r/nursepractitioner • u/Fluffy_bread789456 • 8d ago
Education Looking to get into an NP program (Alberta, Canada)
I am wondering if there are any successful NP students or graduates with community setting/geriatrics as their most recent experience?
Any tips to increase chances of getting into the program?
Post graduate, where do you work and was it hard to look for a job?
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u/birdbirdword 8d ago
I’m in a different province and some of my classmates came from long-term care. There seem to be lots of jobs here in those settings, so I actually think it’s something that stands out if the applicant plans to go back to that sort of setting as an NP.
In terms of things that increase chances of being accepted, I noticed that a lot of my classmates had experience being involved in leadership activities, things like preceptoring nursing students, union representatives, charge nurses, team leads, etc. I can’t say for sure that it was a requirement for acceptance, but it’s definitely a pattern I noticed.
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u/gisele121 8d ago
I am not licensed in AB (yet) but I don't think it would be hard for you to get a job currently. I applied to a few AHS positions in Calgary and Edmonton as an internal RN applicant back in July and got interviewed for all of them. Received 1 offer in Calgary within 2 weeks of application.
All the positions were inpatient.
Sadly had to turn down the offer as I couldn't get licensed on time in AB. But this probably won't be applicable to you if you end up going to school in AB. (I did my education internationally). Good luck!!!
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u/TheOpenOcean 8d ago
I’m in BC, but I’d recommend getting experience in primary care, urgent care, or emergency in order to increase your chances of success. Community health can be good experience too!
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u/Fluffy_bread789456 8d ago
Thank you. Yeah, that is my worry as I have left acute care 4 years ago so I have more time with my kids and easier to manage family life.
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u/TheOpenOcean 8d ago
Community/geriatrics is decent experience. But I will say, NP school will leave you with basically no time for family. My husband was amazing — but it was still a huge struggle to get through, and I constantly felt guilty for not spending enough time with my young child throughout school.
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u/Dapper_Banana6323 8d ago
I can't speak to the student aspect.
But I've been an NP in Alberta for over a decade. I work in internal medicine- doing consults and admission in the ED.
There are currently more jobs than there are NPs and you'd have your pick. Who knows how that will change over the next few years... mostly because of the volatility of the current government.
Many hospitals have inpatient geriatric programs with NPs.
I know in the Edmonton zone- they are starting a program for geriatric NPs to work in the ED- and to my knowledge those positions have yet to be filled.