Both apparently are great ways to get your foot in the door towards a career in Nursing. However, i noticed that when it came down to Canadians, many opted to go the Pre health Route instead of PSW and i never understood why.
After reading many post regarding the American Nursing Forum, it seems as if CNA which is the American equivalent to PSW, is the more popular route for Americans; where as in Canada its Pre Health. Lets not forget that most PSW programs in Canada are basic enough where you can take pre req courses for BSCN or RPN while in the program.
I understand that here in Canada many PSW programs are 12 months and expensive. However, the experience you gain working as a nurse aid is worth the price in my opinion. You not only gain clinical experience working along side nurses, you get the basic theory component of nursing, which will help prepare you for the RPN program or BSCN program.
There are bridging programs tailored to PSW's wanting to go into RPN. George brown has one that is only 1 semester long and after completion you can apply to January start year of the RPN program. You also have the option of taking pre req for the BSCN program while in PSW school. That way once you're done, not only do you have a job in the nursing profession, you have the credits necessary to go directly to BSCN or RPN program debt free! (average pre health school is 4000 when you can get the same credits for free at night school or 40$ through ILC online)
So my question is why don't Canadians see the benefit of taking PSW program instead of Pre health? It seems to me that Pre Health program is a money scam..
I hope that i helped at least someone when it comes to seeing the benefits of taking the PSW program because its really underrated here in Canada and Pre Health is such a money scam.
I get what the OP is saying. I do agree that PSW gives 'nursing' experience, not experience as a nurse.
I worked as a PSW, and think I was better prepared then others for the practical aspect. I was very comfortable with personal care ect, and also got to assist with and sometimes do nurses tasks. There was one nurse who took me under her wing and would get me for anything she could get me for. She let me give my first injection, do wound care, and take out sutures. Even more important then the skills, was the knowledge she passed on to me.
Now, everyone's experience will not be like mine, however you do pick up valuable nursing skills. Changes, bed baths, filling o2 tanks, emptying catheters and transfers are all apart of a nurses job, so yes being a PSW does give you valuable nursing experience.
I think the prehealth science program prepares you more for nursing school. It is a difficult program, with late nights and lots of studying. Those that took it found the sciences in the nursing program very easy, and were exempt from a number of courses. The PSW program (the ones that are free), is not recognized by many colleges, as they tend to be lacking in the intellectual aspect.
I hope that nurse doesn't get caught some day letting a PSW give injections and remove sutures. Was part of the knowledge she passed on to you involve scope of practice and the difference between nurses and PSWs? Not necessarily some one you want to emulate.
I hope that nurse doesn't get caught some day letting a PSW give injections and remove sutures. Was part of the knowledge she passed on to you involve scope of practice and the difference between nurses and PSWs? Not necessarily some one you want to emulate.
I am well aware that PSW are not nurses. However, i do acknowledge the fact that they play a vital role in the nursing profession by assisting Nurses. Students wishing to take part in the PSW program will gain valuable experience that will help them once they are in nursing school.
In the previous comment that i made prior to your response, i clearly stated that they were not nurses. This is what i said:
PSW do basic bedside care so though they are not nurses they help assist nurses, i work with them all the time at my job and they help with the basic care of patients; I would consider them part of the Nursing field.
Not true. I dont know where you live in Ontario but night school for college courses is not free. I was a psw while in nursing school (in ontario) and i did not take a psw course. My first year of BScN was all i needed. You do not get the proper sciences for BScN in psw course which is why people take pre health. Also while a psw is a very valuable part of the team they are not nurses and cannot be called nurses simply because they are providing care. The term "nurse" is a protected title.
You are not understanding what i am saying. PSW course gives student the understanding of the basic fundamentals of nursing such as bedside care so it will give students the upper-hand when it comes to gaining experience as a nurse (even if its just bedside care). As i stated in my post several times, the PSW program is EASY enough where you can complete PRE Requisites through ILC or Nightschool WHILE completing the PSW program. I did not say that the PSW program will qualify students into entrance into the RPN or BSCN program. I have taken the Pre Health program in the past and it IS a waste of money. You CAN complete the pre requisites at night school for free. Nightschool IS free, you pay your fees for text books but the school gives you back the money once you are done with the book, there are no fees to register and the price you pay for the book is nothing compared to what you pay for the "pre health" program. The Adult Education School in Mississauga IS free, you can call them to ask them if you don't believe me.
This information is 100% false.....I NEVER took the PSW course, nor do I have a certificate, but, after my first year of my BScN I was able to work as a PSW (said so on my name tag) in a long-term care facility AND and hospital. Until PSWs are regulated health care professionals, anyone can take some kind of non-accrediated or college programs and pass themselves off. Mind you, institutions may make it their own stipulation that they will only hire PSWs whom have a certificate it is NOT mandatory. Also, the reason I chose to take pre-health and not the PSW program was because in high school, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer and avoided all sciences and only took math until grade 11. The PSW certificate DOESNT give you the pre-reqs to get into the nursing programs the most it offers is Biology. Prehealth gave me 2 biology, 2 chem, math, english and physics. Why didn't I do night school? to each their own..... I wanted to get all my core pre-res out of the way and with prehealth this allowed me to do it much faster. I need structure which I found night school didn't have. I think you need to do a little more research on requirements. Taking the PSW course WILL NOT get you into the BScN course or the RPN course if you didn't take any courses in high school (with good grades) that are required to even apply.
Actually the information that i stated IS factual. In order to practice as a PSW at a hospital or Long term Care facility you do need a certificate. Very few facilities are willing to hire without a PSW certificate; that might have been different a few years ago. Without a PSW certificate you will be competing with individuals who DO have their PSW certificate and will have a very slim chance of getting a job. You just happened to of gotten lucky, not to mention the fact that you probably graduated at a different time where PSW jobs were not as competitive to get and were the requirements were not as strict. Also, there are many students that are in the BSCN and RPN program who were unable to get jobs at hospitals and long term care facilities due to the fact that they are not certified. Home health care is probably the only place where they "might" hire you without a PSW certificate but even that is rare due to the fact that the number of QUALIFIED PSW that hold a PSW certificate outnumber the ones who aren't qualified. There are many RPN and BSCN students who do not have their PSW certificate that have to work in non nursing related jobs because they can't find work as a PSW (due to not having their psw certificate). The place that i work at won't even consider you unless you have your PSW certificate. When i worked at a hospital all the PSW staff had their certificate and the people who applied that didn't were not even considered. I am a nurse, i know what i am talking about. It is important for students to go to an accredited school because most hospitals and long term care facilities will only hire you if you went to an accredited college.
Actually the information that i stated IS factual. In order to practice as a PSW at a hospital or Long term Care facility you do need a certificate. Very few facilities are willing to hire without a PSW certificate; that might have been different a few years ago. Without a PSW certificate you will be competing with individuals who DO have their PSW certificate and will have a very slim chance of getting a job. You just happened to of gotten lucky, not to mention the fact that you probably graduated at a different time where PSW jobs were not as competitive to get and were the requirements were not as strict. Also, there are many students that are in the BSCN and RPN program who were unable to get jobs at hospitals and long term care facilities due to the fact that they are not certified. Home health care is probably the only place where they "might" hire you without a PSW certificate but even that is rare due to the fact that the number of QUALIFIED PSW that hold a PSW certificate outnumber the ones who aren't qualified. There are many RPN and BSCN students who do not have their PSW certificate that have to work in non nursing related jobs because they can't find work as a PSW (due to not having their psw certificate). The place that i work at won't even consider you unless you have your PSW certificate. When i worked at a hospital all the PSW staff had their certificate and the people who applied that didn't were not even considered. I am a nurse, i know what i am talking about. It is important for students to go to an accredited school because most hospitals and long term care facilities will only hire you if you went to an accredited college.
Hmm, I'm in Ontario and a BSCN or RPN student who has finished the first year of the program can work as a PSW. I have many felkow students who got jobs after first year as PSW. Also, for PSW jobs in hospitals...all of the PSW postings for the hospitals here state that nursing students are qualified after the first year. How would it matter that nursing students "dont have the PSW certificate" so they "cant work as a PSW?"...they learn the job of the PSW in the first year and are fully trained on what they do. I don't see how they wouldn't be qualified. All psw postings I've seen here state that nursing students are qualified for PSW positions.
Hmm, I'm in Ontario and a BSCN or RPN student who has finished the first year of the program can work as a PSW. I have many felkow students who got jobs after first year as PSW. Also, for PSW jobs in hospitals...all of the PSW postings for the hospitals here state that nursing students are qualified after the first year. How would it matter that nursing students "dont have the PSW certificate" so they "cant work as a PSW?"...they learn the job of the PSW in the first year and are fully trained on what they do. I don't see how they wouldn't be qualified. All psw postings I've seen here state that nursing students are qualified for PSW positions.
Though BSCN and RPN students are eligble to be employed for PSW jobs, preference will be given to those who already have PSW certificate. Secondly, Hopsitals and Long Term Care homes are usually looking to hire someone who has a certificate over someone who doesn't. Thirdly, your information is very dated, in this current economy BSCN students are competing with appilcants who have a PSW certificate and most PSW that work in hospitals have a PSW certificate. I worked in a Hospital I know what i am talking about. Again, you and the few students you know most likely got lucky on the job. Call any hopsital and see if they will hire a BSCN grad over someone that holds a PSW certificate and is in RPN or BSCN school. The smart thing to do for any student considering this route is to obtain your PSW certificate and take night school pre req's for the RPN or BSCN program (which is free at Mississauga Adult Education school) so that once you are in the program you will have a higher chance of getting hired at a hospital. In THIS economy you NEED to stand out as an applicant to get hired at a hospital or even long term care facility and having PSW certificate will give students the upper edge. How many months and years did it take those BSCN's to actually find work? probably a lot longer then a BSCN or RPN student who already has their PSW certificate.
Though BSCN and RPN students are eligble to be employed for PSW jobs, preference will be given to those who already have PSW certificate. Secondly, Hopsitals and Long Term Care homes are usually looking to hire someone who has a certificate over someone who doesn't. Thirdly, your information is very dated, in this current economy BSCN students are competing with appilcants who have a PSW certificate and most PSW that work in hospitals have a PSW certificate. I worked in a Hospital I know what i am talking about. Again, you and the few students you know most likely got lucky on the job. Call any hopsital and see if they will hire a BSCN grad over someone that holds a PSW certificate and is in RPN or BSCN school. The smart thing to do for any student considering this route is to obtain your PSW certificate and take night school pre req's for the RPN or BSCN program (which is free at Mississauga Adult Education school) so that once you are in the program you will have a higher chance of getting hired at a hospital. In THIS economy you NEED to stand out as an applicant to get hired at a hospital or even long term care facility and having PSW certificate will give students the upper edge. How many months and years did it take those BSCN's to actually find work? probably a lot longer then a BSCN or RPN student who already has their PSW certificate.
I got a full time job right out of school and i am a BScN RN. I do not have a psw certificate but i worked as one while in nursing school. You cannot assume you know how all hospitals and long term care facilities in Ontario hire. This thread is ridiculous.
1. PSW program prepares students for the BSCN and RPN program because it gives them clinical experience working along side nurses (such as bedside care), you also learn the basic theory component of nursing, which will help prepare you for the RPN program or BSCN program. The basic theory and clinical component of the PSW makes the transition to the BSCN and RPN program easier. There is more chances to succeed in the BSCN and RPN program if you have prior experience in the field; PSW program gives students that experience. Not to discourage anyone but the the failure rate in nursing is very high, out of 50 students about only 20 make it to graduation. Don't believe me read any statistic regarding failure rate in nursing and you will see that more then half of the students fail. This might be due to lack of understanding of the basics, which is key to success in any nursing program.Its one thing to get into a nursing program, its another thing to be mentally prepared,psw mentally prepares students and makes the transition into nursing easier. This is why i advice students to complete their pre req while in PSW school through night school or ilc.
2. MOST facilities will give preference to those WITH a PSW certificate. This is because BSCN and RPN first year students are competing with individuals who already have their PSW certificate which is more common then the latter. You want to stand out as an applicant so obtaining your PSW certificate will give you that edge. I work in a hospital and preference is given to those who have their PSW certificate, in fact they won't even look at your resume unless you have that certificate. The only way this happens is if the hospital is very short in staff which is not common (might have been common 2 years ago though).
3. Nightschool courses are significantly cheaper then the Pre Health program. Pre Health covers highschool level biology, math, chemistry and English You can achieve those same credits at a regular Adult Education school, Night School or online through ILC, Free of charge. The adult school in Mississauga is FREE, there is a small fee that you will have to pay for books but they give you that money back once you are done the course. ILC charges 40 dollars for each course but that is nothing to what you pay for the pre health program. At least if you take the PSW course you will earn that money back once you get a job at a hospital or Long Term Care facility part time.Pre Health does not give you any job prospects to look forward too, you don't gain experience as a nurse and you end up 4000 in debt. You also are limited to which schools you can apply too not all schools accept a pre health certificate that is not from their own college. Some Universities don't even recognize the Pre health as an equivalent entry into their BSCN program. When you take those pre requites courses at high school, night-school or through ILC you will NEVER run into those problems.
I got a full time job right out of school and i am a BScN RN. I do not have a psw certificate but i worked as one while in nursing school. You cannot assume you know how all hospitals and long term care facilities in Ontario hire. This thread is ridiculous.
You worked as a PSW while in nursing school which gave you experience. Hospitals give first preference to those with experience. This thread is not ridiculous, its reality; consider yourself lucky.
You worked as a PSW while in nursing school which gave you experience. Hospitals give first preference to those with experience. This thread is not ridiculous, its reality; consider yourself lucky.
I know many many RNs who did not work as a psw during school or at all and also obtained jobs right out of school. Its not luck, its called hard work.
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Daisy_08, BSN, RN
597 Posts
I get what the OP is saying. I do agree that PSW gives 'nursing' experience, not experience as a nurse.
I worked as a PSW, and think I was better prepared then others for the practical aspect. I was very comfortable with personal care ect, and also got to assist with and sometimes do nurses tasks. There was one nurse who took me under her wing and would get me for anything she could get me for. She let me give my first injection, do wound care, and take out sutures. Even more important then the skills, was the knowledge she passed on to me.
Now, everyone's experience will not be like mine, however you do pick up valuable nursing skills. Changes, bed baths, filling o2 tanks, emptying catheters and transfers are all apart of a nurses job, so yes being a PSW does give you valuable nursing experience.
I think the prehealth science program prepares you more for nursing school. It is a difficult program, with late nights and lots of studying. Those that took it found the sciences in the nursing program very easy, and were exempt from a number of courses. The PSW program (the ones that are free), is not recognized by many colleges, as they tend to be lacking in the intellectual aspect.