i've been thinking about taking nursing for a few months now, its funny because people have always told me i should be one because of my kind caring nature. but i've always been interested more in art and computers. anyway after being put on a waiting list for a competitive art program and a bad economy i decided to take a quick health related program called sterile processing. its a quick program and pays pretty well to start for only being 6 months in school.
just before entering the program i decided to further in health care if i didn't mind working in the hospital. i figured health care was more secure (this was before the hiring freeze in ab, which is clearing up now:)). now i find myself surprisingly fascinated by everything related to heath/sciences. i really enjoy it and find my self reading posts on here and googling more info on nurses and doctors all the time, also my program is very limited and i find myself wanting to learn more and more on care and the human body. for the past 4 months i've been strongly considering taking nursing late next year. i've herd its very rewarding and challenging. but is it for me? i've also herd about nurses being very rude and putting up with soo much. like just yesterday i herd a story about a nurse that got knocked out my a patient.
i also have a friend that is half way through her nursing program but hates blood?? i mean are half the people that go into nursing really fit for it? what is the average number of students that actually pass? and actually enjoy working in the field after school? can someone please tell me the negatives and postives on nursing and the journey to become one? i herd its very difficult... and even though i would like to take the rn program i would much rather be done fast and take the practical nurse program instead. what are the disadvantages their? has anyone done the pratical nurse program at bow valley? is it good?
sorry about my long post! i just really wanted to get this out their and get my questions answered... hopefully.
one more thing... would it be strange to buy some of the nursing books while i'm working as a sterile processer for 1 year, just to read on my spare time. to get a basic understanding of it so i don't struggle too much in school(i herd its really tough). i was also wondering why the rn program is 4 and the pn is 2 when they do almost the same work?
In Canada we have LPN's... and im pretty sure the only difference is the LPN works under the RN in a hospital, well they work as a team and split the pt load, but the RN is ultimatly responsible for all of those pts. LPNs cannot start IVs as well. However in Canada i know they are pushing for RN's to specialize... there is not a lot of LPN jobs out there right now... however ive been told by some nurses ive worked with that there are TONS of things you can do with your RN , like research, education, any specialty you can think of. ALSO, now the whole Nurse practioner thing is coming in, but they only get hired so far in like Northern places... where there isnt really any doctors etc.
If you are going to practice as a nurse in Canada, you need to know that what is the norm in BC in NOT the norm across Canada.
I am an LPN who has worked in both AB and BC. My practice was restricted by hospital scope in BC.
I start IVs, administer IV medications (except travisol,cyto-toxics, and blood), I have the knowledge of how to sink an NG, care for central lines, etc. LPNs can specialize in Dialysis, OR (work as scrub or circulating nurse), orthopedics in the cast room, advanced foot care and are in school/immunization programmes.
CNA has some interesting practice papers you may want to look into. Especially those concerning the future of nursing in Canada and how they foresee the future of hospital based nursing (they think it will be primarily LPN driven with RNs in the community to a greater degree)
I work under my own insurance and permit. I DO NOT work under an RNs permit.
PNs in Ontario work under a very similar scope to those of Albertan nurses.
Nurse Practioners work in hospitals and family practice clinics in Alberta. I personally know four. It is true that for remote settlement nursing that they like to hire an NP when possible.
I understand that you are new and young and excited. But please don't making sweeping statements about nursing across a nation as huge as Canada.
Thanks for the info, I like to find out more in depth about work in Canada. Can RN's go back to schoo for nurse practitioners? How long does it take? Also do you know if a hospital you may work for, will help you with your tuition if your program is related to health care?
RNs with their BScN can apply for their Masters, work through the PhD level or become NPs.
I've never heard of any Canadian hospital paying for any school based education, it's the nurse's job to pay for their education.
You can get your employer to pay for workshops but not long term courses. Hell, if that was the case AHS could have saved a load of cash by paying for LPNs to become RNs before the diploma ended. Instead they had the great Australasian road trip that was so beloved by LPNs and RNs working within the system.
Fiona59
8,343 Posts
If you are going to practice as a nurse in Canada, you need to know that what is the norm in BC in NOT the norm across Canada.
I am an LPN who has worked in both AB and BC. My practice was restricted by hospital scope in BC.
I start IVs, administer IV medications (except travisol,cyto-toxics, and blood), I have the knowledge of how to sink an NG, care for central lines, etc. LPNs can specialize in Dialysis, OR (work as scrub or circulating nurse), orthopedics in the cast room, advanced foot care and are in school/immunization programmes.
CNA has some interesting practice papers you may want to look into. Especially those concerning the future of nursing in Canada and how they foresee the future of hospital based nursing (they think it will be primarily LPN driven with RNs in the community to a greater degree)
I work under my own insurance and permit. I DO NOT work under an RNs permit.
PNs in Ontario work under a very similar scope to those of Albertan nurses.
Nurse Practioners work in hospitals and family practice clinics in Alberta. I personally know four. It is true that for remote settlement nursing that they like to hire an NP when possible.
I understand that you are new and young and excited. But please don't making sweeping statements about nursing across a nation as huge as Canada.