Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Hard to believe, but the Government of Alberta now believes there is a surplus of nurses in Alberta, and that there will be hardly any need to recruit foreign-trained nurses. See news story in the Edmonton Journal today.

This would explain why all the nursing jobs disappeared from the Capital Health Region website last week.

If you are currently being recruited to nurse in AB, you might want to make some enquiries.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Oh dear:( What's going to happen to Alberta bound nurses then?:ohmy:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Too many nurses, is there such a thing?

Good heavens, if Canada doesn't want them then send them to Australia. We have chipmunks over here working in our hospitals because of the mass skill shortages :( Don't even get me started on the lack of Doctors!!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

I think it may have more do do with the fact that they CAN use more Nurses, they just don't want to pay them...hence the announcement....:blink:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

There were noises on the radio a couple of weeks ago about some of the smaller hospitals being closed - not sure how true the report is. Hasn't all the health regions changed to just one? Alberta Health???

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

I can only speak for the two hospital I have been in touch with, but there is a current ban on all external applicants, be them from Alberta or not. Unless you are currently already working in the hospital, there is little to no chance of getting a permanent/full time position. I am currently waiting to hear if they will take me on a casual basis or its off to IKEA to hand in my application form!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

The was a report on CBC radio a couple of weeks ago that Canada is short 60,000 nurses.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

We can't even hire casual staff unless they are already on the books .... if that sounds a little odd, I (for instance), hope to be offered casual work when my temporary contract finishes next month. I had hoped to be offered one of two permanent postions, but as you say, there is an almost total freeze on right now. My managers say they are going to do all that they can to hang on to me, but I have already started looking out for alternatives.....

As to a surplus, not sure what the figures are for nurses, but we are 20% below fully staffed as physios..... the whole thing's becoming scary as well as ridiculous! :thumbdown:


One BIG thing is that we are expecting an announcement next week from the new head, Dr S.D., that he wants to abandon site and departmental management, and go for program management. The first big effect of this will be that ALL our physio managers are likely to lose their jobs as programs are most likely to be managed by current nursing managers.
All other hirings etc are supposed to be "budget neutral" hence no external hirings!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

OK, whats your background? Can you manage till July when there may be something? Looking for 9-5 work? PM me and I may be able to help

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

yeah this is really indeed hard to beleive! unheard of! BTW, in Montreal there is still room. I would imagine one would need to be fluent/functional in french though.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

I just checked the jobs available through Alberta Health Services .... there are a total of Eight (8!) jobs advertised for the whole of Alberta .... when you consider that at any one time the jobs in Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, alone are in three figures normally. :blink:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

We was informed at our staff meeting that all job applications have to be agreed and signed off at VP level, prob why there are only 8 positions now. I had an interview for a permanent position with the team I'm at now and I have to wait until the post has been signed off until I hear if I got the job.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

That's right, and did they also tell you that out of over one thousand posts that have been sent up for approval, only one has returned? :blink:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Oh well, at least at IKEA I'll hopefully get a discount that will help with the new house. (although with no job the rent might be interesting!!!) Better get filling in my application form!!!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

I wondered where all the jobs disapeared to! One day there was tons of psychology and mental health clinican jobs to sift through, the the next there was none! Looks like I'll be working in Tim Hortons then! My mum will be pleased that her money to put me through my masters went to good use! :unsure:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

If anyone is interested in moving to Regina - there are jobs in just about every medical field:

http://www.rqhealth.ca/diy_jobs/view.cgi?cmd=roots

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

.....my wife sent her resume to a medical clinic last week that were asking for a part-time RN and has been called for an interview. She has permission from CARNA to work as a grad nurse while working towards her CRNE. Does anyone know what rate of pay she should be aiming for as we presume medical clinics can offer what they want.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Apparently the jobs are about to be re-posted again soon - most were approved by "Duck-it" it seems! Oh, & there is now NOT a surplus of nurses - that was a figment of some politicians imagination I guess! Ha ha ha!

As a Grad nurse wages will be somewhere from $25-35 per hr depending on your number of years experience - you can check wages out using the UNA collective agreement - I'm sure there's an on-line copy via their website. I think most clinics do follow the UNA wages.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Some more recent nursing-related newspaper rumours here:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/...550/story.html

Make of it what you will, although there are big changes afoot within the new Alberta Health Services body.....perhaps they are just trying to get all their ducks in a row with the new guy.....I'm currently temping in a section that has been newly merged into this superboard. All the admin jobs are disappearing and being left to temps because they haven't got their act together transferring staff and there are restructures being made left, right and centre. Its a nightmare for me as I have to keep the bl**dy telephone list up to date!!! I can't even order a pack of pens without clearance from those on high these days <sigh>!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Thanks RN1. Found the hourly rates at http://www.una.ab.ca/collectiveagree...rsingsalaries/.

A few jobs are starting to be advertised again, but I think they're only open to internal candidates.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

You're welcome.

I suspect it won't be too long befiore things are on the up again - it usually goes in cycles!!

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

what is the job situation for Phlebotomists in canada? do the nurses do that job aswell?

just wondering as that is what i do in the uk.. and were moving over to lethbridge in next few months.. partner is already working there!

thanks

lisa x x :D

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

I know of at least one Phlebotomist at the Foothills in Calgary but I'm not sure if all those who come around and take blood in the hospital are Phlebotomists.

Any time I have spent time as an in-patient nurses have not taken blood.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Here in BC they are called Medical. Lab Assistants, probably a similiar name in Alberta. The pay isn't horrible from my research for BC, but one wont get rich doing it.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Well VP has been very busy approving jobs. I had news on Tues that the post I applied for has been approved so I now have a permanent position with AHS instead of the temp ones since I landed here.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Congratulations. Really pleased for you. :)

Eamonn & Janet.

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

Well done you. :thumbsup:

Re: Too many nurses in Alberta
 

congratulations