RPN/LPN/RNA all the same???

[willow2004]

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!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

hi,

i was in the adn program in the us but unfortunately i could not complete the last semester. my department faculty said that i can go ahead and apply for lpn license which i am going to sit for the lpn board. my concern is i am a canadian resident and have to go back to canada anyhow. can i as an american lpn work there as an rpn? if yes how do i process it?

valuable suggestions are open please help me!!

you would need to apply to the province college of lpn's and see what they decide

[NUNurse007, BSN]

for the record, in ontario there is no longer the title "rna" those "rnas" were considered nurse assistants and we no longer have those, we have something similar called a "psw" which is a personal support worker, similar to a "cna" in the us, except the us at least trains their "cna" to do some nursing duties, i know because i worked as a "cna/ er tech" in the us for many years and i was never limited to personal care of clients (which i find crazy that they do that to psw’s).

i learned and did so many things including forming part of the "code team" and was allowed to take my acls just like the nurses! (this was in az) now sitting in canada as an rpn, im am disgusted when i watch rn's & rpn's trying to minimize their roles as nurse. as if there is a question of who is better!!?? give me a break! i know rn's & rpn's who have diplomas & degrees & are not even qualified to wipe my butt, much less call themselves a nurse at any level.

we need to respect each others role for what it is and what each nurse individually is qualified to do, because everyone has the opportunity of continuing education to either further their knowledge or become specialist regardless of their title!!

nursing school was a breeze for me, for one reason alone i was a darned good cna who worked with great rn's and rpn's who taught me well and never made me feel like less than they were. i went into to nursing school prepared and with full understanding of what makes you a good nurse...and that is you never can expect to know everything regardless of your title..everyone can learn something from each other ..... i can tell you a few stories of doctors that have learned a thing or two from a "cna" simply cuz she had more experiance!!

nuff said, quit hating on each other and learn to respect and support each nurse individually!!!

o, and i don’t think that the bcsn nurses are any better than the diploma rn's just cuz they got 1 extra year of art class under their belts!!! ( just had to say that cuz i have found many rn's in our area who have their degrees that seem to think they are better than the "diploma" rn ... its just crazy!!!)