Where would you go?

From what I've heard there are more opportunities in Manitoba than Saskatchewan at present and that recent BC RN grads are working all over the prairies. A friend who graduated in AB in Dec 2012 got a job quite quickly in Winnipeg.

In Calgary it seems like AHS wants a higher percentage of casuals. There are shifts available but few lines.

When I emailed Health Match BC they told me to get my BC license first, then apply directly to the facilities I wanted to work at. But it's expensive to pre apply for licensure without a good idea of whether you will be able to get a job first.

It would be very difficult to get a job in the US without experience. You would definitely want to work in Canada for a couple of years before trying to enter the competitive US nursing job market. You can read plenty about it in the US section of the allnurses forum.

Good luck!

Thanks for your input! I am really considering re-locating. I haven't considered Manitoba, will look into it.

I will be a newly graduated RN from a University in AB this December. I've been lurking on these forums long enough to realize my best opportunities will be rural at this present time, and have set up my final practicum to be at an awesome rural facility that I would love to work at after. If this doesn't pan out, where would you, as a Canadian nurse be going? I was thinking SK as a practical plan B, but my heart wishes for BC (are job opportunities still worse there than AB?) or thinking NCLEX...

I do not support the workforce transformation and will not be employed under those conditions.

Thank You

What exactly are your objections to the workforce transformation plan? It was implemented in my hospital and so far no disasters.

Have you reached your conclusions based on the information provided solely by UNA? Have you worked in the healthcare system as a paid employee or only as a student?

Other provinces have similar systems in effect. You may be hard pressed to find an employer that you will be willing to work for.

Yes I have real paid working experience on a unit where the transformation isn't going well. As a student you take what you can get, I'm definitely not a complainer and can pull my weight. My issues are with the staffing numbers VS patient acuity (acuity, not load, it's a given that 4 is a minimum) It's good to know it's not that bad everywhere though. But I will not stay on as a casual where I am currently.

And yes, everyone on the unit has the same problem and concerns. Sad to see such low morale and burnt out nurses!!