I am a recently graduated RN, i passed my exam on Feb 2011 and i am looking for a job ever since. I am applying to each and every hospital in and out of Toronto. no one has called me yet. moreover, reviewing the positions it seems that no one will ever hire a new grad since all the positions require at least 2-3, sometimes more years of experience in the same field, 300 different certificates, and other qualification that obviously a new grad does not have.
In addition to that, i have heard a rumor about RN"s being replaced by RPN's , and that in a few years hospitals will no longer hire RN's, and that the later will be placed in administration positions only.
So i have 2 questions which i will be happy to get an answer for:
1. how can a new grad find a job, and where?
2. Is that rumor mentioned above true? can someone confirm this?
Alberta does have a very wide scope for LPNs, but at my hospital in BC, there are still by far more RNs in acute care and always, always more RN job postings than LPN job postings in acute care.
I don't think that LPNs will every completely replace RNs in acute care.
At this point I would take any position.... but nothing is available unless you have million years of experience and 10000 certificates..:)
Apply even without the experience. Just say in your cover letter that you are a fast learner, etc and highlight what you bring to the table (i.e. experience from other jobs that can translate to nursing, such as customer service experience, multitasking, etc). Job postings are usually laying out what the "dream" candidate is. That doesn't mean, however, that they will ONLY hire someone with everything they are "asking" for. For some things, yes, you may need other certifications, such as ACLS if you're in an ICU or something, or an oncology nursing certificicate if you want to be in that area. For other jobs, the lack of a certificate may not be a deal breaker. Apply. Even if you don't think you are qualified. Who knows, maybe you could get a job out of it!
Ontario, more so than many Provinces has a staggering amount of debt. Yes, its bad everywhere, but Ontario is one of the worst at the moment. Just keep applying. I moved to AB from TO earlier this year, as did a few of my classmates for this reason. Few RN jobs there. Not sure if relocation is an option? I won't even bother to renew my ON license. Keep an open mind and take whatever comes along for now.
An open mind. That's a big part of the problem with new grads. They don't want to work LTC, sub-acute or rehab. The dirty, hard nursing jobs are always hiring. Casual is better than unemployed, especially when those loan payments start coming due. Two or three casual jobs will keep you afloat and build your skills. This year's grads are coming out at a bad time. The bubble has burst. Guaranteed jobs are a thing of the past.
Heard about a summer student nurse this week in my hospital. (We hire university students over the summer and buddy them up with LPNs and RNs to show them the ropes, etc). The unit she had wanted to go to decided they didn't need a summer student. A big part of the problem was she wants Monday to Friday, day shift only. The units that are willing to take her work 24/7 and expect students to work the unit hours. Last we heard, she was deciding if she wanted a summer job. Oh, and she was the only student nurse who came to the first day in street clothes. The morning is spent on paperwork, the afternoon on your unit learning where things are and the staff faces.
That's just ridiculous, but not surprising Fiona. When I used to hire and train people for Concierge (I worked in hotel mgmt previously), it was the same nonsense. No night shift, Mon to Fri only. Give me a break! Sorry, but it's 24 hours. Or you'd hire these people, and they had a bunch of requests for time off.
Many of the grads still don't get it. Take a job. ANY job in your field to build experience. Or be unemployed.
I really don't know what are you talking about. I am not being picky, I am applying for any job available in and out of Toronto, so I really doubted that the problem is in My "work preference"...
A lot of nurses turn their noses up at long term care (not saying YOU are doing this, just saying a lot do), thinking they will "loose thier skills". Long Term Care places usually are hiring, as are home health agencies.
Ellab
32 Posts
At this point I would take any position.... but nothing is available unless you have million years of experience and 10000 certificates..:)