Living in Calgary and want to become a Nurse

jsc99 · Aug 20, 2004

Hi Erika,

I graduated from a Practical Nursing program when I was in Alberta and am now back in Ontario as an RPN. I was like you and not sure which one to choose. I decided on the LPN program, thinking it would give me a taste of nursing and that way I could start working sooner and become an RN later.

I was really surprised to find that the program was very intense with a great deal of material to learn in a short time. Before I'd started, I, (like so many other people, unfortunately) had assumed LPN's were basically nursing assistant's! Of course I know better now but, that being said, if I was going to do it over again I would definitely just become an RN right from the start.

If you're going to put in the hard work anyway, you may as well get the benefits that comes with the designation of RN, even if you started with the RN diploma and worked on your degree later. The RN diploma program is not that much longer than it takes to become a Practical Nurse and it would definitely be worth it to you in the long run i.e more job opportunities, better pay, more respect etc.

I wish I had just got the RN diploma in the first place and worked toward the degree at my own pace. Since it seems not much credit is given in Canada for Practical Nursing education (for some reason!) then I think it would actually be easier for you to go directly in to the RN program.

I don't mean to sound like I'm against becoming a Practical Nurse. I'm really not if that's what someone truly wants to be, but since your goal is to become a Registered Nurse anyway, then I think you'd find it most beneficial to just go that route directly. Hope I've helped you a little. :) Sue

West · Aug 20, 2004

Hi Sue!! YOU have been a great help, believe me!!! I appreciate you taking the time to give me your thoughts. Are you working on getting your degree as an RN now? Can you do it as a continuing ed course or do you have to go back full time?

I thought LPN's were nurses assistants? I don't know too much about that, what I have noticed and agree with you is that the pay and opportunity isn't so good. I have heard that it might be manditory in 2005 for all nurses to have a 4 year degree and not be able to leave after two years. I plan on going in Sept ,05. ..... that might effect me in terms of a diploma or degree.

What made you decide to go to Ontario? Well I hope you are getting the respect you deserve!!! :)

gchelak · Aug 21, 2004

Hi Erika:

I am glad you like Calgary, I was born and raised there but have been living in TX for the last 12.5 years - always wanting to go back home. I finally have the opportunity (my husband was transferred with his job up there recently) BUT I was also accepted into a nursing program here in TX for the fall, that has a 400 person wait list! I decided to stay and finish - then move back (my husband is going before me). Since I will be doing a ADN (associates degree) here, and it is the same as a diploma nurse in Canada, I decided to find out how my degree transfers.

I found out that Alberta (Ontario already did this) is trying to omit the diploma nurse program and only have education for BSN's as of 2005. This means that IF you can still get into a 2 year diploma nurse program there, you had better do it ASAP before they shut them all off and you will only have the option of doing a 4 year like most other provinces have gone to. I agree that if you want to be a nurse, put the hard work into the diploma program instead of the LPN and then work on your BSN after you take the exam to be an RN with a diploma. I plan on taking the NCLEX here after I finish and then taking the boards in Canada ( I am assuming I have to take both exams). Even if the diploma programs are gone by the time I move there, they will recognise me as an RN NOT a new graduate nurse with only a 2 year diploma.

look here:

http://www.cna-aiic.ca/pages/education/educationframe.htm

Hope this helps!

Gail

jsc99 · Aug 21, 2004

You're very welcome Erika, glad I could help. I'm not currently working on getting my degree since I can't seem to find any schools that offer a bridging program from LPN to RN in Canada. I know Athabasca University now gives LPN's credit for one year towards a degree but I'm not too interested in doing it by distance plus the clinical parts are in Alberta anyway. Not too convenient. I don't really have any desire to go back to school for 4 years so I'm just going to wait for now. Hopefully one day soon a school in Ontario will offer an LPN-RN bridging program. I really wish we had the same options they have in the U.S.

No, practical nurses aren't nursing assistant's but I understand how you could have thought that. (Not that there's anything wrong with being a nursing assistant of course, but practical nursing is a different job and should be recognized as such). That's one of the reasons I've found being a practical nurse frustrating. It doesn't seem that they get the credit or respect for the amount of knowledge they've worked so hard to learn in school (and believe me, we're expected to know a lot to pass the program. Over half my class had flunked out by the time we graduated and from what I've read, that's pretty common in a lot of nursing programs.) Also, LPN/RPN/LVN's and RN's are all nurses and are the only ones who can legally use the title of "nurse". The College of Nurses of Ontario says: The main differences between RN's and RPN's are educational preparation and limits of practice. All nursing students learn from the same basic body of nursing knowledge but RN's study it in greater depth and over a longer period of time and are able to provide care in more complex situations. This prepares RN's to autonomously care for clients with more complex and acute care needs. RPN education allows them to autonomously care for clients with stable and predictable care needs.

Of course there's a ton of great information on these boards as well. I've been lurking around here for quite some time and have noticed there seems to be an answer to almost any nursing related question. I wish I'd known about this site when I was in school. If you haven't already, check out the "LPN Corner" for more insight and maybe the "Nursing Student Forums". There's plenty of nurses here more experienced than me that have given some great advice in every area imaginable.

The reason I moved back to Ontario is b/c my husband is in the army and we were posted. I was glad to come back since we'd been in Alberta for 9 years and I really missed being here but now I miss Alberta too! Didn't think I would before I left, but I do. We lived in Suffield and Edmonton. Glad you're happy in Calgary. If there's any other questions, feel free to ask. Sue :)

West · Aug 23, 2004

Hi Gail and Sue!!! Thanks for all the information you have provided me with. I think it is too late to get a nursing diploma, so I would have to take the 4 year program. To be honest with you, I don't know if I want to make that commitment. I wouldn't be starting till Sept 05 so I have some time to think about it. One thing I better do is upgrade some courses to even be accepted into University.

Gail, good luck with your studies in TX.... congrats on getting in with such a long waiting list. Hopefully you will be joining your husband soon here in Calgary!!

RNBN2B · Aug 30, 2004

Hello,

Thought I'd share with you what I know ... if you already have a university degree (regardless of your academic discipline), you'd be eligible to apply for accelerated track programs in Nursing. U of Calgary offers the BNAT (this is a two-year accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program) and the U of Alberta offers a two-year accelerated BScN program. I'm currently about to enter my final year of the BNAT at the U of C and have found it very worthwhile.

I believe that Athabasca U (the online/distance institution in Alberta) and Mt. Royal College in Calgary offer a four-year conjoint program leading to a nursing degree/RN as well that you might want to check out.

Best of luck to you!

montrealexpos · Oct 10, 2004

hi rbnb2b, I am interested in your program too. I have some question to ask and my email is [email protected] I wonder what GPA can get me in. I emailed the student advisor but got no feedback. Would you please give me your email so that I can ask you a few questions about your program.

Thanks