I am around age 30. I did my secondary school and 4 year post secondary education in health field outside north america. Finished my post secondary education in 2011. I would like to become RN. My gpa in post secondary education is around 3. Which will be fastest way to become an RN? Which way will be easiest to get admission? I am willing to study anywhere in Canada where it is easy to get admission and where the program won't be so tough
Option 1 = Doing LPN/RPN and then do bridging through Athabasca etc? Do I need to take pre health courses or HOEA, etc to get admission into LPN/RPN program in canada?
Option 2 = Or go directly to BScN 4 years? Since I have post secondary education, is it easy to get admission to BScN? Or do I need to take some courses as my gpa is only around 3
Any feedback will be helpful. I am willing to work very hard. Currently working in Alberta
If ability to get into a program was not a consideration and you were only left with the financial consideration, it would be financially better to go the PN route, graduate, gain experience working as a PN and look for employment in provinces that offer some tuition assistance to help offset the costs of a PN to BSN education.
I suggest you look at PN programs in BC, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as these are the provinces where I know nurses who (in the past) received some form of tuition assistance when they upgraded their education.
@Tryng1 if course credits from your previous degree in a health related field are counted it may exempt you from taking pre-health courses.
Hi,
Thank you for the reply. I did WES which converts foreign marks to canadian gpa system.
How do I know if they will exempt me from taking pre-health courses? Since I did not go to school here, I am not able to go to any school advisor for assistance on which courses I should take or not do. Will you all be able to let me know if there is advisor that I can pay them and they can check my international courses and let me know which courses I should be taking to get into RPN or RN program? Thats the part I am confused about.
Once I learn that these are the courses I need to take and the gpa needed, then I will be able to decide if I should aim for RN or RPN program. I understand that RPN and RN programs are competitive.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for your advices.
No, schools do not check previous courses without applying for admission.
Look at Alberta PN program admission requirements, the GPA should give you an idea of how competitive the program is, also some schools say on their website 'this is a highly competitive program'. Since you are in Alberta, sugget you attend the schools' open house information sessions, it will answer some of your questions.
This is my advice to you. I was asked by "Dishes" to put in my input on this forum. Based on my own experience being a BSN (Canada) BSPT (Outside of Canada)
I would not worry about your GPA - 3 is good enough to enter a BSN program. Why would you need more than a grade of 3? You are not even applying for a master program. You are considered under an adult admission/mature stduent. University of Alberta will admit you under the after degree program if you choose them. University will tell you that their admission criteria is 3.5 etc, you are no longer a fresh high school graduate to worry about GPA criteria.
In my own opinion, I will not do a bridging program from PN to BSN. Why? English is my second language, I always find its tough to do assignments online. If english is your second language then you will struggle to meet what the professor wants when you write your assignments. At least when you do it in class, some professors become considerate on your writing skills and grade you more on your knowledge based not on your writing skills. The good side of being a PN to BSN is you can work as an LPN while doing your BSN online. I did full time with my work and went to school almost full time.
I don't agree with some people in here that once you are educated outside of Canada, your courses will not be transfered. Some courses will get transfer credit as long the units earned is the same. But its up to you if you want to retake them again. I did retake some courses to boost my GPA for future references. I did say for future reference because if you decide you want to pursue masters program then that will help a lot.
The only pre health courses that you need to take are probably like 3 courses with 3 credits in it. I know one of them is Pure Math. I took Advance Physics and Calculus in my other degree and that was been transfered to the pre health requisites. I only applied to one University using my other degree and high school diploma both obtained from overseas and I got admitted to the the BSN program on that term without being on a wait list.
GPA? I have no idea what was the asking GPA back then all I know when I got admitted they said this year GPA admission was at least 3.2 - I told myself if I applied and get admitted then fine I will pursue it and if not apply somewhere else. International students applying to MBA needs to meet a GPA but if they cant meet the GPA they will use the MBA exam entry to determine eligibility. You already have a degree going for another degree so you already have a good chance to get admitted to the BSN.
dishes, BSN, RN
3,950 Posts
Trying1 Others who have been in your shoes applied for both PN and BSN programs.