What is nursing like in Toronto?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 10, 2017

You can find info about pay and benefits here: Hospital Central Collective Agreement. Not all hospitals are members of the Ontario Nurses' Association, but the collective agreement framework is a guide. If you're a new nurse, you'll start at the bottom of the wage scale; vacation entitlement is based partly on FTE and partly on years of service. Shift differentials are currently $2.25/hr for evenings, $2.65 /hr for nights and $2.80/hr for weekends (2400 Friday to 2400 Sunday).

This info is readily available. Just as available are lots of complaints from people having a very hard time finding work in the GTA... new grads and nurses with years of experience alike. That part would make me a lot more anxious than the number of weeks of vacation I might be awarded.

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2017

The job market in Toronto is saturated with applicants, it can take applicants >8 months to obtain a casual position and years to obtain a full time position. Most of Ontario nurses who work in hospitals and rehab centres and many who work in long term care (LTC) are unionized under the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA). Nurses under ONA are subject to the same pay scale, the same shift and weekend premiums and only full time nurses have vacation entitlement, the part time and casual nurses receive vacation pay in lieu (google the ONA collective agreement to see this information).

RGNonthemove · Jun 10, 2017

That's sad. I was very hopeful about this move, but I feel discouraged now. I guess my situation in the UK was far better. I had job security because there is an abundance of nursing jobs and we get 7 weeks of annual paid vacation too. I don't want to think of my move to Canada as a mistake, but it has been tough just to get licensed. If there are no jobs then I gave up a good life for nothing.

Fiona59 · Jun 10, 2017

That's sad. I was very hopeful about this move, but I feel discouraged now. I guess my situation in the UK was far better. I had job security because there is an abundance of nursing jobs and we get 7 weeks of annual paid vacation too. I don't want to think of my move to Canada as a mistake, but it has been tough just to get licensed. If there are no jobs then I gave up a good life for nothing.

I thought you were planning a move, not here already.

The differences between Canadian and U working conditions have been discussed on line for years.

And remember it was your choice to "gave up a good life for nothing". Perhaps, if it really is so bad here, you could return to the UK and pick up where you left off?

RGNonthemove · Jun 10, 2017

I'm currently in Alberta, planning to move to Toronto. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

And yes, I know it was my choice and that is why I feel sad. I didn't know how saturated the market is. A lot of websites talk about shortages. Maybe I looked at the wrong ones.

I never said it was "bad here." There are many factors to consider before making that judgement about a country. I was merely talking about nursing jobs and my decision to give up a life with a secure job only to find there is nothing here.

If it were that easy, I would have moved back, but I left the UK without applying for permanent residency (again, another mistake).

RGNonthemove · Jun 10, 2017

Thanks for the link. That is super helpful!

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2017

It is confusing when some of the websites (for example Healthforce Ontario) give the impression that there is currently a shortage. Also, even if people are well prepared ahead time, culture shock is a normal part of being in a place that is distant from their usual comfort zone. Most IENS go through some degree of culture shock, (even Canadian educated nurses who move between provinces go through a mild amount of it). There is a lot of information on the phases of culture shock (honeymoon, culture shock, recovery, adjustment and acceptance) and there are strategies to deal with it and promote your own emotional well being. Try to have patience when you have moments of doubt, things will work out in the end.

dayandnight · Jun 11, 2017

Thanks for the link. That is super helpful!

we are short of nurses in BC except for the city of Vancouver, if you're ever interested in moving here.. especially for Emergency and specialty nursing.... Healthmatch BC is a government funded website that helps recruitment of healthcare professionals to BC. Take a look on their website. They do accept foreign specialty nursing experiences in BC but once they hire you, you have to take their specialty nursing education regardless of your previous experiences while working. (it will be funded and paid for by the hospital.) It might take a few months or more to get hired but once you get hired in a hospital in BC, you're good for shifts. As per benefits and such, I don't know if it will be better than the UK. My friends in Australia tells me about their benefits, differentials and working conditions and it's way better there.

If you are interested in working as a nurse here, do not go into a saturated area with less job opportunities.... Try other provinces.

RGNonthemove · Jun 11, 2017

I can try to get my credentials assessed in BC. I am an IEN so I don't know if they'll require me to do a bridging course there. Unfortunately, I can't afford working part time and paying for a bridging course at the moment. Alberta required me to do a bridging course, but Ontario didnt and that's why I decided to move to Ontario.

In what way are working conditions better in Australia? I might consider moving there if I don't get a full time job here.

I enjoyed working in the UK because there is an abundance of jobs and they are super generous with holidays. My husband is settled in Canada however so I didn't really have much choice but to move.

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2017

If you have a driver's license and a car, you may be able to obtain a community nursing job with one of the agencies in Toronto such as; Paramed, Bayshore, SRT, VHA.

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2017

Does your husband have a job in Toronto? If so, just stay the course with your plans to move to Toronto, it doesn't make sense financially for you to move to BC if neither of you have a job offer there.