Grad Initiative wages

[EdmontonAB]

I'm wondering how much is the wage in the grad initiative programs. All I can find is "sector appropriate" does this mean that it is the pay at the first step on the pay scale or is it less. Also do you still get the weekend/ shift premiums? I'm in Edmonton, AB if that makes any difference.

Thanks

[MellaBella]

Hi Edmonton,

In the New Graduate Guarantee that we have here in Ontario, the wage for a new grad in the initiative is 26.75 on a temporary license. Once you pass the CRNE and achieve "General Class" status, you will be bumped up to 28.50. That's here in ON, I'm not too sure about Alberta. I'm sure that it would be the same concept though, just a different wage. You can check on the ONA website for the wage for a new grad in Alberta though>> http://ona.org/faq#f14.

Hope that helps,

Mella

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

In Alberta the Transitional Graduate Nurse Program is completely described in the United Nurses of Alberta collective agreement on pages 146- 148. Graduate nurses (prior to succeeding at the CRNE) are paid $29.59 an hour to start and once they've submitted proof of passing the CRNE they go up to $32.34 an hour. They are eligible for shift differentials, named holiday pay and overtime. Now for the drawback: the only facility in Edmonton to take advantage of the TGNP is the Royal Alex.

[MellaBella]

Smokes! That's good for Albertan Nurses! Is the cost of living about the same as here in Ontario (Toronto to be exact)?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Actually the cost of living here is slightly lower than that of Toronto. Our property values are lower and so are rents. Gasoline is selling for $0.86 a litre, food costs are similar. Taxes when you add them all up are lower here.

[petgroomer]

Hi, I'm planning on writing the CRNE in October (I'm an IEN living in Ontario and already assessed by CNO). I wonder if the initiative applies only to new grads, is there any similar program for newly registered IENs in Ontario???

[helpnurse]

I'm in Montreal and we're probably the lowest payed province ever. I got a job at the hospital as soon as I finished school. working as a LPN until I passed my nursing license. My salary was 18.50$ Then when I passed and was a full fledged RN my salary was 20.99$. This year we got a pay increase now I'm at 21.40$.....The pay is pathetic but you do what you got to do. I'm looking into going back to school to get my Bac and also looking into agency work because they pay more......Just something I wanted to share with others out there in Canada.