Ontario RPNs and Unions

[villers]

Is anyone else frustrated with the way unions are handling RPNs? The pay difference between the RPN and RN has greatly increased (It used to be $5.00) The RPN's scope of practice has increased tremendously however, the RN's are now making an astonishing $14.00 per hour more. ITS NOT THE EDUCATION LEVEL, RPN's are now educated with a two year diploma as are 80% of RN's in Ontario - so what's up with the exorbitant pay difference?

Is anyone out there lobbying this outrage - I'm sick of unions telling us thatwe are "cost effective" - CHEAP LABOUR with 80% of the skills of an RN.

villers

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

Cool, thanks for the response! Since my program goes straight through the summer...that makes the program even shorter (1yr 4mo)!

[ajaxgirl]

I hear ya!! I think that it is disgraceful that they increased the education requirements for an RPN but neglected to give RPNs a raise. But what can we do?

They increased the education level to BScN in Ontario and no raise for that either. That's life.

[pinkfish333]

I think that is the way of the future.. I see many places hiring RPNs instead of RNs because its cheaper and can perform the same job. I have both an RN and RPN license and Im gonna hang on to my RPN license like its gold, because I think more and more in the future the RPN jobs will be more stable. I even see RNs getting laid off in some settings.