By Brandon Miller
Monster Contributing Writer
When I think 'nurse', I think hospital. Perhaps it’s all of the pop culture nurses I’ve seen slaving away in Emergency Departments and various hospital wards throughout the years (think ER or the current hit Mercy).
But did you know that there is a booming area where nurses are in high demand outside of hospitals? Nurses are needed for long-term care and retirement residences. Since Canada has an aging population and a fair amount of senior citizens with impressive nest-eggs, this particular field offers ample nursing opportunities with financial perks as well as lifestyle perks.
Nursing Opportunities Based on Specialty
The more specialized you are, the more employment positions abound. Comcare Health Services, which operates in five Canadian provinces, offers a plethora of opportunities for Community Health Nurses. The company currently employs over 1,000 nurses across the country. Hiring is geared toward those who specialize in any of the following: Pediatric & Maternal/Newborn Care, Diabetes Care, Wound & Ostomy Management, Respiratory Care, Palliative Care, Respite Care, Home Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Mental Health Care and Foot Care.
A nurse’s responsibilities at Comcare vary depending on his or her specialty. A nurse working in Wound & Ostomy Management, for example, would be trained to deal with different types of wounds including ulcers, incisions, burns and skin grafts. A nurse working in Home Intravenous Care, on the other hand, would be responsible for hydration and nutritional therapy and medication delivery, including chemotherapy, antibiotics and/or pain medications.
Public Sector Retirement Housing
More than 200 of Revera’s 245 retirement and long-term care homes are situated in Canada (with the others being in the United States). Currently, locations are set up in various cities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. A fully owned subsidiary of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP IB), Revera is the go-to retirement care for retirees coming from the federal Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Reserve Force, all of whom have pensions managed by the PSP IB. Revera has worked in retirement care for more than 45 years, currently offering a total resident capacity of over 26,500 and a whopping roster of 26,000 employees.
Revera’s job boards are flush with employment opportunities for Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), as well as roles for numerous assistant and administrative health care workers. There exists nurse work in home health care, post-acute care and rehabilitation, convalescent and transitional care, long-term care and in retirement residences.
A Growing Industry
A newer company, founded in 2003, Chartwell has already expanded to owning and operating more than 240 locations across Canada and the United States. In Canada alone, the company employs nearly 12,000 people in their residences and homes, with 1,800 of them being nurses.
Chartwell looks for professional health care providers, including Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). According to the company’s Web site, RNs are responsible for, “ensuring that the nursing care routines are followed, providing direction to all personal care staff, and orienting new staff.” In addition to monitoring and evaluating the quality of nursing care being administered, RNs also administer medications and treatment.
RPN and LPN positions at Chartwell are also available. These
nursing positions offer opportunities to supervise the personal care staff, oversee medication and treatments, assist with nursing care routines and administer basic wound care.
Non-Profit Homes Exist Too
Since 1897, Victorian Order of Nurses, or VON Canada, has offered generalized and specialized nursing services in their homes. Some specializations they look for include Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Occupational Health Nurses, Mental Health Nurses, Psycho-geriatric Nurses, and Palliative Care Nurses. In the general category, the organization seeks to hire RNs and RPNs that want to work among the 13,000 staff and volunteers at VON’s 52 sites.
Three reasons to work in long-term care:
- Flexibility. The hours are less hectic than a hospital.
- Less stress. Forget the hustle and bustle. It’s not for everyone.
- Part-time opportunities. Perfect for parents with young children or those looking for semi-retirement.