'You did leave out casual nurses': Casual nurse sends email to N.S. premier about $10,000 bonuses
'You did leave out casual nurses': Casual nurse sends email to N.S. premier about $10,000 bonuses
Casual nurses say they were left out of Nova Scotia’s announcement to reward bonuses and retention incentives to nurses and other health-care workers.
Marleen Spencer, a casual nurse herself, said she applauds the decision to give bonuses but she also has concerns.
The long-time registered nurse who came out of retirement to work two to three days a week said she’s a little nervous paramedics aren’t getting the same bonus nurses are.
“I worry it’s going to create a divide between health-care staff,” she said.
In an email to the premier, she also pointed out how casual nurses weren’t included.
“I did say in my letter to him that you did leave out casual nurses,” she said. “Most nurses I know that are casual aren’t interested in signing on for an additional two years but they would continue to work what they currently work and some of them work almost full-time hours.”
On Monday, the Nova Scotia government announced that nurses are getting a $10,000 bonus and are being offered an additional $10,000 retention bonus if they sign on to work for two years.
A long list of other health-care workers, such as paramedics, housekeeping staff and respiratory therapists, are being offered $5,000 retention bonuses to sign on and work for two years.
Health Minister Michelle Thompson says casual nurses will not be getting a bonus.
“It’s based on a full-time equivalent, full-time employee equivalent. But if a casual staff nurse does return to a full-time or part-time position, there would be some remuneration,” Thompson said.
Spencer said on any given day in the endoscopy department at Halifax's QEII where she works, there are three to five casual nurses working.
“The QEII will not function without casual nurses,” she said.
While Spencer doesn’t expect anyone to leave their roles, she does think casual nurses will be angered and disappointed they were excluded.
“I can’t say I’m surprised because we tend to get forgotten sometimes. Even though we really and truly are essential,” she said.
A $10,000 incentive is being offered to nurses who’ve left the public health system to return if they sign on to stay for two years.
That would include Czarina Dykeman, who left Nova Scotia recently to become a travel nurse.
She’s currently doing her first contract in Prince Rupert, B.C.
“They offer a higher salary,” Dykeman said. “That’s the main reason why people are doing travel nursing or health-care workers.”
Tired of working next to travel nurses in Nova Scotia who were earning more than she was, she left the province and became a travel nurse herself. Her husband still lives in Nova Scotia but she doesn’t believe the latest incentive is enough to draw her back home.
“You have to work there for two years,” she said. “$10,000. You’ll get that in travel nursing in just two to three months.”
Janet Hazelton, the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, said the feedback her office has received about the provincial announcement has generally been positive.
But Hazelton notes casual nurses are not happy.
“They feel they have been there working, holding the system together with the other nurses and they’re disappointed they’re not included,” Hazelton said.
On Monday, the province’s health minister said ideally, 1,500 to 2,000 nurses would return to Nova Scotia's public health system.
As for what may draw retired nurses back into the fold, Hazelton thinks it’s important to look at barriers.
“Maybe it’s paying for their licence. Guaranteeing they don’t have to work night shifts,” she said.
Any potential wage increases will happen in negotiations that are taking place right now.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has confidence in David Johnston, even as the House of Commons is about to vote in favour of a motion to push him out of his job.
Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
A former staffer who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault has defected to Moscow and spoken to Russian state media in a news conference that lasted several hours.
Wildfires in Nova Scotia have burned thousands of hectares across the province, forcing many to flee their homes. Halifax-area residents tell CTV News what it was like for them when they had to evacuate.
As text-generative artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT change the tide of web surfing, one Toronto blogger warns of a “seismic shift” in search engine optimization.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Brad Treliving to be the team's new general manager. The team made the announcement Wednesday, less than two weeks after firing Kyle Dubas.
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Last year, Quebec’s Bill 96 became law, which brought sweeping changes to the Charter of the French language. Sections of the new law will come into effect on June 1, the one-year anniversary of the bill receiving royal assent.
High heat is pushing into parts of Quebec this week, and many communities could see record-breaking temperatures this week. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements, advising people of the above-average temperatures.
A new team working out of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada (SHC-Canada) wants to get young people like Horn, who injured themselves, back on their feet and running as fast and efficiently as possible.
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Forest fires in northern Ontario are on the rise, with the largest in the region shutting down a critical highway for the people of Hornepayne for a bit and bringing the community to the brink of evacuation.
Manitoba RCMP have arrested a priest from a First Nation community who is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, and believe there may be more victims.
Canadian Heritage unveiled the programming for July 1 celebrations, inviting Canadians to come to the capital region to "join the biggest party in the country!"
A heat warning is in effect for Ottawa. Environment Canada's forecast calls for sunny and hot weather to continue for the final day of May and the start of June.
Hundreds of nurses from across B.C. are gathering in Vancouver Wednesday to demand better working conditions, adding to multiple calls by medical professionals this week for urgent action to staff under-resourced hospitals.
A man who worked at an addiction recovery organization has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, according to the New Westminster Police Department.
A "critical" shortage of teachers in B.C. is leading to increased workloads, mounting stress and an inability to meet students' needs, according to a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the union.
The northern Vancouver Island village of Sayward remains on edge Wednesday as a wildfire continues to burn out of control just five kilometres west of the community.
The B.C. government will set housing targets for 10 major communities on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland in an effort to combat the province's housing shortage.
The B.C. government is warning drivers of changes – some permanent – to the Patricia Bay Highway (Highway 17) in Saanichton as work begins on the new Keating Cross Road overpass.
