LPN course Canada is 2 years...

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I was just thinking about the lpn course in Canada being 2 years long, but in the US I believe you can get your RN (ADN) in 2 years and 1 year for LPN there, so I was just wondering how Canadian LPN's compare to their American counterparts? I'm not trying to start a debate or anything, I was just curious is all :)

Specializes in NICU.

I live in Ontario, so it may be different here than in other provinces. In Ontario, you are right, the program is a full 2 years. I'm just a student so I am NOT an expert by any means, but I know that here our scope of practice is very similar to that of the RN and we do not have many restrictions as to what RPNs can do. I think the RPN/LPNs in Canada would be more similar to the ADN RN nurses in the US rather than the LPN...but I may be wrong. This is just my observation.

I would rather hear a comparison from some of the Canadian RPN/LPNs on here like, Fiona59, loriangel14 or Daisy_08. They are real working nurses and know a lot more than me...

Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.

I know nothing of US Lpn roles, but I'm an RPN in Ontario. My program was 2.5 years to finish. 2 years of schooling, and a summer of placement. Then I wrote the registration exam. The RN course is 4 years here, and you get your BSCN.The scope of practice between the RPN and RN are similar, however the RN is more focused on theory and caring for unexpected outcome patients. The RPNs focus on less theory, more hands on approach and more stable clients. The scope of practice is always expanding - a few years ago RPNs could not hang IV meds, now more and more employers are pushing for IV meds and greater scopes of practice.

I'm hoping this post will bump so that Fiona and a few others will join as well:)

Better late than never, lol.

I did four semesters at college back to back, and graduated with a certificate not a diploma. The only real difference was the addition of the Arts transfer credits (have them already as did most of my class).

Out here in Alberta, the current PN education is basically the old two year community college RN programme.

On my unit the only difference between an RN and an LPN is Charge. Hospital wide it is we cannot pierce the blood or travisol bag or hang IV chemo meds. We start and maintain our patient IVs. Mix our IV meds if pharmacy is backed up and the premixed bags are late. We monitor the blood and TPN. PICCs are a hot topic and based solely on the facility policy.

We are on all units (ICU, NICU, Emerg). Off the top of my head the only place I can think of that we don't work is the Cath Lab and the AHS is going, we'll be there in the next three years.

I've often wondered how Americans would compare to us because some claim to be fully educated in ten months. My class graduated in just under 14 months using the 12 week semester system and minimal time off between them (I think we got about 10 days over Christmas (between 1st and 2nd semester). They seem to have less hands on time. I remember doing roughly 6 weeks full time in LTC, seven weeks in med-surg, third semester was strange and covered days at college and the rest of the week on units or being in lectures in the morning and then going to units and then the final placement/consolidation. Psych and maternity are blurs now but a decade ago I could recite the information in my sleep.

Who we really need to chime in is Juli. She's worked in both countries.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It's pretty much the same in Ontario for scope of practice Fiona.We are trained at my facilty so we can access PICC lines now however we don't have PNs in the ICU (unless they are really stuck and they just want a set of hands(anyone, even a PSW).

In most of Canada the LPN course is 2 years generally. The scope between LPNs and RNs is becoming less and less. I live in alberta and we can give IV push meds, start IVs, in some areas we can use PICC lines, I work in the NICU an emergency, so I am very involved in resuscitation and intubation. The list goes on!!!

I think it's obvious that canadian LPNs have more education than American LPNs. They also apparently have a broader scope of practice. Makes sense. Two year degree equals basic bedside nurse. Four year degree equals professional nurse with more advancement options. Makes more sense than having the two educational pathways (ADN and BSN) result in the exact same licensure. That has lead to some tension here in the US.

Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.
I think it's obvious that canadian LPNs have more education than American LPNs. They also apparently have a broader scope of practice. Makes sense. Two year degree equals basic bedside nurse. Four year degree equals professional nurse with more advancement options. Makes more sense than having the two educational pathways (ADN and BSN) result in the exact same licensure. That has lead to some tension here in the US.

Disagree but only because an RPN/LPN is not just a basic bedside nurse. Many are case managers, directors of care, legal nurses, forensic nurses, etc etc. The advancement as an RPN/LPN is just as endless as a professional RN, or even an NP:)

Disagree but only because an RPN/LPN is not just a basic bedside nurse. Many are case managers, directors of care, legal nurses, forensic nurses, etc etc. The advancement as an RPN/LPN is just as endless as a professional RN, or even an NP:)

This post confuses me. So why have RNs in Canada if the job opportunities, scope etc seem to be identical for RPN/LPNs?

This post confuses me. So why have RNs in Canada if the job opportunities, scope etc seem to be identical for RPN/LPNs?

The scope regarding skills is quite similar but RPNs are giving "stable" pts whereas the RNs will take more predictable ones.

RPNs can't push Meds, pack dressings, deep suction, ect. At the children's hospital I work at its RNs only

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am an RPN and I pack dressings.

The scope regarding skills is quite similar but RPNs are giving "stable" pts whereas the RNs will take more predictable ones.

RPNs can't push Meds, pack dressings, deep suction, ect. At the children's hospital I work at its RNs only

You are basing your knowledge on what?

I pack wounds, do wound vac dressings, pretty much everything the RN working alongside me does. Oh, wait, I can't pierce a bag of blood or TPN. It's a two nurse procedure and we all know we've done it.

As for getting "stable" patients? In an ideal setting. I've been given unstable patients and not allowed to refuse the assignment because "It's you or a new grad. I want the patient looked after" direct quote from my unit manager. I spent the better part of that shift running my gluteal muscles off, monitoring his blood, getting pain meds increased, and telling the charge to get my patient into ICU. The new grad RN got to look after the fresh appis.

I want to work in your world where LPNs have such restrictions placed on them.

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