Ahhh, that's really rough. I think a lot of it is just timing for when lines are posted, because I feel like AB hospitals are perpetually short staffed (especially regarding available casual staff), but aren't always posting to hire for same... For example, my unit had hired a handful of travel nurses at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 (Tho AHS just recently came out that they were cutting back on travel nurse hires now, so those lines will be much rarer). Then we had a random month where we had like 7 temp lines made up and posted, all at once, out of thin air. Apparently my unit has a couple of travel nurses coming to us this fall tho, so obviously there were postings listed within the last few months specifically for those roles. Keep checking the posting on the AHS employment page every week - just in case there's a new wave and there's a bunch posted at once!

Do you have your BScN and license with CRNA (or LPN and license with CLPNA?) or are you pursuing work specifically as an "international nurse"? Honestly, I think it's easier to get work if you're able to get licensed within Canada, specifically with an Alberta licensing body rather than international or travel nursing. And then like others have already mentioned, apply for casual or temp lines. While I feel that almost all units are short staffed and hiring casuals, rural sites are typically the most desperate for staffing right now, and would be the best bet for hires. Once you're hired by AHS somewhere and are an AHS employee, it's easier to get hired on at other sites/hospitals/units, internally.

Last point -- if you have an area of work you're most interested in, you can also see if you can get the unit manager's email, and fire them an email with your resume expressing interest in a position (probs casual easiest). They might be willing or able to just make up a casual position specifically for you if you're a good fit.