hi guys,

just passed the CPRNE. while looking for jobs on the net, i noticed some employers require a Medication Administration Certificate (for RPN). is this certificate something we RPNs sHOULD really have like the BCLS or is it just an asset?

right now, i'm looking to go the LTC way first to gain some confidence. why? i'm an IEN. I dont even have experience prior to moving here in Canada a year ago. Any suggestions on how to jumpstart my career as a nurse here would be truly appreciated.

Only time I've ever heard of it was when meds administration was NOT part of the core education. Some older grads (from before a certain date) were required to obtain the education and obtained the certificate. Linzz and Lori where are you guys???

LTC is a very different kettle of fish from acute care nursing. The workloads are brutal. Expect to be administering meds to over 20 patients with little time for actual interaction.

Jobs are hard to find for local grads, so you are up against them. There is no way to jump start a nursing career in many provinces.

Only time I've ever heard of it was when meds administration was NOT part of the core education. Some older grads (from before a certain date) were required to obtain the education and obtained the certificate. Linzz and Lori where are you guys???

LTC is a very different kettle of fish from acute care nursing. The workloads are brutal. Expect to be administering meds to over 20 patients with little time for actual interaction.

Jobs are hard to find for local grads, so you are up against them. There is no way to jump start a nursing career in many provinces.

thanks fiona. keep the advices coming please.

ow this one i just saw right now, Patient Assessment Certificate. wow we have all kinds of certificate popping out. what do they teach to get this certificate? correct me guys of i'm wrong coz thought it was one of the basic skills you learn from undergrad.

Yeah, Medication Administration Certificate and Patient Assessment Certificate are upgrades to the old RPN education. New grads have all that stuff included in the program now. We spent over 100 hours on physical assessment.

I will try to answer your questions, you may need to prove to an employer that you can safely administer medications if you have graduated outside of Canada. Perhaps you can get some help with that from a practice consultant at the College of Nurses. Canadian RPN's that have graduated from the diploma program all have learned medication administration, injections, IV's (except push), so they don't have a certificate but those from older programs have had to take a medication course in order to stay employed.

The RPN diploma program does include quite a bit of patient assessment however some employers are wanting RPN's to take the four month course on Patient Assessment. You can take it part time at a community college.

So basically, this employer hasn't kept abreast of the times and these postings were written in the dark ages??? Makes you wonder what they'd be like to work for.

That's right, a lot of employers in Ontario have not kept up with the RPN new competencies because many hospitals were given unending funds so they just hired all RN's but now things are very different because our provincial government is beyond broke, so some hospitals are starting to staff units with more RPN's in areas where the skills fit. I am even starting to see postings for RPN's in Emergency and PACU which is a very new thing in some parts of this province.

Personally, I have zero desire to work in Emergency and PACU.

fiona, linzz and loriangel thanks for the replies. one thing i don't wan't to do right now is cashout on this crash courses and find out when youre already sitting in the classroom that i already know thess stuffs.

Have you had an interview with any employer? You might find out that you don't need these certificates when you discuss them in person.

Yeah, Medication Administration Certificate and Patient Assessment Certificate are upgrades to the old RPN education. New grads have all that stuff included in the program now. We spent over 100 hours on physical assessment.

This explains a lot... have been calling CNO for 2 days now trying to get an answer regarding this... and no answer back.. Hate that!

When i was applying and noticed that they are asking for this certificate, it got me pretty mad because of the fact i studied 2.5 years in school wiht Pharmacology course included to learn that i need o take some simple course just to say im certified...

Thank you for the information and clarification...