Deborah’s Story

Deborah has just arrived in Vancouver, leaving behind Winnipeg’s long, snowy winters for the rain-soaked charm of the West Coast. This is more than a change of scenery; it’s the start of an exciting new chapter in her life and career.

Deborah was born in Nigeria and moved to Canada at 16, stepping into a world of cultural shifts, harsh winters, and the challenge of building a new community from scratch. “It was quite challenging at first,” she recalls, “but after a year, everything started to feel like home.” After moving from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to complete her nursing education in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Deborah faced a challenge familiar to many new graduates: landing a hospital position.

Deborah knew she wanted to specialize as an operating room nurse.  She began researching hospitals in Canada that accepted new grad nurses into operating room positions.  Her search led her to British Columbia, specifically Vancouver Coastal Health.  Deborah was already thinking about moving to Vancouver, attracted by the prospect of a province without a “real” winter.  She initially applied through the Vancouver Coastal Health website for an operating room nurse vacancy, but unfortunately, she did not hear back.  She then decided to look for employment agencies in Vancouver to help in her job search. This led her to Health Match BC, a free recruitment service for healthcare professionals funded by the Government of British Columbia.

Within weeks of registering with Health Match BC, she was connected to opportunities, guided through the licensing process, and supported at every step. Even small hiccups, like an email mix-up that delayed communication, were quickly resolved.  With Health Match BC’s recruitment support, she applied to Vancouver Coastal Health again, and this time was successful in receiving an offer of employment for a training line as an operating room nurse.

Her move to Vancouver came with additional support, a $5,000 relocation allowance to cover flights, accommodation, and other initial expenses. Though she doesn’t know anyone in the city yet, Deborah is full of excitement. “I can’t wait to explore hiking trails, check out local restaurants, and really get to know Vancouver,” she says.

Deborah is ready to hit the ground running. She will spend the next five months in the Regional Preoperative Education Program (RPEP), following which she will begin working as an operating room nurse. But for now, her focus is on embracing new experiences, learning, and growing. Looking back on her journey, Deborah shares advice for other new grads: “Take it one step at a time” and “be open to new opportunities.”