LPN vs RPN

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I would like to know if an LPN is the equivalent of an RPN (registered practical nurse).An RPN takes five semesters at school and can work in many capacities except ICU and can be a charge nurse.How does this compare to an LPN? Thanks.

I gotta say. All these titles and that for nurses are so confusing.

It borders ridiculous.

Z

Ontario is the only province that call it Registered Practical Nurses. In western Canada RPN is a registered psychiatric nurse, who requires some additional courses to work in acute care in any other area than Psych.

I trained with students in Alberta who went to work in Ontario and found no difference in their training and didn't need any extra courses. Alberta requires four semesters (but its under review, new guidelines come into effect this year), BC had/has a three semester training course. However, from what I've heard BC's Anatomy course isn't as indepth as the courses required by Alberta and thus any LPN who was educated in BC needs to upgrade their A&P during the license transfer period.

If you have more questions, you should get intouch with CLPN or one of the various provincial bodies (ie: CLPNA or CLPNBC, etc.).

Scope of practice varies widely province to province and facility to facility and there is no case at all to say that one province has a better educational programme than another because ultimately the CPNRE is a national exam and everyone who writes it is educated to the same minimum standard to be able to qualify for it. When I trained I was up to date on all my IV techniques, meds., etc., but the facility that I wound up working at did not allow LPNs to touch any IV's at all in their scope of practice, they kept that as an RN duty.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

We just had a guest speaker at school that talked about that problem in Ontario.They have had to discipline some employers that refuse to let RPNs do things like IVs. Getting them change their outdated ideas is hard. Ontario just changed the RPN course to 5 semesters but it sounds like the other provinces are catching up. I don't know why they have so many different titles in one country.

Perhaps Ontario has fluffy, filler courses requiring five semesters? Alberta is changing their course to include all the first year Arts courses required for the LPN -BScN bridge and still managing to complete it in four semesters. I think the only difference timewise will it will take two academic years following the traditional college year instead of 13 straight months with only a few weeks between semesters.

I think you are missing my point that all LPN's are trained to a national standard required by the CLPN and that no one particular province has an "edge" on education.

Finally, a major problem for LPN's across Canada is the fear factor spread by the RN associations. The LPN who graduates today had approx. 85% of the skills of a RN graduate or looking at it another way, we have the skills that a new grad RN had in the 80's (I've been told this by several RN's in the 40's and 50's who graduated then). Our scope of practice is what is what used to be theirs back when. The worst are RN's who graduated in the 1960's many of them still think of LPNs as unskilled bedmakers and todays LPN should be used as such. Break the attitude of RN's of that generation and their power in their unions and professional bodies and then and only then will you see LPNs fully utilized across Canada.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Hmmmm...haven't come across any fluffy stuff yet Fiona :rotfl: I guess things will only get better for LPN/RPNs as the older nurses retire and the new ones will have a better attitude. Thanks for your post.

Perhaps Ontario has fluffy, filler courses requiring five semesters? Alberta is changing their course to include all the first year Arts courses required for the LPN -BScN bridge and still managing to complete it in four semesters. I think the only difference timewise will it will take two academic years following the traditional college year instead of 13 straight months with only a few weeks between semesters.

I think you are missing my point that all LPN's are trained to a national standard required by the CLPN and that no one particular province has an "edge" on education.

Finally, a major problem for LPN's across Canada is the fear factor spread by the RN associations. The LPN who graduates today had approx. 85% of the skills of a RN graduate or looking at it another way, we have the skills that a new grad RN had in the 80's (I've been told this by several RN's in the 40's and 50's who graduated then). Our scope of practice is what is what used to be theirs back when. The worst are RN's who graduated in the 1960's many of them still think of LPNs as unskilled bedmakers and todays LPN should be used as such. Break the attitude of RN's of that generation and their power in their unions and professional bodies and then and only then will you see LPNs fully utilized across Canada.

Why doesn't everyone just become RNs and voila......everyone is the same. Everyone can do everything. I mean...it seems people are fighting to do what another degree allows anyways...if one wants to do what another degree allows...just get that degree instead of complaining what one can't do or what one should be able to do.

I'm not saying this poster or any other is whining BTW..i'm just making a point . Like Fiona says....LPNs today have 85 % of the skills an RN had in the 80s. So............a few more semesters and do away with all the bridges.

As for the fluffy comment. No idea where the 5 semester courses are. Also never heard of a fear of LPNs either.

Hope you understand what I mean and no one jumps down my throat for this.

Z

Some employers actually thought that bridge programmes would allow their experienced LPN's to become RN's without going back to school for three years. They didn't forsee that the LPN's would have to compete with high school graduates for places in the RN programme.

The RPN's in western Canada are still two year diploma RN's but require additional courses to become acute care RN's. Many find work in LTC and Continuing Care where there are numerous Psych. issues. They are valuable Mental Health Professionals, but would you deny them their RN designation?

Where would all the extra university seats and funding for those seats come from.

I'm not whining about my duties, I'm stating that attitudes have to change at all levels. Technology advances, new skills must be acquired, irregardless of educational achievement. The class of LPN's that I graduated had two BS degree holders in it because at the time their was no fast track BScN for them. They don't want to get the BScN because they don't want to do administration work and prefer handson bedside care.

We are Practical Nurses who use Practical Skills. Hell, Florence Nightingale wouldn't make it into nursing school today....:rotfl: :uhoh21:

We are Practical Nurses who use Practical Skills. Hell, Florence Nightingale wouldn't make it into nursing school today.

Gotta agree with you there. :)

Z

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Hmmmm........ I am in a 5 semester RPN and no fluffy stuff yet. :rotfl:

I guess it depends on your definition of fluffy. lol

I agree with both of your posts Fiona and Z.Thanks for your intelligent input.

Fluffy....fluffers....... :chuckle

Got me thinking. That's all. I wander sometimes.

Z

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

We had a couple of fluffers but they didn't last long:rotfl:

We had a couple of fluffers but they didn't last long:rotfl:

Whaaaaat? :rotfl: :rotfl: Where? Why? What kind of fluffers are you talking about?

Z

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