LPN ortho tech?...very lost

[macbook]

Hello Ladies and Gents,

I don't even know where to start :)

Alright here I go, I'll make sure to send out some cookies to those who take the time to read this lol. I have been working for the last 2 years behind a desk in the Emerg. Department for our local health region. Tho I currently hold an EMT licence, I am now attempting to make the move towards nursing. I am located in Calgary and looking at our local LPN programs.

I had the opportunity to shadow a gentleman a few year ago. He worked as an ortho tech. He gave me the hope and light that this is something I could do. I never was able to take that experience on and move forward with it. I am now determined as ever to do this.

So now here it is, other than hunt down our cast clinic guy where I work, where can I get information regarding taking all the right steps in becoming an ortho tech?

Would I need to take my LPN and I believe there is an extension program? I think I also saw the region had an opening (don't recall what it was) but it described you needed your surgical prcessing as well as LPN?

ideas as to what programs would be worth looking at in the city of Calgary?

Love you all to pieces

....going back to searching the forums for more related threads :typing

[Fiona59]

You're in Calgary -- you are Canadian. A lot of the info in the LPN forum is American and their training and certifications are different. Try the Canadian Forum on this site.

You must have a LPN practice permit to attend the Ortho Tech specialty programme.

Try Bowvalley or Norquest. Even try the CLPNA website.

Ortho Techs when certified make more than a LPN. They top out at around $40/hour under the new AUPE contract. There are usually a couple to be found in acute care facilities, ER's and rehabs. I believe they are also employed by Childrens and the Stollery up in Edmonton.

[macbook]

Thank you so much Fiona! Loads of information. I'll go take a look as soon as I get home, thanks

again for taking the time to respond :)

[Cziegler, LPN]

Hi there just to give you a very clear and straight forward answer, you need to become a full LPN with your license and then accumulate 1800 hours of work experience, then you can do your program through Norquest college (great program) to take your ortho specialty, it is two classes consisting of anatomy and physiology and then trauma and rheumatology where you will learn to order and interpret x rays, do orthopaedic exams and to do casting and splinting/setting bones. and then you do practicum in a cast clinic, emergency, and then childrens emerg for a total of 300 hours, you then become part of the canadian society of orthopaedic technologists. the pay is much better then LPN, as LPN started at 23.72 and goes up to 31.06, and ortho tech started at 29 and go up to 39.82. your scope will change once you become an ortho tech, as an ortho tech you will NOT do IVs, medications, etc etc, you will order and interpret your own x rays and do casting and splinting, you cant even give tylenol, just be aware of that. so you have to like your scope and your job. some people want to have a huge range of skills and some people just want to be an ortho tech because they love the autonomy and the scope as well. do what is in your heart. good luck.