[Nanaimo Gurl]

Hi everyone,

I just wrote a similar post but stuck it under "US nursing". I am new to this site. I am strongly thinking of taking the LPN course this winter over on Vancouver Island. In Nanaimo I have the option of Malaspina and Sprott Shaw. I have heard MALA is pretty unorganized and people dropping like flies and re applying at Sprott. I am not sure how much truth there is to that but if anyone has experience at either it would be wonderful to hear from you. SS is fairly expensive - $21,000 for their 12 month course (but very small class sizes 16)- Malaspina about $5200. I love the idea of going to Mala and being in that environment, plus the cot..well, that pretty much sums it up for me. I have no desire to acquire a Student Loan of that amount ($21,000) nor am I willing to go into that much debt. I would really love to hear anything more about Malaspina from LPN's that have taken their education there. Thank you so much. Tess

[Fiona59]

Pretty much every PN programme has been described as "disorganized", so nothing new there. Personally, I would stick with Malaspina or the old Vancouver Vocational Inst. in Vancouver for the PN programme. Sprott Shaw is pretty new to the field and most other provinces have never heard of them. I remember Sprott Shaw ran a programme up in the Comox Valley, and promised people no problem in finding jobs. Not true. Up there the jobs were mostly in nursing homes and that type of nursing. Most of their grads wanted to work in hospitals. But SS was fast to sign up students who qualified for the EI funding.

School nursing is a challenge. PNs have had that area for the last four years in Alberta. You will need an immunization certificate on top of your PN certificate (12 month programmes issue certificates, diplomas are issued by two+ year programmes). You will also need good catheterization skills and an ability to deal with parents who are not always pleasant. Remember their child is the only child who is important.

Jobs in AB are usually considered part time. Seven hour days, September to June with the summer off. I've known people who love it and others who haven't made it through to Christmas.

Good Luck.