BScN student to RPN in ONTARIO?

Fiona59 · Feb 12, 2005

It cost $$$ to write the national exam for Practical Nurses.

You might try your local nursing homes, they sometimes hire second year RN student to work as "Accredited Care Aides" or "Employed Nursing Students". Each facility has an exam that you write prior to employment.

The thing is how good are your skills. By the time an LPN is employed she has spent at least seven weeks clinical in a nursing home doing upto five patient care on top of her meds, and wound care, seven clinical weeks in med-surg.

You have to be able to do all of an LPN/RPN's job, not just meds. Time management is a big factor.

Good Luck.

Lys · Feb 12, 2005

Tina,

I'm not 100% sure, but I think that after you're finished your degree, you would likely be able to write the RPN exam if you *really* wanted to - check out the RPNAO.org website. As far as I know though, you can't write any professional registration exams while you're still in school, unless you have a diploma already.

But, like the previous poster said - check out nursing/retirement homes, they frequently allow RN students to work as PSW's or HCA's (sometimes they'll let you do extended stuff, as an unregulated care provider).

Lys

Kudra · Feb 12, 2005

unfortunately, i do not think you can... in order to qualify to write the RPN exam, you need to have graduated from a Practical Nursing program... completing 2 years of a RN program isn't equivalent to a PN diploma education... it's not like in some States where you can challenge the RPN/LPN exam...

almondhoney · Dec 20, 2005

Old thread being bumped here.

Georgian College does have a bridging program. I haven't looked into other schools. If you're from Ontario you can take the bridge program and write the provincial RPN exam.

Hopefully, you have already been informed of this information.

Kudra · Dec 22, 2005

Old thread being bumped here.
Georgian College does have a bridging program. I haven't looked into other schools. If you're from Ontario you can take the bridge program and write the provincial RPN exam.
Hopefully, you have already been informed of this information.

i think the OP wasn't looking to complete a RPN course, rather challenge the RPN exam based on the fact that they were in a RN program...

from what i can tell on the Georgian site, the bridge program is only for those who currently have their RPN certificate...

ontario_stressed_nur · Nov 16, 2006

I'm an RPN, when i was in school 3 years ago, we had 3yr year RN students that failed courses and bumped down to RPN, they only received credit for 1 year. RPN are taught the same as RN's just in a shorter time frame. As a 3rd semester RPN i was able to administer medication, do full head to toe assessments, pack wounds, insert foley's, do CBI, insert NG tubes. I was able to do very much. The last semester of RPN is getting ready for exams and doing your pre-grad hours. I'm in the process of upgrading to BSCN, but i am credited for the first 2 years of clinical lab and placements and most of my classes (pharmacology, patho, health assessment) because they are the exact same class. Many RN students seem to think that when they are in school for 2 years that they have the same training as a 2nd year RPN but very mistaken. I'm employed on an acute medical unit and work to my full scope of practice. I also work on an active surgical and emerg department on call.

linzz · Mar 21, 2007

Tina: The first thing you need to do is contact the CNO in Toronto, they will tell you what the requirements are to sit the RPN exam. The exam is only offered 3 times a year. The CNO are the ones who decide what the requirements for licencing of RN's and RPN's. I think that you would need to ask for an education or practice consultant.

TPP1979 · Sep 14, 2007

Hi Tina,

I do know that they offer a briding program at Georgian College for students who want to work as an RPN while finishising their last two years at university. The bridging program is offered during the summer only, and it's a 13 week program. After completion of the program you have to write an exam to work as an RPN.

I hope this helps!

Trina

LaurenC · Sep 20, 2007

Hi Tina!

Just reading through different topics as a new user, and this one caught my eye. I just completed the RPN Bridging program at Georgian College in Barrie,ON. It is open to all second year BScN students, and requires you to do two weeks of in class, and 13 weeks of full time clinical consolidation. You are then eligible to write the CRPNE. I've just finished writing the National exam last week. It's a great program, I encourage you to apply!

kk27 · Sep 30, 2007

Hey LaurenC,

For the 13 weeks practical experience do you have a choice on where it is done? Or is it all done in the Barrie area?

nelliesusan · Apr 9, 2009

I wanted to reply to linnz comments about rpns being taught the same as bscns but in a shorter time frame. If they are the same then why are there 2 different titles? It is an unfair judgement for you to say that you know exactly what the BScN program involves when you have not taken the program. I feel RPNs do learn many of the same skills that RNs learn and are extremely competent and important to the healthcare system. As for the shorter time frame, not true. All those skills you have mentioned that you have done by the end of your program, I have done plus more and I have just finished my second year in the BScN program. Other people in my program would agree with me that all of our basic nursing skills have been learned by the end of the second year of the BScN program, as well as a large amount of clinical experience at this point. The last 2 years of BScN involve mainly hours of clinical experience as well as more research and other relevant courses to help us become excellent critical thinkers and ready to take on the role of RN. I do not feel I'm very much mistaken at all, because in addition to what you said you have learned, I have done as well by the end of my second year; NG tube insertion, catheter insertion and care, Med admin, vitals, assessments. I also have training in full IV care, (not the insertion) tracheostomy care, chest tube care, oxygen therapy, and can very much differentiate lung sounds. I've given well over 40 IM injections, and have practiced documentation every clinical day as well. I know how to tell is someone is in a resp or metabolic acidosis or alkalosis, as well as how to develop care plans and to apply the nursing process at a beginner level, therefore it is not fair to say that I would not be qualified to write the rpn exam. I'm most certainly at a novice level, but so are all nurses when they first graduate. I'm working as an overqualifed psw right now, and people can not understand why I'm not working as an rpn or an undergrad nurse, well neither can I. In my opinion I should be allowed to challenge the rpn exam.