I've been accepted to the fall RPN semester at St Lawrence College. I'm a bit older than most of the college crowd now, just turned 27 this August, fully expect to be the only male nurse on this campus. Immunizations, record checks, books and financing are all taken care of, but even though I want to make a career in nursing, I'm worried. I didn't have all the necessary prereqs for a BScN this fall and decided to go the RPN route instead. My reasons for this are mainly that I'm living with my parents while going to school and a year of pre-health combined with the BScN would take me half a decade to finish. My long term goals are to become certified, find a job in one of the major cities, move out and bridge to RN after two or three years because I do NOT want to live with my parents for that long, but I still feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot.
I'm definitely going to give it everything I've got. I'm not trying to put down RPNs in any way, I know any level of nursing requires massive dedication and hard work. It's just that the large majority of job ads I see are for RN positions only, with the few positions for RPNs being casual postings in LTC or occasionally visiting care. I have nothing against taking care of the elderly, but is that ALL RPNs are qualified to do? Is it true I'd just be changing linens, dressings and bedpans if I managed to find work in a hospital? Little to no chance of full time hours/overtime/benefits? I just look at the limited scope of practice and keep thinking "why would anyone hire me for this over a new RN grad looking for their 1st year of hospital experience? Bridging programs in Canada are all but nonexistent right now, what if they're phased out completely in a few years? Can I support myself on RPN wages? What if I get laid off and nobody's hiring? Would I be in a position to finish my prereqs and do ANOTHER 4 years?"
I can't stop myself from thinking like this. Some of my relatives are retired nurses and they try to reassure me that RPNs and RNs basically have the same duties and share the work, that RPNs are more bedside oriented while RNs have more have more to do with the supervisory/administration side of things, but they mainly worked in small town hospitals in a different time. I know I should be looking forward to the opportunity, but I'm terrified of the industry leaving me in the dust no matter how hard I'm willing to work or how well I can do my job just because I don't have my Bachelor's. I'm locked in now, but the brightest part of my future looks like "GOPHER FOR LIFE" in big neon lights.
Have I been grossly misinformed and actually have a shot as a respected hospital nurse if I put in my best effort? Would I just be let go if life throws me a curveball and I don't upgrade later on? Some perspective would be really great on this...
I am a new grad RPN. My first reaction to reading your post was "what kind of idiot plans on going to school for something he knows so little about". By then I remembered I sounded the same as you. I thought RPN's couldn't do very much and were not respected.
As for what RPN's can do I think the other posters have answered that well. Most pt's wouldn't be able to tell the difference between RPN's and RN's. Where I work RN's do the blood (you need two people, one has to be an RN-the other can be an RPN) change pump bags (in reality the RPN's do it, and the RN will just sign off on it-not always but when the RN trusts the RPN and is fed up with doing something the RPN could easily do) and always get called when fecal matter hits the fan.
As for finding a job right now RPN's are having a WAY easier time then RN's (but in boom's we get laid off). You my friend, trusting you are not a complete moron , should find a job with ease. You are male and you are not fresh out of high school, you have some life experience.
I got more job offers then I knew what to do with. A wack in LTC, one homecare (and that with out even applying to any homecare agencies) and two hospitals. I took a pt hospital job that I love and work in casual in a really nice LTC home that pays well.
As for bridging. You are going to have to work really hard in school. Be prepared to say goodbye to your social life for two years. I did it and don't regret it. I am going to be bridging this fall. I personally think you're better off to work a bit and bridge later but I have a scholarship that won't wait for me.
You most defiantly are not shooting yourself in the foot. I know a number of RPN's who have bridged. They have been able to work pt (that means in lue of's) and make 30g a year while going to school full time. Not only that but as an RPN you have a lot of bed side experience, knowledge and skill already . I spoke with a girl who had been working surg for 5 years and teaching the PSW program for a year. She said she found the bridging frustrating because she didn't learn much beyond theorists and essays.
Lori: was it a wound vac and involved tunneling? Been there and done that dressing!
Yeah and that was with two of us at it.You could have lost your keys in this one.The lower 6-7 inches of the spine was fully exposed.Sad.
I had one man with dressings and he had reacted badly to a med.He was blistered from the neck to his toes.I only had him once but the dressing change took forever.
Its funny, my orientation is tomorrow and I'm so nervous already I can't sleep so I'm up reading about nursing school and found your post. I just thought I'd post because our situations don't seem too different although you seem more worried about the prospects of the career after school whereas I'm more worried about what starts in a week and not so worried about afterwards. I'm male too and 33 years old and absolutely terrified of going back to school and with people almost half my age! Anyway, I wouldn't worry - I suspect we are all terrified for our own reasons starting a new program but that things will go well in the end. Now if only I could take my own advice
You may find that you are not necessarily the "old" people in your class. I was 38 and there were at least 5 girls older than me. Many people are going the RPN route as a second career or some are PSWs deciding to take the next step.
Daisy_08, BSN, RN
597 Posts
I am a new grad RPN. My first reaction to reading your post was "what kind of idiot plans on going to school for something he knows so little about". By then I remembered I sounded the same as you. I thought RPN's couldn't do very much and were not respected.
As for what RPN's can do I think the other posters have answered that well. Most pt's wouldn't be able to tell the difference between RPN's and RN's. Where I work RN's do the blood (you need two people, one has to be an RN-the other can be an RPN) change pump bags (in reality the RPN's do it, and the RN will just sign off on it-not always but when the RN trusts the RPN and is fed up with doing something the RPN could easily do) and always get called when fecal matter hits the fan.
As for finding a job right now RPN's are having a WAY easier time then RN's (but in boom's we get laid off). You my friend, trusting you are not a complete moron , should find a job with ease. You are male and you are not fresh out of high school, you have some life experience.
I got more job offers then I knew what to do with. A wack in LTC, one homecare (and that with out even applying to any homecare agencies) and two hospitals. I took a pt hospital job that I love and work in casual in a really nice LTC home that pays well.
As for bridging. You are going to have to work really hard in school. Be prepared to say goodbye to your social life for two years. I did it and don't regret it. I am going to be bridging this fall. I personally think you're better off to work a bit and bridge later but I have a scholarship that won't wait for me.
You most defiantly are not shooting yourself in the foot. I know a number of RPN's who have bridged. They have been able to work pt (that means in lue of's) and make 30g a year while going to school full time. Not only that but as an RPN you have a lot of bed side experience, knowledge and skill already . I spoke with a girl who had been working surg for 5 years and teaching the PSW program for a year. She said she found the bridging frustrating because she didn't learn much beyond theorists and essays.
Anyways, this post just keeps growing.
Good luck, any other questions feel free to ask