Homecare Ontario

[sublime_huner]

Does Ontario have home care servies for RPN's to join? If anyone know, wht's the procedure to get into it? Thanks for your response.

[loriangel14, RN]

There are agencies that hire RPNs in Ontario such as Red Cross, St. Elisabeth, Bayshore, and Care Partners. Contact them directly for any job opportunity information.

[linzz]

Just one more to add to the above, ComCare and VON. I have never done home care but I see jobs listed for RPN's in home care all the time.

[sublime_huner]

There are agencies that hire RPNs in Ontario such as Red Cross, St. Elisabeth, Bayshore, and Care Partners. Contact them directly for any job opportunity information.

Hi, thanks kindly. Do you know wht's the pay scale like for homecare RPN staff? Just wondering.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I would expect that agencies like WeCare, Bayshore, COmCare, Care Partners and othes like them will pay somewhat less than hospitals do. The private agencies are not unionized and they have to make a profit. When I did private home care when I first began my career (as an RN though) I was being paid anywhere from $3 to $7 an hour less than the hospital nurses, and I had to provide my own transportation. If things then were like these days with fuel costs so high, I doubt I would have been paid enough to make it worthwhile.

I'm surprised to see VON on the list; they don't hire RNs who don't have a degree, so I wouldn't have thought they'd have much interest in RPNs.

[linzz]

That is also the reason I don't want to do homecare is that the cost of fuel and the wear and tear on my vehicle hardly makes it worthwhile. I suspect that is why many home care agencies are so short of staff. They seem to be always advertising for for RN's and RPN's. I recently read in the newspaper that those do homecare are trying to raise their wages in order to attract more nurses but I don't know if that will happen or not.

[loriangel14, RN]

I went to a job fair that was put on by St Elisabeth shortly before I graduated last year. They were offering $17 to start and I think the top of their pay scale was just under $19. As opposed to starting at the hospital at $23 and change it was not a very attractive job offer. They were very desperate for nurses.

I think I erred in putting VON on the list Jan.

[loriangel14, RN]

Googled it. VON does hire RPNs.

[birdy28]

Hello,

Little tip tho about homecare nursing and ontario(I have worked for VON)...its a great job to hone skills and I like the work however you will find some agencies pay more than others on an hourly rate...if I was to go back I would have worked for Paramed or alike that pays about $4 an hour more than VON...just some imput

[Fiona59]

Jan, VON hires LPNs with extra qualifications in footcare and those who are holders of the immunization specialty certificate. Can't stand the thought of doing footcare all day, every day. The immunization gig is usually only during the flu campaign.

They do pay lower wages. Did I mention footcare? urgh

[SandBetweenMyToes, BSN, RN]

One of the posts stated that private agencies are not unionized. VON is private and unionized and also hire RPN's. I found that I am making more working at VON than I made working in ICU in Detroit...food for thought.

[Dez.in.ON]

I work as a visiting nurse (RPN) for a private agency. We are paid per visit as opposed to being paid per hour. The potential is there to earn good money if you are in a populated area with shorter 'visit' times.

One of the drawbacks is the inconsistancy of income as people are admitted and discharged as required. I wouldn't recommend this avenue if you are on a tight budget as you never know what you will be earning from month to month.

There are benefits to community nursing too. In managing your own case load, you do your daily planning. If you have down time in the middle of the day, you can do some personal errands. There are tax benefits at the end of the year, both with vehicle and home office, to name a couple.

Because there are now 'clinics' being set up in the communities, many of the clients are directed there for their treatments. This seems to have cut back much of the work that we were once doing.

There are pros and cons. I have never work in a hospital/retirement home. I started out with VON many years ago and have been with my present employer for about ten years. I have had a very positive experience working as a visiting nurse.

I am about to take a foot care course with the goal of working independently with my own clientelle.