HIGH RISK PAY

[toronto rn]

Nurses and other health care personnel have been identified as being at high risk for exposure to patients with SARS. Considering the amount of health care workers, especially nurses who must work in environments which can potentially result in exposure, and subsequent illness and or quarantine, would it be prudent to look at the issue of being compensated in some way (increased pay) for working with patients who pose a significant health risk? The focus being communicable illnesses with a risk of spread to the health care worker despite preventative measures, ie SARS, meningitis or the like. This would be a good time to look at the issue of high risk pay since in ontario we are in the final year of our contract. Any ideas?

[fergus51]

I just wonder how practical it would be. Almost every nurse works in a high risk area at some time or another and often we don't find out about just how high the risk is until afterwards. I don't tend to be a fan of any contract position that says one nurse should get more than another nurse, but it may be doable.