Highest Paid Nurses in B.C....how is this possible?

[teeheeuhoh]

Recently I discovered that the Vancouver Sun publishes the names, employers, and titles of all the employees working in public sectors being paid over 75,000 a year.

I was shocked to see that the top earning nurses are making upwards of 180000 a year! How is that possible considering the maximum hourly wage for nurses in B.C. (as far as I know) is 40.42? If you do a calculation, 40.42 an hour, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year should only be 82,000. Even with time and a half (or double pay) during holidays, maximum should not be more than double that number?

Also, I thought maybe these RNs are in supervisory positions or teaching positions but the positions listed does not seem to indicate that?

Here's some data taken from Vancouver Sun

Public Sector Salaries - Vancouver Sun

I haven't started a nursing career yet, so forgive me if I ask silly questions. First thing is what is the difference between nurse direct patient care and registered nurse?

Secondly, the 2 RNs on here, how can they rack up that many hours to end up with the salary they are getting? Are they working a lot of overtime hours? (aren't there laws preventing that?)

[kheemooy]

I work with a nurse who made over $200000.00 last year. She is a floor nurse.[/quote']

How the hell did she make 200K annual?! wowwww! That's even more than an NP or nurse manager make!!

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[Fiona59]

How the hell did she make 200K annual?! wowwww! That's even more than an NP or nurse manager make!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

I know some here in AB that come close but they work a lot of OT. I'm wondering where in ON they are that they make that kind of money.

[lisajtrn]

Working tons of OT. It can be done but then I imagine she had no life outside of work.

[lisajtrn]

A lot of nurses here actually make more than than management. But that is with OT.

[Novo]

Let's say you wanted to work two full time jobs, with three 12 hours shifts for each job. I know it's very unsafe, but hypothetically speaking would it be legal?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Some nurses work their full time job and pick up casual or overtime shifts with another agency or health authority. There is really no legal limit re: hours. HOWEVER, the code of ethics stipulates safety, as well as numerous position papers through the College of Nurses. So, if you were found to be making mistakes resulting in care below standard, one of the first areas to come into question would be the hours worked. You are still accountable.

Ironic, because most nurses have or are suffering fatigue related to overtime and chronic understaffing....due to budget cuts. It's a catch 22. You need to be aware of your own limitations.

[Trishrpn80]

Personally money isnt worth that much to me that i would endanger my patients by working like crazy all the time... I worked with an rn who routinely tried breaking her own record on the sunshine list.. Crazy woman

I have enough on my plate with school and a teenager.. I will work my OT that i get and stay off the sunshine list for my sanity

[Ebloussante]

Shift differentials, OT, and working at extremely short-staffed work sites all contribute to those high wages. My first year nursing I made $90,000 (this was at step one in BC). It looks great on paper but I worked nearly every day for over half that year. Usually in those cases it's due to not enough nurses being available to cover shifts- I often found myself finishing my 12 hour shift only to be told that no one would be relieving me and I'd have to stay otherwise it'd be abandonment of duty.

If you work at enough different places within a health authority and don't mind working your days off as well then it's easy to reach those high numbers.

I have a question, what are shift differentials?

And aren't step 1 graduates like 31/hr? I didn't know that it was possible to make that much in your first year nursing.

[Novo]

I have a question, what are shift differentials?

And aren't step 1 graduates like 31/hr? I didn't know that it was possible to make that much in your first year nursing.

Shift differentials are extras you get paid on top of your base pay. In Alberta base pay is $35.51 for a new grad but things like nights ($5), evenings ($2.50), weekends ($2.75?), responsibility pay (?) etc...all add to your base pay and as you can see a new grad can clear $40/hr if they worked nights on the weekends or some sort of combination.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I have a question, what are shift differentials?

And aren't step 1 graduates like 31/hr? I didn't know that it was possible to make that much in your first year nursing.

Look at shift differentials as working weekends and nights

BC starting wage in 2011 was $30.79 so makes sense will be a bit higher this year

[fatrotti]

I work as an RN and rarely make under $200k a year, have been doing this for years now. It is very possible. But you have to work for it.

[Novo]

What province and what specialty?