Alberta’s Nursing Job Crisis: A Call from New Grads

Calgary’s healthcare system is facing a perplexing challenge: new nursing graduates are struggling to secure positions, even as our emergency rooms overflow and staff burnout is a growing concern. This isn't just a systemic issue for Alberta; it directly impacts Calgarians feeling the strain.

Despite graduating into a profession in high demand, many new nurses report significant difficulty finding work, with some receiving no callbacks after numerous applications. This stark reality unfolds while Calgary’s ERs grapple with severe pressure. In 2024, the median emergency room stay in Calgary was 4 hours and 42 minutes, and some facilities have seen wait times exceeding eight hours as recently as late October 2025. Internal AHS data from October 2025 shows Calgary's South Health Campus operating at 113% capacity, and Rockyview General at 105%, leading to patients reportedly being treated in hallways.

The irony is sharp. Calgary’s population saw an extraordinary surge, adding 95,784 people in 2023, and another 69,000 by April 2024, which strains public services, including healthcare infrastructure. Healthcare workers, including nurses, are already described as demoralized and exhausted due to high patient-to-staff ratios. A 2024 report highlighted a significant retention problem, noting that nearly half of young nurses in Alberta (under 35) leave the profession within five years.

While Alberta Health Services actively recruits, and the United Nurses of Alberta negotiated an agreement in October 2024 to hire 1,000 new graduate nurses annually, the job market for specific graduate nurse positions appears limited. As of September 2025, Job Bank Canada listed only 10 such roles province-wide, with just one in the Calgary region. This disconnect underscores deep-seated systemic issues within a healthcare system that desperately needs its newest professionals, leaving local graduates concerned about their future and Calgarians facing persistent wait times.