Canadian Forces - Nursing ??

[zerophyte]

Is there any place in the Canadian Forces for an LPN?? On the website it seems they only want RN's with a baccalaureate degree.

Nevertheless, will they hire/recruit me as an LPN and then pay for tuition expenses for me to do a bridging program to RN BScN?? I am aware of 3 years of return service work. But my final question is this..

If I receive my RN training while employed in the Military, will my RN license only be good within the Canadian Forces, and won't be valid outside in civilian jobs, if I decide to leave later.

[shapely]

I don't know much about Canada, but in the US when the military pays to train you, the training is at accredited institutions (civilian or military) which then allow you to be licensed by the state. This allows the nurse to pursue a civilian job after the military contract. If the Canadian Forces are sending you to an accredited institution and you will receive the same license as other nurses then you should able to use it after your contract with them. You need to see what this education they are providing will ultimately give you. If it is on the job training which doesn't lead to a license, you won't be able to use it in the civilian world. Talk to the recruiter.

[zerophyte]

Thanks for your reply.

From researching their website a bit more, it seems that the Canadian military will send me off to an accredited university/college to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing. But one thing thats kind of stifling that they require 2 years of return service work for every year they sponsor you during your degree/education..

So If i spend 3 years in uni, it'll be like 6 years return service contract.. But since I already have my LPN, maybe I can seek advanced placement and hopefully do less time for my LPN to BSN.

[AirforceRN, RN]

Perhaps I'm too late...but...

The CF doesn't have positions for LPNs. Medics and Nurses are probably your closest bets.

You can apply after you have been accepted to an accredited nursing school in Canada. The CF will pay for your tuition (and books/supplies etc) and provide you with a salary while in school

Your summers will be occupied with Basic Training and on the job training (OJT)

You will be paying back 2 years for every year of schooling paid. If you break this contract you will be held financially accountable.

I believe you can break the contract after your first summer of basic training (and after first year of school) without a penalty. The military understands that not everyone who applies will enjoy the job and offers this as a way out.