LPN career path (BC) - please help! (Bit of a read)

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Hi, I am a new member and this is my first post! First of all I want to apologize for this being a bit of a read, but I can't find anyone that's willing to discuss this matter seriously with me and I hope you can help me with some advice.

I've wanted to go into healthcare since I was in kindergarten. I used to be sick a lot when I was a child and had a retired nurse take care of me during those times. She was an angel and it is due to her that I decided to become a nurse. My family was opposed to this from the beginning. They all worked in corporate management positions and couldn't conceive anything else for me.

In highschool I brought this up again and wanted to take science and biology however my parents refused to sign my course selection sheet since they didn't want me to have the option to apply for anything else other than business school. They also threatened to stop supporting me if I decided to apply to a different program than the one they wanted me to apply for. I am not blaming them, I should have been stronger, but I was very young at the time and very close to my family. They wanted me to have a comfortable 9-5, Monday to Friday job.

During university I was not interested in my classes, but managed to do fairly well. I wanted to change my degreee twice, but each time I was convinced otherwise by family interventions. I graduated with a 4 year Management Studies BA, but due to my lack of eperience and competitive job market I was not able to find anything other than low-paying admin type jobs. I absolutely hate paperwork and sitting at a desk all day. I have no passion or interest when it comes to this type of work, and I am depressed most of the time and not excited about my future.

I have recently thought about changing my line of work and getting my LPN certificate in BC. However, I am almost 28, and VCC and UFV have long wait lists, meaning that I'll probably be around 31 when I graduate. I can't move to Victoria or the Okanagan since I am in a long-term relationship and I can't afford to pay $20000 in tuition to attend a private college.

My parents are furious that I am considering this, they want me to keep working and "move up the ladder", and my boyfriend thinks that I am too old to go back to school, and wants to start a family soon. I feel that I don't have any support, and that maybe I am selfish for wanting to do this, but I want to be content with my life and passionate about my career.

I have a few questions for you regarding a career as an LPN:

1. What are the employment prospects for newly graduated LPNs in BC?

2. Are you able to get full time hours, and what is the starting salary? (I want to be able to support myself and my children in the future, a lot of marriages don't last forever these days)

3. Do you feel that I am too old to go back to school?

4. Have any of you had problems with your family when you decided to get your LPN, and have they come to terms with it?

5. Do you enjoy your line of work and would you recommend it?

I have a bit of money saved up and I can affort a year in school. I'm thinking of getting my LPN and studying towards my RN through Athabasca while I am working, but the attitude of those close to me is getting me down. I don't want to do this and then not be able to get a job due to a lack of experience or lack of employment opportunities and have my whole family say "told you so".

I feel terrible for having wasted so much time and money doing something I didn't want and not sticking up for myself, but maybe it's not to late for a new beginning.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope to hear back from somebody. I would really appreciate any answers, advice, or feedback that you can give me. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am in Ontario so I can't answer your specific questions about the BC job prospects but I would like to give you some words of encouragement. If nursing is your dream I say go for it. No, you are not too old. I was 37 when I went back and I was far from the youngest in my class.It is never too late for a new beginning.This is your dream, don't listen to the ones saying you should be doing something you hate. Finally becoming a nurse was a dream come true for me and I love being a nurse.

Best of luck and keep in touch to let us know how you are doing.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Sometimes you have to do what is right for you and not what others want. I agree you are never too old to go back to school. Would be nice if you could get your bf on board as it may be a tough year doing your training but if it is something you really want then go for it :)

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OK, I worked in BC a few years back. It really depends where you live and work how much job satisfaction you will get.

BC has the shortest training programme in the country. They train their PNs to the minimum acceptable level to pass CPNRE. Alberta and Ontario have moved to a two+ year diploma programme. More emphasis on critical thinking, decision making and working independently.

When I moved out there I went to a very small hospital that restricted the PN scope of practice to an incredible level. PNs were basically glorified care providers with all nursing skills restricted to RNs.

I've heard that other regions are more accepting of PNs and utilize them to full scope. But there are areas of care you may not be permitted to work.

If you continue on to the BScN via Athabasca, you will be required to obtain an Alberta practice permit and travel to Alberta to do the clinical portions of the course. Traditionally PNs educated in BC have been required to upgrade parts of their education to obtain practice permits in AB.

You may be able to transfer some of your university credits towards registration here (English, Psych, and Sociology).

You might want to check with CLPNBC to see exactly what there plans for PN education are. The one year certificate is pretty much becoming an endangered species.

I was in my 40s when I trained. My family didn't want me to do nursing either. I had children in school during my training. Most of my class did as well. It's not an easy thing to do as you get older as the physical labour involved in clinicals can literally be backbreaking.

I would definitely stay away from the private "career" colleges, if you do a search you will see the issues people have had with them.

You are an adult and only you should be influencing you future and your earning potential.

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Thank you, it's nice to have some encouragement from someone. I talked to my boyfriend again today and he said that he's ok with me going back to school for a year if it's that important to me, so at least I'll have his support!

Also, it's nice to hear that not all of you started studying nursing education straight out of highschool.

Fiona59, thanks for the info regarding LPNs in BC. I emailed CLPNBC today and asked them about the future of LPN education in BC. I am aware that working as a nurse is physically demanding, but I am an active person and I do not enjoy my sedentary desk job. I wish I could go back to school for my BSN, but that would not be fair to my boyfriend since we live together and need to share expenses .. life is not cheap in BC! I'll have to go the LPN route and hopefully upgrade to RN in the future.

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I was wondering if you have decided? It looks like a great opportunity to do something you actually "love", and I wish you the best!

Niki

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I am preparing papers for getting a permission to sit for canadian RN exam in BC, Canada... I got BSN in the US, and one year RN experience. in the US.. My concern is that how is the RN job prospects in BC, Canada for a foreign RN??? Right now...In the US, WA state, it is pretty bad... thanks for any reply on this..

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

ml25: You're aware that this thread is addressed to LPNs, aren't you? And that the original post was more than a year ago, right?

Most recent news from BC is that there are ongoing bed closures in many hospitals and care homes. You might wish to look at this list of current and future closures:

http://www.bcnu.org/campaigns_issues/pdfs/hc_cuts_what_we_know.pdf

Nurses in most areas of the province are being laid off or displaced at the moment and that means there are no openings for IENs or anybody else.

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