Unemployed and feel like whining?!

sunship88 · Mar 10, 2014

Can anyone share their knowledge on the job situation for RNs in Fort McMurray? I know it must be easier than Calgary/Edmonton to find work but reading this thread has freaked me out a little! I always assumed they really needed nurses up there. My boyfriend works there and down the road I may consider relocating to work for a year or two. I'm a BC RN with one year experience in med-surg (I also enjoy mental health/addictions/public health). Thanks!

Fiona59 · Mar 10, 2014

Check out the AHS website.

itsmejuli · Mar 11, 2014

According to the gov job report most of the 18,800 jobs created in Alberta in February were in mining and oil and gas.

I took a look at NAIT's job placement rates for new grads. It's all good for skilled trades.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 11, 2014

I hope they don't get rid of the seniority rule.... that doesn't sound nice at all. For an employee to work for the same company for years and not have some sort of 'safety' in keeping their job is just not nice - there is already too much job insecurity in health care as it is

Does that sound like something any public service union would allow to slip by them? In negotiations there are always things that each side comes to the table knowing will be throw-aways - concessions - to keep discussion flowing. Looking at each side's proposals, those with a few rounds of collective bargaining in their rear view mirrors can usually pick them out with a reasonable degree of confidence. We can also pick out the things that are likely to draw blood and this is one of them. There are several highly offensive proposals coming from AHS this time around that combined would be the thin edge of the wedge in destroying collective bargaining in this province. This is why UNA is soft-pedaling negotiations... we've been without a contract for 49 weeks already and all that has happened in bargaining is a few minor language changes. By keeping our collective heads and letting time pass, we're really losing nothing.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2014

That's right. UNA has always beenn very active. They have no intention of allowing takeaways or rollbacks. We'll just sit without a contract for even longer, which is still the best alternative.

Re: Ft Mac, not much has been posted up there either, and the positions are still going internal first. Anyone working with AHS, Covenant Health, or a recent grad who has worked on a unit will have preference over Out of Province applicants.

Unless you have solid experience in OR, ICU, Emerg, or you don't mind the rural towns, I would not come to Alberta. All those postings are going internal first.

aywl · Mar 13, 2014

In the unit I am working for (AHS), when they hire new employee, for years the management hire new grad instead of higher seniority nurse.

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The proposed changes to the UNA collective agreement offered up by the AHS negotiating team wants to eliminate the internal-applicant-with-the-most-experience-and-seniority-goes-first clause completely. There's a school of thought that the reason behind it is to allow for the return of the old girls network and to allow the importation of "cheaper" labour.

Fiona59 · Mar 13, 2014

In the unit I am working for (AHS), when they hire new employee, for years the management hire new grad instead of higher seniority nurse.
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My manager has been doing this as a savings measure. It shows.

Why UNA hasn't made a stink, I really don't know. She hasn't tried it with the LPNs for some reason known only to herself.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 13, 2014

When that has happened on our unit there have been grievances filed as soon as the more senior person finds out. I'm kinda surprised that there haven't been more. But let's not forget that all the hours new grads have put in as UNEs count in the seniority thing. So a new grad with 3 years of say, 0.4 FTE averaged per year will graduate with 1.2 years of seniority where someone who didn't work as a UNE but has worked for AHS for 13 months will lose the draw.

sunship88 · Mar 13, 2014

Thanks for the info! Good to know

M3BWN · Mar 14, 2014

I have another interview coming up, hopefully it's far enough out of the city that I'll have a chance!!!

Now, when they ask you if you want full time or part time what are they looking for? (And I have only ever been interviewed for casual postings). I imagine that they don't really want to hear "I'll take ANYTHING I can get!!"?? It looks like out here you would have to work your way up to full time in seniority (this took me a few years in BC to do), and from what I have heard full time is pretty hard to get.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2014

Congrats and good luck with the interview. Go with the flow and just tell them you're flexible. This also means nights, holidays, weekends.

Many people will tell the interviewer they're flexible, but when they start work it's the opposite. Not implying this is you, but I have noticed this many times.

Fiona59 · Mar 14, 2014

Like Joanna said be honest. Full time or part time? How long a commute? 12 or 8 hour shifts? What do the rotations look like?

These are all things to consider and how it will affect the ret of your life.

And please don't say you'll do any shift, complete all the buddy shifts and then say days only please. My unit has huge issues with this and are constantly short of evening and night staff.

We don't expect our casuals to pick up all the undesirable shifts, just play fair.