ADVICE for Students in Ontario RPN vs RN

World Canada CA Programs

Published

I have seen many threads, students asking advice/opinion on weather they should take the RPN or RN program.

I just wanted to share my experience and opinion on this subject as a RPN. I completed the 2 year full-time Diploma in Southwest Ontario, but if I could go back I would have definitely opted for the BScN program instead. I would like to share why.

When I decided on this route I never expected that my nursing ambitions and skills would supersede the opportunities that are available for RPN's in this part of Ontario. They are AGES behind when it comes to utilization of the RPN to their full scope of practice.

At the time I couldn't attend a 4-year full-time program because of the demands of my home life. Plus I thought, especially as I went through the program, that I would have a variety of choices as to what areas of nursing I would work in once I gained more experience. I have since learned that this is not the case, at least not in my area.

There are still many RN's (and general public) who do not understand the skills and education that RPN have received in nursing school and many facilities who are still not allowing RPNs to work to their full scope. RPN's are an autonomous profession who work under the EXACT same standards of nursing as RN's. There is no hierarchal system; it is simply based on experience and skill set. Which, most NEW GRAD RN's, can never have the skills set, experience and knowledge I do after this many years of actually working on busy acute floors as a nurse. And of course management opportunities are usually only available to RN's.

Because of this I have since decided to enroll in a part-time bridging program through Ryerson University to obtain my RN. I have also found that the pay difference is very unfair, and should also be based on experience and skill set. For example why should I get paid $25/hr verses $35/hr to start the exact same IV and push the exact same meds! I also have the same patient load as the RN for less money, I find this very unfair.

So if I had to advice anyone who is debating what route to take, I would say if you plan to work in this area (Ontario), just go for your BScN. Had I done this out of the gate, I would have been done by now and would not have to suffer through so much frustration and dissatisfaction with nursing.

I do not want to take any credit away from the RN (especially since I'm going to become one ;)) I give credit where credit is due, and if I received the respect I deserve as an RPN than I would have been happy keeping my designation.

So if you can and have the opportunity to do a full-time 4 year program, than MY ADVICE ... DO IT!! And what ever you choose remember we are ALL still NURSES!!!:nurse:

Btw, RPN is the same as LPN in the rest of Canada ... And the RPN/LPN scope of practice in the USA, is not anything like the training in Canada.

Specializes in Public Health.

As an RPN who is in school to become an RN, I'm still not seeing the BIG difference. The anatomy is certainly deeper but not this crazy world of difference everyone talks about. I had many people tell me before deciding to bridge that it was going to be absolute torture and I'm just not seeing it. The actual focus in the BScN program (bridging from RPN to RN) is NOT at all in skills, it is largely about leadership and research... Which is the real area that is lacking in the RPN programs.

I'm not saying the BScN program is not harder, it definitely is. It IS deeper, more content is covered and in a much wider breadth, it is just not nearly as bad as many RNs would have me believe. I know a few former RPNs who are now RNs who would agree.

Even the bridging program doesnt cover all of the straight university program, at my school the bridging program nurses dont take 2 of the anatomy courses and they dont take pathophysiology, which I think is pretty important. And the anatomy courses cover different things so it seems silly to me that they leave 2 of them out and wats the point of making the rpns take anatomy 3 of theyre not going to take patho? Anatomy builds up for patho. . I guess they assume the rpn would have learned most of that stuff in practice, but im just saying the bridging program doesnt show everything the student rns learn. And even though the rpns do well in the bridging program I wouldnt say most of them greatly excel over the RN students with no experience. They had a bit more experience in clinical but a lot of the stuff we did was new to them too, so I dont think its cool to bash RN new grads. Even the rpns who had years of experience didnt think it was a cake walk

and I wouldnt say I have a problem with rpns but I think its ridiculous to pay them the same as RNs when their patients are not as complex as the RN's. The RN is more like the one that has to act and respond if a patient suddenly experiences complications, the rpns isnt, I would love it if it was always smooth sailing but as an RN you dont get to just bail, which is what they do on most med surg floors they take the unstable guy and give it to the rn.

I would love to have "stable" patients "who are not as complex as the RN's" but it just doesn't happen. Nor will the Charge change assignments when patients become unstable.

The IV push course I took was the same as the one the RNs on my unit took. No difference.

I would say you do have a problem with practical nurses just from the amount you've posted tonight. Your posts display an immature attitude towards your coworkers and the practice of nursing.

Do you feel that Diploma RNs (there are thousands of them still working, the last class in my province graduated in 2009) are less of an RN than you a degree RN? Do you feel that they aren't entitled to earn the same as you.

News flash, the Practical Nurse programme in two provinces is the old diploma RN programme.

Now pull up your big girl panties/big boy boxer shorts and adjust your viewpoint because I don't see you being a co-worker who will be liked or respected with the views that you've spouted tonight.

Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.
Some one also commented saying theyre an rpn and can start IVs and push meds??? Not sure where youre working but thats not allowed.

Actually it is allowed with the proper training along with accessing and deaccessing cvad's. We are trained to know what can go wrong. Rpns also are involved in codes.

You are coming off as quite childish, uninformed, and most likely an rn student or new grad that was taught you are better than an rpn and be scared because we are taking your jobs. If you look at nursing history this has been going on for over 100 years. Md's were scared RN's would take over, RNs scared lpn/rpns would take iver, and rpns scared psw's will take over. Everyobe on the health care team is important. Your title doesn't make you any better than the next. I have seen plenty of rns and rpns that i wouldnt let babysit my cat.

Specializes in Public Health.

I have vowed to myself that when I graduate with my BScN and am no longer practicing as an RPN, I will never forget just how hard I worked every single day as an RPN. I will remember the skills and critical thinking I used on a daily basis and will continue to stand up to the ignorance displayed by so many others in this field. I have witnessed so much blatant disrespect from healthcare providers towards RPNs (mostly from RNs, I have never been made to feel inferior by a physician) and it is shameful.

We are all nurses, when did it become about competing with each other? I refuse to compete with anybody. You are not a better nurse than I am because you have more education. In the same way that an NP is not better than an RN. We may have different roles and education levels but we are ALL important.

I do not go around bashing PSW/CNAs because of the difference in their education vs. mine. When a PSW complains they deserve a raise I do not assume they are saying that because they feel they are doing my job. I recognize the value in the work they do and am here to support them as much as I can. Study after study shows that cohesion amongst the interprofessional team improves patient outcomes, and isn't that the ultimate goal? I didn't spend years in school to battle with my coworkers about who is more important. If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed in retail and saved myself years of tuition and all-nighters.

We should be standing together, united, for the betterment of our patients but also in the name of our amazing profession. Nurses are consistently ranked one of the most trusted professions but how are we to be trusted when we are abusing our own?

Something to consider.

Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

I agree. Everyone on the health care

team is important and each role

deserves respect. Without the cleaners the rooms would be a mess, without laundry services we would not have clean linens, without food services who would make our patients meals. We all need to see the value in each others work.

Specializes in Medicine.
They had a bit more experience in clinical but a lot of the stuff we did was new to them too, so I dont think its cool to bash RN new grads. Even the rpns who had years of experience didnt think it was a cake walk

You don't think it's cool to bash RN new grads, yet you're here bashing RPNs?!

I'm "bashing" Rpns because I dont think they should be paid the same, RN and Rpn have different responsibilities, people are going on about how everyone in healthcare is important, who said they werent? Rpns have a role in healthcare but theyre not RNs, Rpns are not supposed to have unstable pts, some on here are saying they still get them then go talk to your manager, not demand a pay raise. If RN and Rpn was the same then why not have everyone just become rpn and pay them the 35/hr. Why did they bother to make it a degree? As for diploma nurses, Im sorry to say this but yes sometimes those nurses dont follow the new policies and procedures because theyve been doing something a certain way for years and dont want to change it, and some of the old methods of doing things are not right.

Clip, clop. The troll returns. Must be for hallowe'en

Specializes in Medicine.
I'm "bashing" Rpns because I dont think they should be paid the same, RN and Rpn have different responsibilities, people are going on about how everyone in healthcare is important, who said they werent? Rpns have a role in healthcare but theyre not RNs, Rpns are not supposed to have unstable pts, some on here are saying they still get them then go talk to your manager, not demand a pay raise. If RN and Rpn was the same then why not have everyone just become rpn and pay them the 35/hr. Why did they bother to make it a degree? As for diploma nurses, Im sorry to say this but yes sometimes those nurses dont follow the new policies and procedures because theyve been doing something a certain way for years and dont want to change it, and some of the old methods of doing things are not right.

I don't see why you're getting so worked up about RPNs (based on this post and your previous ones on this thread). They are NURSES (just like RNs). Yes, there are some differences for sure, but so many RPNs are great nurses. I wouldn't say all RNs are better than all RPNs just because they have a degree. On any hospital floor or LTC facility, you will see experienced RPNs mentoring new RNs.

I think what "iwannabeanurse"'s problem is that they are afraid of PNs. They caught one poster's comment on pay inequity and are making it there sole topic of posting. There have been several other posters on this thread who have only made one post in their entire posting history and it's to trash PNs. It's fear pure and simple. They have bought into the degree programme is the only way to be a nurse. They need to justify their choice, the expense of their education. There are fewer and fewer RN jobs out there and they are starting to panic.

They bought into the misconception that there will always be a need for nurses and it's a well paying job with a very good paycheque at the end of the training programme. They haven't accepted that nursing changes, the need for specific types of nurses change. The degree was never meant to be a bedside entry point. It was designed for nurses who wanted to advance through the healthcare hierarchy.

Personally, I think that RNs who work on my unit should be paid the same as LPNs, unless they are taking Charge duties. There is absolutely no difference in scope of practice and even in skill set. Our service manager has even admitted that the PN/RN ratio needs to be changed because they are paying for way too many RNs on a service that could have a higher staff percentage of LPNs working. It all comes down to union protectionism.

But hey, what do I know? I'm "only" an LPN who had no "critical thinking skills" and need to be micromanaged.

+ Add a Comment