A Little advice needed!!!!

[Jossie]

Hello everyone and a Happy New Year sent to all!!!

It has been a while since I have been on the forum, mainly due to us settling into our new home in Canada....... so now that we are settled it is time for me to return to the land of "work for a living" I have gained employment (casual hours, not because I am a lazy so and so....more to do with three children, no child care and husband has to travel with his work) in the local hospital, which at first i was really happy with until today when i recieved a copy of my contract which states that I will be paid as a first level nurse!!! I have been qualified for 7 years and worked with in the NHS for 10 years is this right!!! do we not get any credit for the years worked, all the experience and skills we have already accumalated, has anyone else found this or does anyone have any advice. It just felt like a big kick in the teeth kinda speaking!!! it is hard enough starting in a new country, with a new life but to have start my career again as a first level nurse just seemed to hurt a little to much!!! I am not getting any younger by the time i hit top pay scale I am going to be ready to claim my retirement!!! All advice very welcome.

[TazziRN, RN]

This is just a point of view, not necessarily my opinion, okay?

You have several years of experience, yes, but you are new to Canadian nursing. While the basics of nursing are the same all over, might there be enough differences that this warrants starting as a new nurse?

[AirforceRN, RN]

First of all...welcome to Canada...and to BC, its a nice place and I hope you enjoy it. I'm going to have to agree with Tazzi on this one. Not all countries are equal when it comes to nursing and allowing one country's nurses to gain senority while denying the same privledge to another country's would be unfair. I think (and this my opinion) that Canada decided instead to start everyone on a level playing field. I agree that it may be a kick in the teeth, especially when coming from a country with such a respected nursing history however that is the way it is. I hope you decide to stick with it and and I wish you luck on your new life in the Great White North.

[DG5]

Same thing happened to me and I had worked in Canada for a few years before coming back and re-entering nursing again. Its just the way the provincial contract is set out, but once you are in the system it is really nice to know that there is a Union backing you up. It doesn't take too long to see meaningful increases to your pay once you start working and find there are all sorts of things worked into our contracts to benefit you pay wise ie: statutory holiday pay, overtime pay, shift differentials, in charge pay etc. It would be worthwhile to read your contract and talk to as many nurses as you can about things you can do to make it work for you. Good luck!