Health Care Aide or Practical Nurse

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I'm a mother of two girls under 4, and trying to obtain a decent education. I was suppose to start my Practical Nursing on August 31st, but they canceled the program, and are unsure if there going to start a winter semester. The problem I completely relocated my family 3 months ago just so we could be closer for me to do this(8hours closer) at this school, where they promised me it was for sure. Now the school is saying I can take it at one of there other campuses but it is almost two hours from where I am now! Or they can let me do the health care aide course online. I really want to do the Practical nursing, but I don't want to relocate again and honestly can't afford too.The health care aide interests me, but is it even a good career? One of my friends basically told me I would be the RN's and LPN's *****. I guess I can handle that, and there is a bridging course. Can anyone tell me what the pay scale difference is?

I live in Alberta, outside of Calgary. any advice or support would truly help me in this time of stress. I just feel like I'm already on my way to falling my children and myself.

Thanks in advance

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IMO, go for the RPN and then if you feel like it bridge to RN. Don't go the HCA way unless you have no other alternative. It may seem like a pain now, but it will be truly worth it. RPNs have more possibilities of finding good jobs with benefits and stability than HCAs. It may hurt initially but you'll be very thankful when you finish your program. BTW, I don't think the HCA courses really help or give you credits towards a bridging, I may be run on this one, but at least in my city when PSWs want to go the nursing way they need to apply even to pre-nursing.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You could take the health care aide training on line and find a job while they sort out whether they're planning to resume to LPN program or not. I'm not sure why they'd close the program (Bow Valley?) when the shortage of LPNs is showing no signs of easing. If you worked in a hospital as a health care aide you'd work hard, but you'd have benefits and a fair wage... $16.35 to $19.89 plus differentials. I've never seen any of the HCAs on my unit treated like the RNs' *****. I can't speak for LTC though. Bow Valley and NorQuest offer a bridge and you would certainly learn a lot of valuable things as a health care aide that would make that training easier.

Another possibility is to take the PN program by distance ed through NorQuest in Edmonton. You'd have to come up here once in awhile for a day or two, for skill development, but your clinicals can be arranged closer to home as can your final practicum. Your starting pay as an LPN would be the top end of the HCA pay scale.

A third possibility is Red Deer College.

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PNs start at $21.72. NAs in the hospital setting max out at around $19.50.

Were you planning on attending a private "career college"? Because I've never heard of Bow Valley just not starting a class. I've worked with some of their grads and they produce good PNs.

I seem to remember Norquest at one time had a bridge for NA's to transition into the PN programme. They got credit for basic patient care skills and I think it was only offered to their NA grads. I'm not sure if they still have the option.

LTC is heavy on NA's. Upto a 10 patient assignment and there are always a couple of total cares in that workload. They do most of the basic care. LPNs in LTC have a backbreaking workload as well. They often have a five patient assignment on top of doing med passes of upto 35 patients and all wound and footcare. LTC is not for the faint of heart. That's basically why there is always work in LTC facilities. A totally unrealistic workload and staff/patient ratio and very demanding patients and families. Most LPNs I've worked with either make a lifetime career out of continuing care or walk away after roughly 30 months (some away from nursing completely).

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I moved from Grande Cache Alberta and was guaranteed this program would start August 31 in Canmore, They called me about two days ago and canceled it, and said I could start at there Main campus or there Franklin campus on August 31, But I was no longer guaranteed seat, and if there are any left she said there is a large list to go through. In Canmore I was guaranteed my seat for the 17months the course takes.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You need to file an official complaint with the main campus. This is unconscionable and cannot go unreported. I'd also suggest a letter to the editor of both the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun. They have some very competent health care reporters who would take this and run with it.

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I've been trying to get in contact with the Admission officer for the program but she hasn't returned any of my calls.I'm just going to ring her phone off the wall on Monday, thank you very much janfrn for talking to me about this, I've been quite emotional about this since I've had the phone call and try to be strong and not give up hope seems to be wearing me thin a little bit.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Consider this a test of your character. If you don't take this lying down and you fight for what's right, even if you don't end up winning the war, you've proven that you have the capacity! I was rejected five times for nursing school, twice by one of them. I appealed the 5th rejection (after I stopped crying and throwing things) with a well-crafted argument and got the school to agree to reassess my application. The dean of the school got involved personally and I ended up graduating near the top of my class from the best school in the province of Manitoba. Never underestimate the power of the pen or of the press. As soon as you're done talking to the admissions officer, if it doesn't go the way it should, write those letters to the editor.

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Specializes in ED.

Where I live (Eastern Ontario) the RPNs barely make more than the HCAs (here you need Personal Support Worker - same thing - 1 year college).

So, I'm torn between what to tell you.

I worked as a PSW in school and I hated it. I WAS the RN & RPNs you-know-what at my work. It was really good money, though.

RPN is a better job, IMHO, but wayyyyyyy more responsibility (and a license to worry about) for $1-3 more if you're lucky. Kinda seems not worth it.

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Where I live (Eastern Ontario) the RPNs barely make more than the HCAs (here you need Personal Support Worker - same thing - 1 year college)....RPN is a better job, IMHO, but wayyyyyyy more responsibility (and a license to worry about) for $1-3 more if you're lucky. Kinda seems not worth it.

A couple of points:

In Alberta the start out wage gap is roughly $5/hour. A LPN at the top of the payscale makes just under $30/hour before shift premiums.

RN programmes out here have waitlists and on top of that you currently need around an 85% average in all high school classes to be considered.

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You should look into Bow Valley, Norquest or Columbia College.

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I took the LPN program in BC last year (it is a 1 year course there) but was unsuccessful at the end of my final term to complete my final clinical/perceptorship so have to go back next year for 4 months to finish but let me tell you that I worked my second clinical as a Health Care Aide and seen everything they do and seen how the nurses treated them and they ahd nothing but respect for the RCAs.

I have a great respect for RCAs as they are with the patients more then the LPNs/RNs are so they know them more in my opinion. We just moved to Lacombe, Alberta as my husband's career brought us here and I just got a job as a Health Care Aide. I am still going to finish as an LPN because I have come too far to give up and plus that is what I really want to do but let me tell you that I have no problem working as a Health Care Aide here in the meantime. It is a very honourable job and also will give me experience and keep things fresh in my head until I return to finish my LPN whether it be in BC or here in Alberta!

Good luck in any decision you make. I'm sure you will be successful no matter what!:wink2:

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