Benefits of taking PSW program instead of Pre health program

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Both apparently are great ways to get your foot in the door towards a career in Nursing. However, i noticed that when it came down to Canadians, many opted to go the Pre health Route instead of PSW and i never understood why.

After reading many post regarding the American Nursing Forum, it seems as if CNA which is the American equivalent to PSW, is the more popular route for Americans; where as in Canada its Pre Health. Lets not forget that most PSW programs in Canada are basic enough where you can take pre req courses for BSCN or RPN while in the program.

I understand that here in Canada many PSW programs are 12 months and expensive. However, the experience you gain working as a nurse aid is worth the price in my opinion. You not only gain clinical experience working along side nurses, you get the basic theory component of nursing, which will help prepare you for the RPN program or BSCN program.

There are bridging programs tailored to PSW's wanting to go into RPN. George brown has one that is only 1 semester long and after completion you can apply to January start year of the RPN program. You also have the option of taking pre req for the BSCN program while in PSW school. That way once you're done, not only do you have a job in the nursing profession, you have the credits necessary to go directly to BSCN or RPN program debt free! (average pre health school is 4000 when you can get the same credits for free at night school or 40$ through ILC online)

So my question is why don't Canadians see the benefit of taking PSW program instead of Pre health? It seems to me that Pre Health program is a money scam..

I hope that i helped at least someone when it comes to seeing the benefits of taking the PSW program because its really underrated here in Canada and Pre Health is such a money scam.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

The difference is that the pre health programs satisfy the prerequisites required by RPN and some RN programs.A PSW program doesn't. A PSW program just makes you a PSW.

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The PSW program prepares you for the RPN and BSCN program because it teaches you the basic fundamentals of nursing (such as bedside care) that will help you throughout your nursing career. Though the PSW program does not grant you direct entrance to a RPN or BSCN program, their are various bridging programs offered for the PSW to RPN that are only one semester long. Also, the PSW courses are easy enough where one can go to school for PSW and complete the pre req through ILC. The benefit of the PSW program is that once you finish you will be able to work in the nursing field while going to RPN or BSCN School and you will also gain experience as a nurse, that will look good to potential employers; some employers will pay for your schooling!

There are a few Nurses that have told me that they went this route and they told me it is better. I personally don't see the point of the Pre Health because you spend so much money to complete pre req when you can complete it at nightschool or online for free. PSW WILL prepare you for nursing and plus you get a job in the field out of it! Can't go wrong with that! I have done the Pre Health route and i wish someone would have told me this before, i regret going into the program so that is why im sharing this advice to other students who might be debating on which route to take! If i would of known what i know now I would have never spent over a 4 grand on the pre health when i could have just taking the pre req for free at nightschool and complete the psw program during the day to gain bedside experience as a nurse. The pre health program does not give you that experience but i guess some people don't realize this. Bedside care is very valuable in the nursing profession and its getting harder for new grads to get jobs due to lack of experience; the psw gives students that experience. A Nurse i was talking to told me the reason she was able to find a job faster then her classmates was because she was a former PSW at the hospital. I was also told that most hospitals want experience and that having a PSW experience looks good on the resume and helps new grads find employment due to their experience as a PSW.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You cannot take prerequisites for free at night school. Being a PSW does not give you nursing experience.

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I guess i should have specified that this advice is mainly for Ontario residents because in Ontario night school IS free and the PSW program teaches students bedside care and the basic theory components of nursing. I have met Nurses who were previously PSW and they have told me it helped the transition for them to the RN program easier. In Ontario you need a PSW Certificate inorder to even be considered for a PSW job at a hospital or long term care facility. PSW at hospitals and Nursing homes work along side Nurses doing bedside care. Im a registered RPN so i work with many PSW at the Nursing home. I am briding to BSCN in the fall and i am just trying to help students out. I understand that not everyone will agree with what im saying but in Ontario it really is the best option.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I AM in Ontario and night school is NOT free.Being a PSW does not give you nursing experience because PSWs are not nurses.Yes they do get experience giving care but they are not functioning as nurses and it not considered nursing experience to prospective employers.

My RPN program was night school and I had to pay for it and the prerequisites.

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To complete high school level Biology, Chemistry, English and Math you will need to either go to nightschool or pre health program at the college. Nightschool is usually held at a highschool or Adult Education School and its free for any Ontario residents. Students interested in that route should call the Adult Education schools in their area to confirm if its free but i am certain that its free; i work with a RN who took that route and she did not have to pay any money. My RPN program was not free either but that is because its a nursing program at the college. PSW do basic bedside care so though they are not nurses they help assist nurses, i work with them all the time at my job and they help with the basic care of patients; I would consider them part of the Nursing field.

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There are people who say the same thing with RPN, that we are not "real" nurses; which is ridiculous and ignorant for people to say but they say it all the time. The problem with the Nursing profession is that people do not like to give credit where its due. As long as you are taking care of patients or assisting in their care then you are a Nurse. There are different levels within the Nursing profession but there is no right or wrong. Without a PSW, RPN and RN helping eachother we would not be able to perform quality care to patients.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Nurse is a legally protected term. You cannot call someone nurse that isn't.PSWs are a vital part of the team but they aren't nurses.

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Specializes in ED.
I guess i should have specified that this advice is mainly for Ontario residents because in Ontario night school IS free and the PSW program teaches students bedside care and the basic theory components of nursing. I have met Nurses who were previously PSW and they have told me it helped the transition for them to the RN program easier. In Ontario you need a PSW Certificate inorder to even be considered for a PSW job at a hospital or long term care facility. PSW at hospitals and Nursing homes work along side Nurses doing bedside care. Im a registered RPN so i work with many PSW at the Nursing home. I am briding to BSCN in the fall and i am just trying to help students out. I understand that not everyone will agree with what im saying but in Ontario it really is the best option.

Not true. I dont know where you live in Ontario but night school for college courses is not free. I was a psw while in nursing school (in ontario) and i did not take a psw course. My first year of BScN was all i needed. You do not get the proper sciences for BScN in psw course which is why people take pre health. Also while a psw is a very valuable part of the team they are not nurses and cannot be called nurses simply because they are providing care. The term "nurse" is a protected title.

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To complete high school level Biology, Chemistry, English and Math you will need to either go to nightschool or pre health program at the college. Nightschool is usually held at a highschool or Adult Education School and its free for any Ontario residents. Students interested in that route should call the Adult Education schools in their area to confirm if its free but i am certain that its free; i work with a RN who took that route and she did not have to pay any money. My RPN program was not free either but that is because its a nursing program at the college. PSW do basic bedside care so though they are not nurses they help assist nurses, i work with them all the time at my job and they help with the basic care of patients; I would consider them part of the Nursing field.

I get what you mean. It's not free but I know it costs about $40.00 per course through the ILC and night school. Adult school allows one to take about three courses per quad for a $40.00 fee plus a textbook deposit. I think getting PSW training helps with getting acquainted with the role as a caregiver and gives one better experience doing so than the pre health program. It's not the same as being a nurse however most if not all of the basic skills covered in the PSW program are covered in the first semester of the practical nursing program.

Personally I find that pre health programs are more of a cash grab than anything mainly because the pre health program will only be counted as a basis of admission towards that particular school's nursing program and can't be used as a basis of admission at other schools. By completing your prerequisites through the board, those courses can be used for consideration at any college across Canada. It's also considerably cheaper.

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

In Ontario you need a PSW Certificate inorder to even be considered for a PSW job at a hospital or long term care facility. PSW at hospitals and Nursing homes work along side Nurses doing bedside care. Im a registered RPN so i work with many PSW at the Nursing home. I am briding to BSCN in the fall and i am just trying to help students out. I understand that not everyone will agree with what im saying but in Ontario it really is the best option.

This information is 100% false.....I NEVER took the PSW course, nor do I have a certificate, but, after my first year of my BScN I was able to work as a PSW (said so on my name tag) in a long-term care facility AND and hospital. Until PSWs are regulated health care professionals, anyone can take some kind of non-accrediated or college programs and pass themselves off. Mind you, institutions may make it their own stipulation that they will only hire PSWs whom have a certificate it is NOT mandatory. Also, the reason I chose to take pre-health and not the PSW program was because in high school, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer and avoided all sciences and only took math until grade 11. The PSW certificate DOESNT give you the pre-reqs to get into the nursing programs the most it offers is Biology. Prehealth gave me 2 biology, 2 chem, math, english and physics. Why didn't I do night school? to each their own..... I wanted to get all my core pre-res out of the way and with prehealth this allowed me to do it much faster. I need structure which I found night school didn't have. I think you need to do a little more research on requirements. Taking the PSW course WILL NOT get you into the BScN course or the RPN course if you didn't take any courses in high school (with good grades) that are required to even apply.

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