RPN/LPN/RNA all the same???

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I've been looking for information on nursing and the different levels of nursing. I'm getting a little confused. Are RPN/LPN/RNA all the same??? Also, I heard from a friend that Practical Nursing is going to be phased out in Canada and everyone's going to have to be trained as an RN as of 2010. Is this true??? Any info will be great!

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

So we agree to disagree? :nuke:

Peace.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Let's just agree to disagree. Peace here too.

Here is a quickie review of the future of nursing in Canada:

http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/Towards_2020_Snapshot_e.pdf

The area stressed at the presentation I attended was the "common two year basic education". The speaker stressed that the PN diploma would be the entry point and building block of nursing education. And yup he stressed that most RNs would be employed outside of the hospital setting. So who does that leave holding the hospital jobs?

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Thanks Fiona59 for the link. Very interesting, I think I will load the whole thing. I think there's some truth to RN education being geared toward more administrative tasks though. My RPN friend just started her BSN, why did she do this at age 42, because she said she wants off the floor at her hospital and wants to become an educator as she works in a teaching hospital and they have lots of educators there as they are big on continued learning.

Specializes in LTC.

Oddly enough, the same thing was said in America in the 1980's about "Nursing in the 21st Century."

In the end, however, it didn't quite turn out the way they predicted.

Regards,

Michael

Here is a quickie review of the future of nursing in Canada:

http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/Towards_2020_Snapshot_e.pdf

The area stressed at the presentation I attended was the "common two year basic education". The speaker stressed that the PN diploma would be the entry point and building block of nursing education. And yup he stressed that most RNs would be employed outside of the hospital setting. So who does that leave holding the hospital jobs?

i dissagree to " the commuter" i reside in the province of quebec in canada and here the RNA exist and is not being phased out at all. in fact im actually a RNA student (REGISTERED NURSING ASSISTANT) were registered, were known as professionsal here in quebec and were liscenced. they wont ever take out RNA's from quebec anytime soon since we so desperately need nurses and have such a high shortage.

The CNA is looking at having the PN become the entry level of nursing up here, with nursing education being laddered from PN-RN-MSN-PhD.

I'm sorry I do not mean to offend you, but I would really like to see where you're getting this information from.

They will never make PN the entry-level of nursing in Canada. First of all, it is not economical for either student or hospital/health care setting. What would be the point in having a practical nurse status when they would require you to become an RN anyway. You may disagree, but the scope of practice for PNs and RNs in Canada is completely different. It is not at all logical to start someone off as a PN and then have to re-educate them in the duties of an RN

Second of all, there is already an RN shortage, especially in Ontario. There are less and less applicants every year for the 4-year BScN program to become an RN.

There is absolutely no way what you say will happen

This information was provided by the CNA itself at various nursing conventions in 2007. I heard and received the paperwork while attending the CLPNA convention in April 2007. The speaker (whose name I can't recall at this time) gave the outline for CNA's plan and how the proposed to implement it. He felt (and when I use he, I'm using it the way he referred to CNA) felt that the role of bedside nursing was going to become the function of the PN with the BScN becoming more active in healthcare outside the hospital. That the basic education of nurses needed to be refocussed on caring for those in hospital and getting them out.

What part of Canada do you work in? My scope of practice is very similiar to that of an RN in my province. About the only area you won't find a PN is the NICU. The PN education in my province now includes all the required "filler" university arts courses required of the BScN students. So the theoretical step programme is already being implemented slowly.

This isn't meant to become a PN-RN debate. It was a discussion concerning the differences in what is a Practical Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse and Registered Nursing Assistant. Not a turf/education war.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am an RPN in Ontario(registered practical nurse) and my scope of practice is definitely not "completely different" from the RNs I work with.Our days and responsiblities are very much the same unless someone needs a blood transfusion or a PICC line flushed our days are pretty much the same.

This information was provided by the CNA itself at various nursing conventions in 2007. I heard and received the paperwork while attending the CLPNA convention in April 2007. The speaker (whose name I can't recall at this time) gave the outline for CNA's plan and how the proposed to implement it. He felt (and when I use he, I'm using it the way he referred to CNA) felt that the role of bedside nursing was going to become the function of the PN with the BScN becoming more active in healthcare outside the hospital. That the basic education of nurses needed to be refocussed on caring for those in hospital and getting them out.

What part of Canada do you work in? My scope of practice is very similiar to that of an RN in my province. About the only area you won't find a PN is the NICU. The PN education in my province now includes all the required "filler" university arts courses required of the BScN students. So the theoretical step programme is already being implemented slowly.

This isn't meant to become a PN-RN debate. It was a discussion concerning the differences in what is a Practical Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse and Registered Nursing Assistant. Not a turf/education war.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like RNs have more responsibility than PNs. I respect what you do as I used to work with several PNs who are great nurses. My mom also recently became an RPN.

The CNA usually says what sounds good to nurses, but never implements their goals/promises for us. They have been "creating" visions for the nursing future for many years now, and 9/10 times they fall through. The nursing situation in Canada, although not bad, can use a lot of improvement, and really nothing has changed for a few years.

I actually work in Toronto at Sick Kids Hospital, they do not hire PNs here. I used to work at a smaller hospital outside of Toronto and they had few RPNs working there. I'm not too sure which province you're from, maybe the situation is different there than here. But I do know in Ontario RPNs are not allowed to hang blood products, start certain IV meds, do certain hospital assessments, go into managerial positions, etc.

My mother actually completed an RPN program here in Ontario a couple of years ago (through Durham College), and the only place that considered her for a position upon completion of school was a nursing home. She's been there since she was hired and she loves it, but she sure had trouble finding a job.

RPN/LPN was implemented years ago because of the RN nursing shortage facing Canada. I highly doubt that RPN/LPN will be the starting point for becoming a nurse in the future.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I guess it depends on what area of Ontario you are in. I just graduated last year and I had a hospital job lined up before graduation. Most of my classmates are working in hospitals and there are many jobs to be had at the hospital in the next town.

I am an RPN in Ontario(registered practical nurse) and my scope of practice is definitely not "completely different" from the RNs I work with.Our days and responsiblities are very much the same unless someone needs a blood transfusion or a PICC line flushed our days are pretty much the same.

I see. And what type of facility do you work for if you don't mind my asking?

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