A growing number of home care nurses in Ontario are advocating for fair pay equal to that of their hospital counterparts as negotiations for a new deal kick off.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association is urging the Victorian Order of Nurses to address the wage gap for home care nurses who face a myriad of challenges unique to their roles. Data from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reveals that nurses in home care have encountered over 2,100 violent incidents in residential settings over the past two years.
Erin Ariss, the provincial president of the union, highlights the alarming statistics, noting that the rate of workplace violence for home care nurses is significantly higher compared to other nursing sectors. She raises concerns about the risks involved in home visits, long commutes between patients, and the overwhelming patient load that often hinders thorough care delivery.
Despite these pressing issues, the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada has yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter.
According to Ariss, home care nurses under the organization earn up to $20 less per hour than their hospital counterparts. This disparity became more pronounced during the pandemic, prompting many nurses to leave home care for better-paying positions in hospitals.
Lorna Thompson, who transitioned from hospital to home care nursing three decades ago, emphasizes that wages in home care have failed to keep pace with inflation over the years. She stresses that home care nurses hold the same qualifications and responsibilities as their hospital counterparts and play a crucial role in responding to emergencies in residential settings.
Thompson asserts that it is time for equal pay for home care nurses and vows that they will not settle for anything less.