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 would like to thank everyone for sharing their views on this subject, though some of us share opposing views on this topic, i think that we were at least able to touch base on some of the important questions that students might have regarding which avenue is best for them. At the end of the day, we can't decide for you which is the best option, this is a decision that students will have to make. I just hope that this forum will help someone have a better understanding of both programs and choose whichever path they feel necessary for their life; there is no right or wrong because it really depends on the individuals lifestyle, mindset and maturity. The decision to become a Nurse is a rewarding one and i wish the best to anyone entering either program! both are in no doubt beneficial in their own way and will help you get to where you need to be! :) I understand that money might not be an issue for some students so taking out 4000 in student loans for pre health is not an issue. I also am aware that money IS an issue for many students and this forum might come in handy to those who don't have the money to afford the pre health program. As for passing Nursing school, i believe that PSW will make the transition into Nursing easier. Students can obtain pre req at ANY highschool/Adult Education School or through ILC. My advice for students is to call up the schools and do a comparison for prices and to see if certain schools will accept Pre Health certificate from other schools.
Well im a Nurse and i know for a FACT that preference is given to Nurses that have experience.
You talk like you know everything there is to know about PSWs, and getting a nursing job. You really don't. Many of my friends got PSW jobs very quickly after first year of the program with no problems. Also, many graduated nurses that I know were not PSWs at all and had no problems finding jobs. You really don't know what you're talking about.
This thread is just funny. Why try so hard to prove a point?
For most people, it takes a lot longer to go that route. 3+ semesters to be a PSW, 4+ semesters to be an RPN, 6+ to be an RN. 13. And likely more. There's also a chance you won't get in at a certain step, miss a pre-req or deadline, or something similar.
Prehealth is 2 semesters if someone needed pre-reqs, RN program is 8. That's 10. That's a full year of class-time difference, and likely 2+ years in real-life time.
I think it's a good potential pathway for someone who needs to work and earn money while in school, and either doesn't have being an RN as an end-goal or isn't in a rush to become an RN. But for most people, it's a waste of 2 years. I also don't think you'd save money ultimately, even if per-year cost is cheaper for the PSW->RPN->RN pathway, you're in school for a longer period of time. The money you'd make while working during that time is less than the money a person would make as an RN in a few years if they graduated a few years sooner. Which they would if they were doing the pre-health route vs the PSW->RPN->RN route.
I also think there's a lot of people who go into pre-health to learn more about different types of healthcare if they're unsure about what specific program they want to go into in the health field and to keep those doors open. ie. dental hygienist or practical nursing or administrative?
You talk like you know everything there is to know about PSWs, and getting a nursing job. You really don't. Many of my friends got PSW jobs very quickly after first year of the program with no problems. Also, many graduated nurses that I know were not PSWs at all and had no problems finding jobs. You really don't know what you're talking about.
This thread is just funny. Why try so hard to prove a point?
Well i think everyone can agree that preference IS given to nursing students that have experience. You basically are repeating what someone has already said and i stated my point. Please read before you start repeating things that was already discussed. This thread is funny because half the people commenting are not even nurses and if they are nurses they are talking about issues pertaining to their situation that happened years ago; times have definitely changed, jobs ARE hard to find and experience means everything. Look at the forums on this thread, there are a lot of new grads who can't find employment. I don't sugar coat anything and i am giving students a realistic view on what happens and ways to go into nursing school prepared. The failure rate in nursing school is high, are you also going to deny that too and say that most nursing students that you know passed? Getting basic experience as a nurse will be beneficial to students not only in nursing school but also in helping them getting a job. There is no point to be proven, its a reality and you need to get your head out of the clouds. Why are you trying so hard to prove your point? repeating things that other people have said, talking as if what you are saying is factual. I worked at several hospitals around the GTA and worked in Long term care facility, i know what i am talking about. This discussion is over.
Well i think everyone can agree that preference IS given to nursing students that have experience. You basically are repeating what someone has already said and i stated my point. Please read before you start repeating things that was already discussed. This thread is funny because half the people commenting are not even nurses and if they are nurses they are talking about issues pertaining to their situation that happened years ago; times have definitely changed, jobs ARE hard to find and experience means everything. Look at the forums on this thread, there are a lot of new grads who can't find employment. I don't sugar coat anything and i am giving students a realistic view on what happens and ways to go into nursing school prepared. The failure rate in nursing school is high, are you also going to deny that too and say that most nursing students that you know passed? Getting basic experience as a nurse will be beneficial to students not only in nursing school but also in helping them getting a job. There is no point to be proven, its a reality and you need to get your head out of the clouds. Why are you trying so hard to prove your point? repeating things that other people have said, talking as if what you are saying is factual. I worked at several hospitals around the GTA and worked in Long term care facility, i know what i am talking about. This discussion is over.
For most people, it takes a lot longer to go that route. 3+ semesters to be a PSW, 4+ semesters to be an RPN, 6+ to be an RN. 13. And likely more. There's also a chance you won't get in at a certain step, miss a pre-req or deadline, or something similar.
Prehealth is 2 semesters if someone needed pre-reqs, RN program is 8. That's 10. That's a full year of class-time difference, and likely 2+ years in real-life time.
I think it's a good potential pathway for someone who needs to work and earn money while in school, and either doesn't have being an RN as an end-goal or isn't in a rush to become an RN. But for most people, it's a waste of 2 years. I also don't think you'd save money ultimately, even if per-year cost is cheaper for the PSW->RPN->RN pathway, you're in school for a longer period of time. The money you'd make while working during that time is less than the money a person would make as an RN in a few years if they graduated a few years sooner. Which they would if they were doing the pre-health route vs the PSW->RPN->RN route.
I also think there's a lot of people who go into pre-health to learn more about different types of healthcare if they're unsure about what specific program they want to go into in the health field and to keep those doors open. ie. dental hygienist or practical nursing or administrative?
Thanks for answering, you brought up some good points! I think that the same thing can be said for the Pre Health Program though because similarly to the PSW program, it is 2 semesters. Its possible that someone in the Pre Health program can fail a certain course eliminating them from the entire Pre health program, setting them back 1 year. They most likely will have to apply to another school and repeat the same courses which means more money wasted.
If you decide to take the PSW route you can fail without being kicked out of the program. The issue is whether or not RPN or BSCN will look at that (assuming you completed your pre req at night school or ILC while in the PSW program). I don't think they would look at that because most RPN schools only look at the pre requisites you completed. BSCN programs are different because they look at your overall GPA. I think there is less risk when you take the PSW or Nightschool/Adult Education school route. If you fail at night school or through Adult Education its not like you would have lost 4000 dollars, in addition to losing your chance of ever getting accepted into a BSCN program.
If you fail one of the pre req through Adult Education, ILC or Night school you can repeat it with no problem without having to worry of not being accepted to a certain school because you failed. You can fail biology at Adult Education School, repeat the course in the summer and apply to any nursing school because nursing schools look at the highest grade completed or they will take the average weight of the failed course and the one you passed. At least they will still consider you though, unlike the pre health program where you fail and you are disqualified from applying to those programs.
If you fail biology in the Pre Health program you are disqualified from going into the RPN or BSCN program (at least thats how it is at Humber and George Brown). Pre health program is definitely good for students unsure on which Healthcare field to get into. However, a student who is certain they want to be a nurse, is better off either completing pre req through Adult education school or going to the PSW and gaining practical experience. There is just too much of a risk with the pre health program, in my opinion but to each his own. I think the School board should at least cut down the cost of the Pre Health program, 4000 does not seem worth it in my opinion for completing high school level courses that you can complete for free at any highschool, or for 40 bucks through ILC.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Okay ladies. This thread has gotten way too heated over something that's purely a matter of opinion. If you can't play nice, I'll have to cover the sandbox for a few days.
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.
Assuming things gets you no where and you are making a fool of yourself. It's great you are so passionate about this and trying to help people out but you are talking a big game with not a lot of information to back you up. Stating "I got lucky and probably graduated at a time when...." HA HA... I have not even graduated my BScN, up until 3 months ago I was working as a PSW in a LONG TERM CARE FACILITY AND A HOSPITAL both part-time.... Out of the 150 people in my program you can bet half are working as PSWs right here in ONTARIO at this moment. I wouldn't call that 'luck'. I respect PSWs 100% I learned a lot from working with them however.....I was told this to my face from an interviewer- "You are more qualified than a PSW, we love hiring nursing students". Until they are regulated its up to institutional preference if there is a mandatory certificate required. Please stop assuming you know everything when clearly you are looking at this through a very narrow tunnel and are spewing information that is misinformed.
I too was told during my interview that they LOVE to hire nursing students as PSWs for numerous reasons and will always hire a student if they can :) atleast 25% of my facility's PSWs are nursing students... It is not uncommon AT ALL.
Your facts are not factual, some further research may be in order prior to future posts.
A better question might be: why do people go to pre-health programs at all? PSW doesn't get a person the course requirements needed for nursing. ILC, highschool, or prehealth programs do. They could potentially earn their PSW while they are completing these courses, but they could also continue working in whatever job they have while doing so, or they could get a certificate in some other health-related job, or whatever. Getting a PSW certificate doesn't help a person get a nursing certificate. (unless they go the PSW->RPN->RN route which takes much longer but would avoid the specific highschool requirements)
Earning a PSW certificate while taking night courses would be a big workload, which could compromise marks. It's all very well to have PSW experience, but if the marks you earned at night school were barely passing due to having too much on your plate, it wouldn't be competitive, and a person wouldn't get in. In pre-health, a person can focus on school and get government funding for it.
So a person probably goes to pre-health so they can focus on school. A lot of adults also wouldn't feel comfortable in a highschool setting, and aren't confident enough in their abilities or not comfortable with online to do it only online through ILC.
I am also in Ontario and agree with the others that night school etc is not free.
Also like others have said PSW program only makes you a PSW. It does not help you get into RPN. I had people take pre health with me who were ALREADY PSWs and they HAD to take prehealth in order to meet the requirements to get into the RPN program because they couldn't do that with their current PSW status/experience.
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Missfuturern1690
18 Posts
I would like to thank everyone for sharing their views on this subject, though some of us share opposing views on this topic, i think that we were at least able to touch base on some of the important questions that students might have regarding which avenue is best for them. At the end of the day, we can't decide for you which is the best option, this is a decision that students will have to make. I just hope that this forum will help someone have a better understanding of both programs and choose whichever path they feel necessary for their life; there is no right or wrong because it really depends on the individuals lifestyle, mindset and maturity. The decision to become a Nurse is a rewarding one and i wish the best to anyone entering either program! both are in no doubt beneficial in their own way and will help you get to where you need to be! :) I understand that money might not be an issue for some students so taking out 4000 in student loans for pre health is not an issue. I also am aware that money IS an issue for many students and this forum might come in handy to those who don't have the money to afford the pre health program. As for passing Nursing school, i believe that PSW will make the transition into Nursing easier. Students can obtain pre req at ANY highschool/Adult Education School or through ILC. My advice for students is to call up the schools and do a comparison for prices and to see if certain schools will accept Pre Health certificate from other schools.