can RPN work as PSW??

Fiona59 · Apr 27, 2014

Apply for any and every facility LPN job that you can. Be it casual, nights or whatever.

Like everyone has already told you PSW work will do nothing for your LPN requirements. You've got to understand that employers will want to know why you have been registered since 2011 and are only now actively looking for work.

jrcbtst · Apr 27, 2014

if you guys were in my situation... given i only have 8months left to land an rpn job... should i wait or take the risk of getting the psw job while applying for more agencies and retirement homes? im actually anticipating that i might need to take refresher course because i might not get rpn job before my license expires... worst case scenario.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 27, 2014

I'd be looking farther afield. The GTA and most other urban areas are saturated. There are few if any vacancies that might be found in the larger centres. You might have to take a job in a rural or isolated area to get your practice hours. Even if you were to take a casual or a maternity leave relief position, it would help. As you've already learned, some sacrifices may need to be made. You actually have less than 8 months... getting a PN job in December still isn't going to get you the safe practice hours you need before the deadline. If you need income, you need income. But the PSW job isn't going to get you in the door anywhere else.

jrcbtst · Apr 27, 2014

thanks for your time answering my questions, :) i have learned things based on your experience well anyway i just need to keep looking for rpn job openings then, if you live in ontario maybe you can share with me some more agencies which i can apply.. haha. if i did not get a job before the deadline i somehow anticipated the consequences of not practicing my profession for the past two years. lesson learned. :)

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2014

Agencies are known for their clauses, but not to everyone. A friend of mine works for an agency, and just as Jan described, she was prevented from being hired with a facility even though she had never been placed there.

I signed on with the same agency before I was hired into a permanent position. I told this agency not to place me in AB, and they agreed. I am not having anyone dictate where I might decide to work.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 28, 2014

Actually, the agency TRIED to prevent me from being hired. But I caught them on a technicality. Although I'd applied for a job at a hospital system (Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre, which is comprised of 6 separate hospitals) that the agency sent nurses to, they never actually sent anyone to the part of the system I would be working in (Women's Hospital). The manager on the unit wanting to hire me bent over backwards to secure my services. She's the one that found the technicality and followed up on it. But it was a hassle I could have done without. The office closed a couple of years after I left and it seems the company no longer has a presence in Canada.

jrcbtst · Apr 28, 2014

what does AB mean? sorry :)

jrcbtst · Apr 28, 2014

so if ever i sign up with an agency i should only accept RPN job then? because right now my priority is to get safe practice for RPN... i dont want the hassle of applying for reinstatement again .. i only have until december to get a job :s

loriangel14, RN · Apr 28, 2014

Yes. Only an RPN job will count as RPN experience.

jrcbtst · Apr 28, 2014

..by the way.. does working in a skin care clinic count as RPN safe practice? sorry for too many questions guys... but i really appreciate your answers.. thanks :)

loriangel14, RN · Apr 28, 2014

I wouldn't think it would count. Is it an actual RPN position?

jrcbtst · Apr 28, 2014

because ive seen some job postings for RPN on skin clinics and im wondering if its worth applying to have safe practice... anyway i have to check the job description again.. :)