i have a question for nurses in Tornoto, and other ontario areas

Blakpepa · Oct 21, 2009

The best thing to do is just apply to as much nursing agencies as you can find and pick up shifts from there. You don't want to be unemployed for along time and lose your skills. If you find that a year goes by and still nothing permanent, then consider moving to other provinces like BC or AB or the US.

Fiona59 · Oct 21, 2009

Well, AHS has a hiring freeze in effect (it's been on for about four months now) and are talking ending IEN contracts and layoffs of existing staff, so I wouldn't say the employment picture in AB is rosy.

malenurse82 · Oct 21, 2009

All positions listed in the Alberta Health Services website for the entire province are for INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY, it has been like this for a few months now. Trust me , I check often, I want to move to Alberta really bad!!!

I heard some positions in critical care nursing and other complex areas will open, but for experienced RNs there. I feel bad for Alberta New Grads.....

Stuck On Nursing · Jun 3, 2010

Sorry wrong box.

RPN_2012 · Jun 11, 2010

If the whole "full time permanent job for a new grad" thing is not working out right now, maybe it's worth taking at least a part time position, in a year or two things might get better, plus you'll still be getting experience as a nurse working part-time, so your skills wount become rusty, and it'll will be easier gettign a better job once you have some experience :rolleyes: Also, consider a broader geographic area. For example me, when I'm a new grad RN in Toronto (that's gonna be in 2015) I'll be looking for a full time position, but not only in Toronto, I'm pretty much open to going anywhere in Ontario, and maybe even other parts of Canada, maybe even north.... as far north as Iqaluit if I can for a few years. :eek: :yeah: So broaden you "search criteria" to include part time, other geographical locations, and all kinds of specialties/settings, after all it's not for ever, you'll get something better in a couple of years when things pick up and/or you'll have some experience. Plus if you get a part-time position somewhere, you will be able to apply to those internal job postings. for example if you get a part-time position with the University Health Network, which includes 3 hospital in Toronto (Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital), you might be able to apply to internal job offer in all three hospitals. Part time is not great, but it gets your foot in the door. And another thing, while your looking for work, volunteer, it helps getting your foot in the door as well, and looks good on your resume. Good luck. :)

RPN_2012 · Jun 11, 2010

OMG check this out!

It's a job ad for the UHN, permanent, full time, new grad!!!!!!! :eek: Posted today!!!

UHN: Careers at UHN: Career Search

loriangel14, RN · Jun 11, 2010

If the whole "full time permanent job for a new grad" thing is not working out right now, maybe it's worth taking at least a part time position, in a year or two things might get better, plus you'll still be getting experience as a nurse working part-time, so your skills wount become rusty, and it'll will be easier gettign a better job once you have some experience Also, consider a broader geographic area. For example me, when I'm a new grad RN in Toronto (that's gonna be in 2015) I'll be looking for a full time position, but not only in Toronto, I'm pretty much open to going anywhere in Ontario, and maybe even other parts of Canada, maybe even north.... as far north as Iqaluit if I can for a few years. So broaden you "search criteria" to include part time, other geographical locations, and all kinds of specialties/settings, after all it's not for ever, you'll get something better in a couple of years when things pick up and/or you'll have some experience. Plus if you get a part-time position somewhere, you will be able to apply to those internal job postings. for example if you get a part-time position with the University Health Network, which includes 3 hospital in Toronto (Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital), you might be able to apply to internal job offer in all three hospitals. Part time is not great, but it gets your foot in the door. And another thing, while your looking for work, volunteer, it helps getting your foot in the door as well, and looks good on your resume. Good luck. :)

As a new grad part time is realistically all you would hope to get anywhere.If you are applying for an internal posting, especially in a huge network, jobs are given according to seniority so a new grad would be out of luck. Volunteering is okay but you cannot volunteer in any sort of nursing capacity.

linzz · Jun 11, 2010

post deleted

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 11, 2010

As a new grad part time is realistically all you would hope to get anywhere.If you are applying for an internal posting, especially in a huge network, jobs are given according to seniority so a new grad would be out of luck.

The oppositie is true in Alberta. Part-time positions are highly prized out here and they tend to go to the more senior employees. Having said that, there are only internal positions posted out here right now of any sort, so the point is moot.

Fiona59 · Jun 11, 2010

For PNs any position historically has been taken as a means to get in the door. Casual and the smallest part time postion with hopes to work up the food chain.

The reason the RN part time positions are so highly prized in AB is the double time clause in the contract for OT that is often abused (and face it Jan we all know it happens). I've heard RNs in .5 lines brag that by working their two OT shifts they are making as much as they did when they worked full time. That's what the negotiators are after this round of UNA negotiations.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 11, 2010

The OT clause is relatively new, only since 2007. Historically part-time positions have been awarded to more senior nurses long before that. When I was awarded my 0.7 in 2002 there were a lot of unhappy full-timers who wanted part-time and hadn't been given the opportunity. I don't deny there's abuse of the OT clause, and I have no issue with it going away. But the number of nurses who abuse it aren't in the majority. I know far more part-timers who don't work extra shifts for any amount of oney and I'm one of them. Having said that, there are more issues with OT than simply having part-timers working those shifts... there wouldn't be all thsoe extra hours if we had enough staff.