I am hearing all these horror stories about the RPN program (extremely difficult {I don't mind hard work, it always pays off in the end}, high drop out rate, etc).
If anyone on here took the Registered Practical Nursing at any college in Toronto, Ontario.
Please share some insight. I am very excited and can't wait to begin this Fall, but I am very nervous as well and don't want to take those feelings along with me into my First Year.
Any, tips or advices? Pleas share your experiences.
Don't you have to get a 1 year PSW college certificate to be employed as a PSW nowdays? I know it makes sense for someone who completed their first year of NS to be able to work as a PSW... but I'm wondering if it's law to have to have your PSW certificate to be employed as one?
In my program in BC (which is 1 year), we had a few students apply for, and get hired as long term care aids about 1/2 way through our program. They definately had the skills by then (personal care, mechanical lifts, bathing, feeding etc).
The benefit for both of them was they were hired by Interior Health (Public Health Authority) and when we finished our LPN program, they were already considered internal employees and could use their LTCA hours towards LPN job postings.)
You're overthinking. It's done like this all the time. The basic skills for care are taught first year. Successful completion of the year shows you acquired the skills. The facilities do, do reference checks.
I know, I know:rolleyes: I was just wondering if there is a law that requires the LTCs to only hire someone as a PSW if the have a official certificate. I know that Practical Nursing student get all the skills they need to work as aides (and maybe more) in their first year.
In my program in BC (which is 1 year), we had a few students apply for, and get hired as long term care aids about 1/2 way through our program. They definately had the skills by then (personal care, mechanical lifts, bathing, feeding etc).
The benefit for both of them was they were hired by Interior Health (Public Health Authority) and when we finished our LPN program, they were already considered internal employees and could use their LTCA hours towards LPN job postings.)
Yes, I got a job as a PSW. My hometown is where the college is so I was competing with a lot of people to get a job. Honestly the only other people I know that got PSW jobs went back home for the summer (actually that's a lie, I know of one girl who got hired for home care, but didn't start applying until school was over so she starts this week-not much of a summer job).
Working a PSW is good experience. Every time the nurse does a treatment I try and sneak in and watch. I have on the job experience with lifts and transfers, experience, get to listen to report between shifts and one of the RPN's is basically mentoring me. She gets me to do vitals, asks me what I think is going on inside, would I send them to the hospital ect. It's really neat.
If I impress them maybe they will hire me. Jobs are not easy to get right now (but in the next few years it will swing the other way). Also I can use the DOC and the nurses as references that are in the medical field. I worked as a cashier for four years and did babysitting so I'm glad to have more related (and adult) references.
Just apply early - like months. One girl had a job out side of the city lined up in March! I put in a few applications two weeks before school got out. Then a million once school was over. I only ever heard back from the one place that hired me (I'm soooo lucky!!) and it was one of the ones I handed out early.
I did give up all of my free time and relaxing vacation time (I'm sure I broke a lot of labour laws) but it has been well worth it. I will graduate debt free and plan on getting a car in December or next summer that will be paid for.
Good luck. You will have the best times and the most stressful times but you really only remember the good!
i know, i know:rolleyes: i was just wondering if there is a law that requires the ltcs to only hire someone as a psw if the have a official certificate. i know that practical nursing student get all the skills they need to work as aides (and maybe more) in their first year.
in all of the psw postings i have seen it says psw certificate or equivalent. first semester of rpn is the equivalent. there are also people i work with who were hier 30 years ago when it was a high class, independent retirement home. back then they got things for the residents, did housekeeping, visits and gave reminders. nothing like it is today, but they still work there because they have grown with the job and have experience. with that they could get other jobs with other homes.
personal support workers are a regulated like nurses are. there is no governing body. a psw messes up you lose your job, a nurse does you lose your licence.
actually personal support worker is unregulated because its not registered like rpn for example, but i heard from someone that it will becomes regulated with no confirmation when its going to happen yet.
personal support workers are a regulated like nurses are. there is no governing body. a psw messes up you lose your job, a nurse does you lose your licence.
I am a PN student. I got a job for summer with our local health region as a Nursing Attendant (actually on the unit I did my LTC rotation for class). I did it both to gain valuable experience and to become an "internal applicant" should this hiring freeze take another year or more to thaw.
I have to say that if you can do this, DO IT. Without the time I have been able to spend learning to become comfortable with providing care, I don't know where I would be. As a nurse you aren't just providing care, you're assessing and critically thinking, etc. That's a lot on your plate if you're also brand new to the hands-on provision of care. Learning the "theory" of care is very different than actually doing it. I certainly feel badly for the girls in my class who didn't get NA positions - they are going to be VERY shocked when they get to acute/med surg and have to do everything at once.
At the facility I work at they are requiring the NA's (some who've been there doing the job for 20 years or more!) to get their certification. The Region pays for the course, but it must be successfully completed by a certain deadline for them to remain employed.
I LOVE nursing so far - working with the residents in LTC (though only as a NA) has only increased my certainty that this (even though I'm a bit late to the game) is what I should be doing. :redbeathe
I made a typo. It should have read "Personal Support Workers are NOT regulated like nurses are. There is no governing body. A psw messes up you lose your job, a nurse does you lose your licence."
are there a lot of in class presentations etc. at humber, as one of the previous members mentioned?
i go to conestoga and there were 2or3 in groups and one on my own and it was only in front of 12 people. that was first year. i don't like them but they weren't too bad. as long as the material was good and you were well prepared.
OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN
585 Posts
In my program in BC (which is 1 year), we had a few students apply for, and get hired as long term care aids about 1/2 way through our program. They definately had the skills by then (personal care, mechanical lifts, bathing, feeding etc).
The benefit for both of them was they were hired by Interior Health (Public Health Authority) and when we finished our LPN program, they were already considered internal employees and could use their LTCA hours towards LPN job postings.)