. I have friends who have lived and worked in northern Manitoba and I have one who is currently working up there. She loves it, but then she had about 6 years of critical care experience and some transport experience before she started out. And she doesn't live up there, she flies in for a stretch then back home in Winnipeg for a stretch.

[glittergal]

Well I'm really confused what to do. Finding any job as an RN in Canada has become seemingly difficult. Where does a person start out then? I was getting really excited about all of the good learning that I could do there. Now, again because I'm not experienced enough, I couldn't handle it. I'm just feeling a bit frustrated right now about the job market, even the US doesn't really want new grads. A lot of the hospitals here just aren't hiring, and if they are it's mostly specialties.

Not sure what to do or where to start my career.

Glittergal

[O'Cuinn,RN]

glittergal - sorry about getting you all freaked out! If this is something you want to do, do it! Don't let people in the nursing forum stop you. I remember reading an article in Canadian Nurse about 2 New Grads (a couple) who worked in outpost nursing immediately after graduating - they seemed to do alright!

It's terrible that jobs are so hard to find! Have you checked out hospitals in Ontario?

New Grads typically have a lot on their plate (i.e. learning how to nurse, learning how to multi-task, dealing with other health professionals, finding out who you are as a nurse, etc). Add that with a long-distance move, living in an isolated area and having tons of responsibility...I can see it being really overwhelming.

Have you looked into small, northern hospitals? For instance, Moosefactory? I don't know for sure, but I don't think you would ever be alone. They have an OR and a L&D (where most of the babies from the surrounding communities would be born). Check it out...

Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin

[glittergal]

Yep, well I'm doing my research and researching it the best I can.

I am mostly calling the nurses and staff who live up there and see what I can get from them, it has been really helpful so far to hear their advice. Will keep you posted!!

Thanks for the encouragement, hopefully I will get a job somewhere soon!

glittergal