Licensed! Question: US to CAN

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Hello! I just wanted to share the good news! I am officially an LPN! YAY!

It was posted on my states Office of Professions website yesterday (I also ordered the Unofficial Results from PearsonVue and it said I 'passed'). I am excited and a little nervous all at the same time because it marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

I also wanted to provide words of encouragement to current students, or some who are studying for the NCLEX. Focus on understanding what can hurt your patient and how to avoid or prevent that, also, remember your ABCs! This tends to go hand in hand with avoidance of patient harm.

I found a good resource on this website that outlined a lot of information for quick review so please use this site proactively! There are fellow nurses who are willing to help and have already taken extra time to provide some resources - don't let it go to waste. All the student nurses, you can do it! Good luck!

I do have a question I'm hoping some 'Canamericans' may be able to shed some light on. I was born and raised in Canada but family circumstances had me come to the US where I have completed my LPN. I was wondering how easy it might have been for others to transfer their American license to Canada. I have family in Canada and would like to work in Canada if I desire. My program did not have individual classes and was 11 months long. I know Ontario's RPN program is 2 years so I'm assuming I may be required to take more courses to be considered. Do they count any work experience in your favor? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

US 10-18 month LPN is not equivalent to associates level Canadian LPN/RPN. It's their old RN 2yr diploma program. I've never seen anyone successful without returning to school

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I figured as much. I do have some Canadian college courses (Math, Chem, Bio, Developmental Psych, Ethics) however, they are about 10 years old now. Do you know how long or how many courses where needed for most people?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The full program. Scope is very different in Canada

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I would assume it would have to be at the discretion of the BON, but there are Bridging programs in Canada. Looks like another year of courses, if I'm interested. Is the scope different in that RPNs actually make treatment plans/nursing diagnoses?

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Specializes in Public Health.
I would assume it would have to be at the discretion of the BON, but there are Bridging programs in Canada. Looks like another year of courses, if I'm interested. Is the scope different in that RPNs actually make treatment plans/nursing diagnoses?

RPNs definitely do that stuff in Canada, and more. We study for 4-5 semesters so it's a huge difference in scope up here.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I would assume it would have to be at the discretion of the BON, but there are Bridging programs in Canada. Looks like another year of courses, if I'm interested. Is the scope different in that RPNs actually make treatment plans/nursing diagnoses?

Canada has colleges of nursing. There is no bridge from US vocational/technical diploma to a RPN/LPN college diploma (which is similar to a US ASN program and runs 4-5 semesters or 2-2.5 years) as its not really needed because 10 month vocational nursing programs do not exist in Canada. The entry to practice for RN is BScN minimum.

They do have college RPN/LPN diploma bridge to university BScN programs in Canada.

You would have to review the CoN requirements for RPN/LPN and have your education assessed by NNAS. If you were deemed educationally equivalent for coursework in theory and sufficient clinical hours you would need to pass the CRPNE exam. Unless you have work rights in Canada LPN does not meet the requirements for a TN Visa.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

From the College of Nurses of Ontario:

http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41062.pdf (RN & RPN)

RPN competencies

http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/reg/41042_entrypracrpn.pdf

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Oooh, I must have mistakenly read the RPN to RN Bridge from the college website? Or they just mean RN to Canadian nurse? Or they mean you have to complete the bridge in addition to the RPN program? Haha, I'm slightly confused. Here are the sites I found (these are legitimate colleges in Ontario):

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses Certificate | Continuing Education | Mohawk College

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) | Fanshawe College

Thanks for the links, JustBeachy! Great resources. Just to add, I hold dual citizenship. So I am legally able to work in both countries, no problem besides the actual recognition of license.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yes the RPN scope is much broader up here. My program was 6 semesters

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Oooh, I must have mistakenly read the RPN to RN Bridge from the college website? Or they just mean RN to Canadian nurse? Or they mean you have to complete the bridge in addition to the RPN program? Haha, I'm slightly confused. Here are the sites I found (these are legitimate colleges in Ontario):

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses Certificate | Continuing Education | Mohawk College

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) | Fanshawe College

Thanks for the links, JustBeachy! Great resources. Just to add, I hold dual citizenship. So I am legally able to work in both countries, no problem besides the actual recognition of license.

The first is IEN RN and the second includes RPN but you must have paid working experience as a nurse. The few US educated LPN had to complete a full RPN program to qualify. Most IEN that report qualifying as RPN were educated as BSN/RN overseas but their BSN was not equivalent to Canadian BScN and partially equivalent to RPN and needed a bridging course.

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Specializes in NICU.

My scope of practice is exactly the same as an RN. According to the college of nurses...what I can do is based on the stability and predictability of the patient. Skills wise...it's based on knowledge, skill and judgement. On my busy surgical floor...there is zero difference in scope of practice...except that I'm not assigned in the step down room (which is based on the stability of those patients).

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