Changing careers to LPN in Vancouver

avahsmiles · Jun 11, 2006

hi there,

i realize you are in vancouver, but here are a few tidbits of info concerning alberta.

whether you are an rn or lpn you will be expected to empty a bedpan at some time or another. i know that in ltc nursing aides are usually hired to do most of the 'grunt' work, lpn's pass meds and so forth.

specialized nursing like maternity & peds are usually reserved for rn's only, due to skill level.

alberta wages for lpn's start at $17/hr, more with experience.

i rarely see latex gloves used anymore. vinyl gloves are used more and more.

and last but not least the demand for lpn's in northern alberta is huge!

best of luck! :)

Fiona59 · Jun 11, 2006

BC isn't the most LPN friendly province in Canada. But the hospitals in the lmd are more LPN friendly, you will have more opportunity to utilize your skills. Apparently the interior hospitals are more LPN supportive.

I am a working LPN in Alberta. I work in Maternity in a unit that is considered high risk. I carry the same patient load as an RN. My patients have the same care needs as an RN's. The RN is responsible for IV med administration and anything IM. There are usually a Charge RN and out of nine nurses on the floor it has been known to be 2 RN and 7 LPN to a 4:5 ratio. Both levels of nurse have between four and five patients plus the infants (its a long night if you have two sets of twins) It depends on whether LPN or RN's are available through staffing.

The only areas I have not met LPNs working are in NICU and ICU. Neither of which are areas where I would like to work, so it doesn't affect me.

Ultimately your scope of practice is defined by the agency employing you. What you can do on unit A may differ from what you do on unit B. Examples: LPNS in doctors offices and public health do all immunizations on individuals over the age of 5, in active treatment only RN's immunize; dialyisis LPNs prepare and hang their own IV meds, they cannot in active treatment, some LPNs in LTC do their own insulins, some don't.

LPNS work in public health, dialysis, as OR techs and ortho techs. Each of thes jobs require advanced skills and certificates (immunization certificates, hemodialysis, OR and ortho certifactions) which are acquired after graduation.

As my charge said the other week. We don't care if you are RN or LPN as long as you know your skills and scope and work accordingly we will have you on the floor.

winjea · Jun 11, 2006

Where did you both go to do your schooling?

Do you know if there is a waiting list everywhere, or does it

only seem to be in BC?

Fiona59 · Jun 12, 2006

Alberta Vocational, now Norquest College.

Why do you want to work in Maternity? It is pretty unglamourous, grunt work nursing, all in all. Yes, it is a specialty, but not people return to it after practicuums.

You don't like bedpans, well let me describe a shift. Receive a new Mum and baby. We do a physical assessment of Mum (baby's first is done in nursery as is bath), check perineum, change pads, monitor catheter, if no catheter, assist to toilet, if unable to void do an inandout cath, educate regarding infant care; growth & development, instruct in breastfeeding or bottle feeding, assess baby as required, change baby, monitor IVs, pull at correct time, pull catheter when needed, remove staples and sutures, referee disputes between grandparents, estranged boyfriend and Mum, discharge patient and baby, corificeat checks, be a shoulder for Mum if baby is apprehended or being placed for adoption, explain that its a hospital and not a hotel to various relatives who want to stay overnight (we don't have "family suites or birthing rooms", reassure Mum that a Csection isn't a failure (some women see havin a section as making them less than a woman who delivers lady partslly), educate Mum on what changes to expect in her body, and try to answer questions about birth registrations, child tax benefits, the list goes on and on.

Postpartum nurses spend a lot of time worrying about bladders and bowel movements, flow rates, lady partsl tears. We also change bedlinen frequently if the patient is bleeding heavily.

We don't have a lot of time to spend holding babies (which is what a lot of students think we do). It's hectic and when we get a slow shift we've earned it. Vag. deliveries are lucky to get 24 hours in hospital, sections stay for 72. We have a lot of info to get into our Mums (most of whom do not go to prenatal classes) and a lot of assessment work to do.

Every time I touch a patient I wear gloves. We deal with a lot of body fluids, and a lot of my patients are HIV, HepB and/or HepC +.

Hope I haven't put you off but I don't really think there is an area of nursing where you don't need gloves. I even use them for giving injections (people bleed when the needle comes out)

winjea · Jun 12, 2006

No, you haven't put me off at all. I just want to know alot of the facts before I make my decision.

I just want to know as much as I can about what an LPN does and what they are capable of.

I realize that wearing gloves is a huge part of the job, I am just worried about becoming sensitive from constant exposure- I guess I could go and get an allergy test now to see beforehand.

How long was the course at Norquest College?

Was the workload heavy? The reason that I'm asking this is

because I would be working part-time as well as studying.

ssssss · Jul 17, 2006

I am currently in the Practical nursing program at VCC. The waitlist to get in is about a year, but it's worth the wait to really think about whether or not you're making the right decision.

One of my instructors who has been a LPN since the 1970's told us that here in BC the demand for LPN's is increasing rapidly. A way they are trying to cut health care costs is by utilizing the LPN full-scope (cheaper than hiring all RN's). Therefore there is a greater number of jobs available to us now more than ever, and will keep on increasing as we go on.

The program at VCC is wonderful. All instructors are very well educated themselves and teach all concepts in an understandable method. The program does involve a ton of work, I have about a minimum of three hours a night of readings, questions, journals, assignments, etc. (hope that doesn't deter you though!). I thought it would be okay to work part-time while I studied, but found that I just can't work during the week, other than shifts on Sundays. When you work an evening, it takes away from the time you should be preparing for the next day. You are paying for your education, so you might as well do your best and try your hardest. Work will always be around, and hey it's only a year... Good Luck!

goldenrule · Jul 30, 2006

Dear SSSSSS,

I'm very eager to know about the foreighn nurses who are in Canada for a job but not thru their profession(lets say caregivers),are they not allowed to study to be as lpn or as canadian nurse to be while doing their job?Where's the best place to study or can you suggest best way how to start anth best place to go? thank you.