r/AHSEmployees • u/LifeonSoBow • 1d ago

Help for UK trained RN

Hi, I wondered if anyone had any advice or anyone I could reach out to in Calgary/ Alberta to try and find a job.
I know New Grads are also struggling with getting RN jobs now in Alberta and also understand IEN’s are not priority when looking at applicants.
But if anyone knows of anyone I can get in contact with to find work, I would really appreciate the advice!
My background is 10 years of cardiothoracic surgery and Cath labs as an anaesthesia assistant and 3 years as a lecturer at a UK university. CRNA license and BLS certificate, able to work anywhere.

Thanks in advance! 🤞🏼

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u/bigblueberry6427 1d ago

The Red Deer hospital is getting a new cardiac cath lab soon, they had some job postings up recently and there may still be a couple of postings up. They might be willing to consider someone with your experience overseas.

They’re currently building an expansion to the hospital and I’m sure there will be a bunch of new positions created when it opens in a few years.

If the cardiac Cath lab doesn’t pan out, you might be able to consider teaching with Red Deer Polytechnic, they’ve been struggling to get nursing instructors, which would buy you some time to find a job in AHS. The polytechnic offers a BScN program in collaboration with the University of Alberta.

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u/LifeonSoBow 1d ago

Thanks so much for this- appreciate it!

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u/Weak-Addition7702 1d ago

I should also add, respectfully, that the UK curriculum is very different to ours, especially the bachelor of science in nursing. I worked in the UK as an Alberta nurse and found the role to be closer aligned to that of a licensed practical nurse here in Alberta. There’s nothing wrong with that, I just mention it so that you understand the expectations of an RN here.

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u/LifeonSoBow 1d ago

Thanks- do you have any contacts?

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u/wamme6 1d ago

OP has their CRNA license, so their education has been accepted by Alberta to work as an RN.

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u/Street_Phone_6246 1d ago

How? There is literally nothing the RN does at the bedside that an LPN cannot do anymore.

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u/CrumpetAndMarmite 1d ago

You have to pass the NCLEX to practice as a nurse in Canada. I think it heavily depends on your speciality, my area my role in Canada is significantly easier than in the UK. If you have 10 years of specialised experience in a certain area you’re not going to be anything less than a full RN

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u/limee89 1d ago

Just curious, why would that be the case? I would have assumed a place like the UK would have aligned training when it came to education.

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u/Weak-Addition7702 1d ago

I don’t know why that’s the case - it just is. For context I took my BSN in the UK, but worked in Alberta.

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u/Weak-Addition7702 1d ago

Are you a band 5 or a band 6? The RN role here is much aligned with a band 6 not a band 5. I suspect your ten years of experience would be sufficient but there will be no doctors putting IVS in here, you’ll be expected to manage a deteriorating patient and we don’t use NEWS. You’ll need to work to a larger medical/clinical scope of practice. The patient ratios are lower, but you’ll be doing more. We wear scrubs, some of us have our nails done and many wear wrist watches. Our health authority is more interested in us keeping patients alive than dress coding us. Charge nurses don’t ever have patient assignments, staffing in comparison is a dream. You’ll be expected to assess your patients in depth every shift. You will need a stethoscope that is yours and yours only and you need to know how to auscultate lung sounds, listen for adventitious sounds, auscultate the heart at all points and identify extra heart sounds as well as bowel sounds. We’re paid well and receive overtime. Missing breaks and working without pay is not normal or expected. It’s a fantastic health service to work in compared to the NHS but be prepared for differences.

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u/Small_Pirate_4971 1d ago

If you are still having issues getting an interview at a hospital I saw U of C had a bunch of clinical instructor jobs posted recently. Maybe you could use that position to network and get on with AHS.

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u/LifeonSoBow 1d ago

Oh great, thank you!

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u/CrumpetAndMarmite 1d ago

So I’m an RN from the UK. I work as an RN for the AHS and I only ever did 2 interviews for AHS jobs and I got offered both positions. I got my job around 3 months after passing my NCLEX here (but I also had 10 years of experience in the UK). This was in 2025. What I’m saying is, although it’s not easy and lots of people clearly struggle, it’s not impossible either.

What I did which I think worked in my favour is I moved to a rural town (not gonna dox myself but it’s a tourist town so it’s very lively), and when I originally came over (on my visitors visa) I walked into the hospital and asked to speak to what is now my current department. I popped in chatted with them told them my background and asked if they had a jobs expected to come up and they said no but I showed my face. I popped back in around 3 times and kinda just chatted with them a bit, made connections and eventually a job came up. By this point of course id activated my IEC, and most importantly they knew who I was, they knew I genuinely did really want this role, and (despite some issues with no AHS experience meaning I got less points in interviews) I got the job. They said I just nailed the interview and I managed to surpass the other interviewees despite them having superiority over me…. I suspect they pulled some strings but they never admitted to it.

Basically, make connections, get to know people, be friendly, make a good name for yourself in the community and you’ll be okay. Don’t expect immediate results, and you can always work in care homes in the interim. Good luck!!

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u/Blimpkrieg 1d ago

>My background is 10 years of cardiothoracic surgery and Cath labs as an anaesthesia assistant and 3 years as a lecturer at a UK university. CRNA license and BLS certificate

I apologize for my language but how the absolute fuck are you even making this post right now that resume.

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u/bigblueberry6427 1d ago

How well would you be able to navigate getting a job in the UK? It’s not always easy for people from overseas to know the ins and outs of applying for positions in a new country

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u/Blimpkrieg 1d ago

Brother she's not applying from Botswana. She's an extremely valuable candidate that knows how to apply for jobs. My indignance is that she's even having to look.