Currently a beneficiary attendant (PAB), Lucie (fictitious name), a nursing student, will occupy an extern position in nursing at the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre this summer. But recently, she learned that she will earn $5 less per hour, very bad news for her in this period of inflation and also bad news for the health system which is seriously understaffed.
Recently, Lucie contacted human resources at her CISSS to ensure that she would keep her PAB salary ($25.63/h) during the externship in the summer of 2024. It was customary in the network to allow the worker to maintain the highest hourly wage.
He was told that this would not be possible due to a ministerial decision recently adopted by the Employer Negotiating Committee for the Health and Social Services Sector.
With the new CSN collective agreement, the salary of a beneficiary attendant amounts to $25.63/hour. However, according to the collective agreement of the Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) 2019-2023, the salary of a nursing extern is $20.65/h. For Lucie, this represents a loss of several thousand dollars this summer.
“When you study nursing, both technical and BAC, you really don’t have a lot of time to work during a session,” says Lucie. This difference could really make a difference in our academic career. Considering that there is a blatant lack of nurses in the public network, this is completely aberrant and does not make us want to continue in the public sector or even in the profession.”
“After two years of nursing, I have more medical expertise than a beneficiary attendant,” says Lucie.
A nursing extern reduces the tasks and load of nurses on the floor. Not only does she gain experience to be a better nurse when she graduates, but she reduces the burden and waiting time for patients in health care facilities, argues Lucie. The nursing externship is a crucial step in the nurse’s educational journey.
Aberrant situation
President of the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) CISSS Montérégie-Centre, Denis Grondin has difficulty understanding the government’s attitude in this matter. “It was customary for an employee who changed jobs to keep the highest salary. But the government has decided to ban this practice. I don’t know many employers who lower the salaries of their employees who have more qualifications.”
According to him, the impacts should be felt from mid-June. “It is at this time of year that our candidates for the practice of nursing, or CEPI in the field, arrive for work. There may not be many who will have accepted a pay cut.”
“When we hear them shouting on TV that there is a shortage of nurses in the network, we could perhaps find a solution,” says Julien Houle, president of the union at the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre which defends more than 5000 union members.
According to him, a solution could consist of having the person work as a beneficiary attendant for three days then as an external for two days. “I believe that would be enough to be able to pay this person the highest salary.”
Externship not obligatory
On the side of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, it is indicated that the hourly rate of nursing externs “respects a hierarchical logic of remuneration between externs, candidates for the practice of the profession and technicians (nurses) duly trained.”
“It is important to remember that the nursing externship is not compulsory,” specifies the Ministry.
In 2023-2024, the health and social services network had 1,390 nursing externs.
Questioning
Although she says she loves the profession, Lucie admits that it is difficult for her to want to stay in the public network with such a significant disadvantage. “It’s very frustrating, especially during a recession and with inflation so high.”
She also fears that this salary reduction will convince several beneficiary attendants to remain in their position rather than consider externship.
