RPNs that remain RPNs?

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Hi everyone. I'm in my early 40s, a mom of young children, live in Ontario and starting to take on new high school/college courses so I may gain admission to an RPN diploma.

I've been using the SEARCH feature on this board heavily and finding all the RPN and RN discussions I can.

I see so much talk about RPNs that want to upgrade to an RN but I'm wondering how many Canadian RPNs are quite happy with their current status.

Twenty years ago, I was accepted into the Mohawk/McMaster Occupational Therapy program ... I withdrew half-way through it - found their method of learning grueling and I didn't particularly like OT although I did enjoy the medical studies and thought of nursing. I ended up with an Honours Pysch degree and worked in a non-medical field for several years.

I can't afford the RN tuition and frankly I don't think I'll get the marks necessary to get into the program. (seems my university credits only help me after I get admitted).

I'm just curious about RPNs - how many of you feel really good where you are, are challenged, and have little desire to upgrade.

If I do get into the RPN program, sure I'd love to continue learning but I don't want to feel it's a stressful "must" ... it's not something I'll be able to afford easily.

I hope you can figure out what I'm asking here ... feel free to share thoughts.

Thanks.:redpinkhe

I'm the OP of this thread (opening post). Did you direct the question to me, bottomz ? I'm planning to start, this fall, the two subjects I need to gain admission into either the RPN or the RN program. I think I have a shot at both, from what the admissions officers have told me. I think I will go the RPN route b/c I think it would be less wear and tear on my family (DH and young children) right now.

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I'm just curious, why do you want to become a nurse?

If it mainly for the money? It's okay to say 'yes,' at least you're being honest. I'm trying to understand if nursing is truely what you want or maybe a different option where you can earn similar or close to what an RPN makes. There's nothing wrong with people going into nursing for the money but the reality is that it is a stressful job and sometimes, to other people, not worth the pay. Not everyone is cut out for stress that many if not all nurses go through. Like you said, it's not something you can easily afford and it would be a tragedy if by the end you find yourself thinking that nursing isn't for you. As to your age, it ain't nothing but a number. If after becoming an RPN you feel that you want to go and get your RN degree, go for it! What's life without its challenges? I've had 2 classmates in nursing school who were in the 40s with kids and whos first language was not english. I also know two couples, one in their late 20s and the other in their late 30s going to Nursing school together (it's really cute actually)! I can't speak for them and say that it was a breeze; I'm sure they faced many challenges. I understand that the financial part is where the difficulty lies but before you think that this investment is unaffordable get financial counsellling and talk with your partner; then make a decision whether it's worth it financially. Talk with a counsellor in the schools you are interested in going, they provide a lot of information and can re-direct you to other services that might help. Im not sure if it's you who is interested in L&D but here in Ontario, some hospitals allow PNs to work in L&D. Good luck!

oh btw, I'm glad you're enjoying the journey! Don't give up if this is what you really want!

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You can always become a RPN and then bridge to a BScN if and when you are able to/want to... I believe you need several years of experience as a RPN to get into the program and then it is a 2 1/2-3 year program. I have not researched this so this is only what I have heard from others - if I'm wrong on the time frames please correct. I graduated with a woman who is 52 and another who I believe is 48 so don't feel it is too late.

I don't think you need years of RPN experience, at least here in ON. I'm looking at one bridging program and it doens't say that you need it although I'm sure it's preferable. I know of one RPN who took the undergrad 4 yrs rather than the 3 yrs bridging because her friends before her said that the latter was harder. She said that in the bridging program the school expects more from you because you already have experience as a nurse.

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KB14 - thanks for the encouraging words. I'm definitely going to apply and go the RPN route as I already said. My only apprehension was that I have spent a lot of time reading threads in this website forum written by people who are LPN and RPNs and seem to wish they'd done a degree instead. It's nice to hear from people who are happy as PNs and have no lingering urge or need to upgrade.

Why do I want to be a nurse? Because about 20 years, I spent 5 semesters studying to be an occupational therapist and I found medicine incredibly interesting and I loved working with people and I found the hospitals energizing and health care a great field. I just disliked what OTs did and decided to leave and get a Psych degree (with an intention of becoming a clinical child psychologist). I didn't like research and ended up working in the legal field (mergers, acquisitions, securities, etc.) for many years. I've been a SAHM now for several years. I volunteer with the VON and I want to get out with people and help them. I still find medicine and health care fascinating and I have (have always had) a strong internal urge to HEAL people.

I have studied Reiki and I seem to have good healing skills and I love being with people and helping them.

We have growing populations of elderly, diabetic, obese people ... all sorts of issues ... I want to help.

So no, it's not because of the money. If it was about the money - I could go back to my previous job and make the same as a RPN. It's not about the money.

I have decided to focus, as I said, on becoming a RPN and then becoming the best one I can be. I really want to be with people and helping them, hands on. HTH.

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I can relate - I am 41 and have five young children, age eight and under, and am going to be restarting my RPN studies this September. As much as I would have liked to do a two year BScN degree, it is a financial and logistical luxury that we can't afford with so many little ones needing care and attention. So my plan is to do the RPN and, if it is feasible and feels worth it, bridge to the BScN over the course of three or four years. And if I can do that, then I would love to become a pediatric NP by the time I'm 50 :).

I wish you luck with your venture into nursing and think you are doing the right thing to balance school and family.

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:up:HI mamaonamission! :redbeathe Sounds like we're in a similar place and state of mind. I'm a year older than you but only have two kids (5 children - wow!!). I have dreams about the future but reality is a different thing. We'll see what happens. I feel the most important thing is to enjoy the journey right now. Good luck with your studies as well!

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I will be starting the Practical Nursing Program this fall in a college in Toronto.

I am really excited, but since joining this site (I absolutely love all the posts and feedback), I am now realizing that the job market for in this field is really slim; which is odd considering the fact that there is shortage of nurses.

Also, I'm wondering if it is worth it to pursue BScN once I'm in the field. I am now hearing about all the RNs that are being laid off. Though it seems like the job market for RPNs isn't that great either, I'm wondering which way is the best way to go. I would hate to know that after working so hard get an education, that it will be slim picking out there in the work force.

I would also like to know what options an RPN has to advance if he/she doesn't want to go the RN/BScn route?

Please advise.

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The market will always be up and down so if you really want to become a nurse other than the reason of "job security" then yes, you should do it. We don't have a magic crystal ball to help us predict if hospital jobs will start opening up soon or the near future.

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'thank you' m_aidez for your response. however, i wasn't implying that you have a crystal ball in order to predict employment availability. so the snide remark was really unecessary. my decision to pursue this career wasn't based soley on 'job security.' i have a huge respect for anyone who is employed as a nurse, and i believe that pursuing a career where i am helping people would be my way of giving back. however, i was just looking to get some type of feedback from people who are already working in the field or new grads who are job hunting. again, 'thank you.'

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It wasn't meant to be a snide remark. I'm just telling you the fact that nobody knows when the market will open up. When I said "we" I meant every person, I wasn't discounting anyone.

I would hate to know that after working so hard get an education, that it will be slim picking out there in the work force.

I was responding to that comment above. Clearly a huge factor in a lot of people decision to go to nursing is "job security" and I'm not going to lie, this is one of my reasons as well. Things have changed in the past few years and I had to re-evaluate on whether I really wanted to be where I am today or if I should quit nursing school altogether. Since then, I've realized that I do want to be a nurse for other reasons. Besides, there are careers out there that will always have a "slim" job market and yet people continue to pursue it because they have a great interest in it. They don't say "oh well, time to look for another career because it's so competitive."

If you really have great interest nursing, it shouldn't deter you from going ahead with school. I understand that you might have responsibilities at home but anything is doable if you really really plan it out well and have a great desire for it.

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Thank you for clarifying as well as the words of encouragement.

It is very easy to take things out of context when you're not actually

speaking to someone, so on that note, I do apologise.

All the best and thanks again.

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