New RPN in Ottawa - what is the wage scale and staffing ratios?

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Hey! Good afternoon all! Our family just moved to the Ottawa area from Winnipeg, MB. I am an LPN (now I guess I'm an RPN!). I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how much I am supposed to be paid. A lot of adverts don't post their wages. RPN's don't have a central union. In Winnipeg, RN' and LPN's both belong to the same union, so the pay scale is transparent. There are places that don't have Manitoba Nurses' Union, but they pay pretty much the same. And more importantly, what are the staff ratios like? I have had one interview so far, and they have told me 30 Residents : 3 PSW's : 1 RPN. The RPN is also taking orders, doing Doctor's rounds, giving meds, doing Care Conferences etc. I have been told that this is standard staffing levels. Is this true? I have worked LTC and Hospital, but I prefer LTC. I would like responses from Ottawa RPN's. What do you get paid? What are your staffing ratios like? In Winnipeg, I was making $32/hour (this is the max after 7 years of working), and our ratio was 37 : 5 : 2 (plus the Unit Manager), and sometimes we had trouble getting our work done! I was working at a Non-profit Care Home, and I know that our staffing levels were excellent there. What is the normal for Ottawa? Oh, I just realized, these are daytime staffing levels. The ratio drops off on evening and night shifts. I am not happy about it, but I already knew that I was going to be facing a pay cut with this move, I just don't think that starting at $20/hour is realistic. Do you have to negotiate your wages? Thank you in advance!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

RPNS also belong to a union in Ontario and the wages are published online.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

That sounds like standard staffing for LTC. The pay will be as per the contract

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You may change your mind about preferring to work in LTC over hospitals after you experience working in Ontario's LTCs, between the unsafe staffing levels and the low pay, LTCs are not very desirable workplaces. Suggest you keep trying for a hospital position, as RPNs base pay usually starts $25-$26/hr, also hiring hospital managers can recognize your years of experience at their discretion.

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I think before you accept the job, you should try to negotiate a better hourly rate, your manager needs an experienced RPN and she can use her discretion to pay you more than starting salary. She is trying to pay the lowest salary because she wants to save the company money.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

LTC can teach you good time management skills and good assessment skills. There is no reason to fear working in one.

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The OP is not a novice, she has seven years nursing experience and very likely has well developed time management and assessment skills.

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The OP is not a novice, she has seven years nursing experience and very likely has well developed time management and assessment skills.

Acute care is very different from LTC. On an acute unit, I have five patients who I am responsible. They are usually functioning adults.

LTC? Dementia, combative, often no ID bands. Oh an a huge med run.

a very different type of time management is developed. I've worked both and will never go back to LTC

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The op has worked both LTC and acute care and will be aware of the differences in time management for each, I don't think they will learn any new time management and assessment skills in this position. I think when an employer offers an experienced nurse a novice's salary, it is an indicator that they do not respect their staff.

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Hey all! Thank you all for responding. I see that most RPN's operate under a CUPE contract, if the facility has a contract. So you're right, I can find the hourly wages. $24-25/hour to start is what I had in Winnipeg (but after 6 years, you max out at $30/hour and then you work weekends/night...bonus!). I had to hunt for that information on the CUPE website. Time management has never been one of my specialties, doesn't matter whether it is Acute or LTC (my fault, I talk to the Residents too much). I guess that will have to be relearned. Are staffing levels any different at the Non-profit homes here? What about places like Perley & Rideau? Does anyone work at a Home that utilizes a Nurse Practitioner? At this juncture, I'm just putting resumes in everywhere. I was just caught off guard by a ratio of 30 : 3 : 1, and I wasn't sure that this was indicative of other facilities. The Hospital sounds right 5:1. I would do it if I had to, but I would rather not. I prefer working with LTC Residents. I don't you all to think that I want a cushy position, I am used to being busy. I just want to know what I am up against. Thanks again!

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