Copied & pasted: Please please read this and make yourself aware. - We continue to face stagnant wages, rising workloads, and a lack of recognition for the scope and skill our role demands. Alberta nurses are divided into two groups: Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). * We belong to two different unions, and have two different regulatory colleges. * RNs recently received a 20% raise (well deserved!). LPNs received nothing. The outdated "3 B's" stereotype: There was a time when LPNs were dismissed as the "3 B's: Beds, Baths, and Bowels." Back then, we worked under RNs, reporting directly to them, with a very limited scope. Lower pay made sense... because our role was different. That's not the reality anymore.
The reality today: Walk into any hospital in Alberta and you'll find LPNs everywhere: • On med/surg, ER, oncology, NICU, OR, psychiatry, pediatrics, and more. • In charge nurse and management roles (Mostly in LTC). • Working independently at the bedside, often without an RN in sight of the patient for an entire 8- or 12-hour shift. Patients often can't even tell whether their nurse is an RN or LPN: because we provide the same level of care. In fact, LPNs now perform at least 84% of the scope of an RN. In many units, that number is higher. Yet we are still officially classified as "Auxiliary Nursing" a category that no longer reflects reality. The wage gap: Here's what our pay looks like today: • Step 1 LPN: $27.58/hr • Step 1 RN: $43.26/hr (+$1.25 degree
That's nearly a 40% difference, even though new grad RNs often rely on experienced LPNs to help mentor them and manage complex patients. And while a top-step LPN maxes out at $36.13/hr, a brand-new RN (fresh out of school) starts higher, at $44.51/hr (with degree pay). How is it fair that the nurse with less experience is valued more? Scope restrictions that make no sense • LPNs in the ER regularly stabilize critically ill patients on ventilators and pressors, but the second that patient transfers to ICU, we're not allowed to follow them across the threshold. • LPNs are "not supposed to" work in L&D, yet rural LPNs are delivering babies alongside their teams. The line between RN and LPN practice is blurry in real life...but the pay gap is crystal clear.
Roadblocks to growth: LPNs who want to bridge to RN face more barriers: • Most bridging programs take 3+ years. • Edmonton's bridging program has been closed indefinitely due to waitlist issues. • Athabasca students report taking up to 7 years to finish due to these waitlists • Very few spots exist in Red Deer, and they're highly competitive. It almost feels like the government doesn't want LPNs to bridge....because that would mean paying us RN wages. Where we stand: Right now, the offer on the table is just 7.5%. That doesn't reflect our workload, our scope, or our value. We are not "auxiliary." We are Alberta's nurses too. We deserve recognition, either with fair pay, or with a workload and legal responsibility that matches our wage. Enough is enough.
#Alberta lpns and hca just voted 98% to strike #aupe #lpn #wearehealthcare
See photos attached for the Lpn’s reason for yes … i’m sure hca’s have similar issues.
