Where the heck are all the jobs?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2014

Here in the US and I hear in Canada as well....There is no nursing shortage right now.

sam89 · Jul 9, 2014

Nurses are not in high demand in Canada right now. Colleges will tell you anything to get your tuition dollars. Your best bet is to keep applying everywhere, and perhaps get someone to look over your resume. Good luck!

itsmejuli · Jul 9, 2014

Did you make a mistake entering this field and believing the hype? Sorry to say the answer is yes. Its a tough time for LPNs and RNs here in Edmonton as well as the rest of Alberta, Canada and the US.

Read these threads for information on what's going on in Alberta. Some are about RNs and some about LPNs but the information is applicable to both.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-in-canada/job-application-alberta-606627.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-in-canada/jobs-in-ab-917132.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-in-canada/alberta-or-manitoba-811254.html here JanFrn clearly explains the goings on in AHS

and here's a thread from 2009 talking about AHS problems

https://allnurses.com/nursing-in-canada/alberta-health-services-394908.html

relaxingbath · Jul 9, 2014

Hi Freddy,

I'm in the same position as you however in Ontario, I've been applying since before my CPRNE in May. I have yet to have any interviews i've lost count of the number of positions which is now 50+ at least. I started being picky choosing just hospitals and areas of interest, I've since expanded my applications to all areas including LTC and family practices. I had a GPA of +90% won several awards first student to be placed in an ER department from my college and not even getting to the interview stage is demoralising.

I've started talking to managers face to face and learning more how difficult it is to get into a hospital environment because of the unions forcing jobs going to internal applicants first making it neigh on impossible to enter as an outsider. I've received positive feed from the managers i've cold called however nothing has arisen.

Have you tried the new grad initiative? I have applied to all of the available positions in my area, many are still open after several months and many have closing dates of September/October. Wish you best of luck with your job search.

Fiona59 · Jul 9, 2014

Alberta doesn't have a new grad initiative like Ontario's.

relaxingbath, your comment on unions is very wrong. Internal applicants will always have preference over outside candidates, even in non-union workforces. Besides as a union nurse with a fair amount of seniority, I can't interviews for MY dream positions, so why should a new grad with no experience or history with the employer get hired over me?

It is very hard to get hired into AHS now. Summers have traditionally been bad because there has been a history of unofficial hiring freezes over the summer months due to staffing issues and vacation coverage.

The OP needs to start looking outside the box. There are many non-profit agencies in the Edmonton area and the CLPNA website posts many vacancies.

relaxingbath · Jul 9, 2014

Hi Fiona, I used "forcing" as too strong a word. The unions are there to protect workers and I can appreciate that those with seniority deserve to get jobs before new grads. There is just frustration about jobs, take today for example I heard back from a RPN position which sounded perfect, I spent time on writing a cover letter tailored to the job used my resume that emphasized the skills they were looking for. I contacted HR and left a message to follow up after the posting had be closed. To the HR departments credit they took the time and effort to reply and told me the incumbent had decided to stay in their position "Sorry about that".

If the government is looking solely at jobs being advertised its no wonder they have added nursing to the skilled worker list for immigration. Most jobs don't make it past internal applicants and those that do are competitive.

Novo · Jul 10, 2014

The trick with AHS is getting in the system before you graduate whether it be nursing attendant or whatever. That way when you apply for an RN/LPN position you're considered an internal applicant and you have hiring priority over others. Even then it's still hard.

I hope it works out.

Freddy614 · Jul 10, 2014

Thank you all so much for the feedback. It's nice to know that there are others in the same boat as me... I did my research and believed the hype......dog-gone-it! I am regretting my choice to be a nurse now because it's hard to be a nurse without a job.....

blissity · Jul 10, 2014

Depends on where and how far you are willing to go to work. There is always full time nursing positions. Don't give up hope just yet!

loriangel14, RN · Jul 10, 2014

[if the government is looking solely at jobs being advertised its no wonder they have added nursing to the skilled worker list for immigration. Most jobs don't make it past internal applicants and those that do are competitive.]

Exactly. People listen to the hype and insist that according to their "sources" there are lots of nursing jobs. When people that actually know what is going on ( like the nurses actually working in the field) try to explain that there really aren't any jobs we get called rude names and accused of being negative and trying to ruin people's dreams.

loriangel14, RN · Jul 10, 2014

Depends on where and how far you are willing to go to work. There is always full time nursing positions. Don't give up hope just yet!

Not unless you have years of seniority. Full time goes to the ones that have workede for it.