LPN to RN

saskrn · Jan 23, 2005

Only telling you how it was.
One student that was rejected was educated in Uganda, spoke English with an accent, had science marks in the high 80's and was told her spoken English wasn't good enough. She was also in my LPN course and graduated in the top 3.
American nursing students have options that Canadians don't. Many hospitals in the US offer education in return for a specified number years employment there. The loans programs in the US have different payback schedules than Canada and different formats for obtaining them. All advanced courses in Canada have to be paid for by the nurse/student. Employers don't assist in any way. You want to change your RN into a BScN or your LPN into a BScN, they expect you to pay for it yourself, very little financial aide available. Often we have to leave our jobs and our incomes to obtain the education, loosing pensions and benefits. We don't have the options of classes on weekends and taking everything in the evenings, most classes are geared for full time during the day students.
But I defer to your superior knowledge of what we see happening here...

That actually isn't really accurate. My employer supports continuing education from both work and financial perspectives. They are very encouraging!

saskrn · Jan 23, 2005

Hi,
I was just wondering if there are people on here that have started out as an LPN and completed the bridge-in to their RN? Where did you do your program and are you satisfied with being an RN as opposed to an LPN? I'm trying to get some feedback on either staying as an LPN or going on to being an RN. I'm going to be graduating as an LPN in June.....thanks!
Kim

I am an RN not an LPN, so I really can't comment on any bridge programs, however it seems that you may have a wider variety of positions as an RN. Good luck!

LPN1974, LPN · Jan 23, 2005

What is an RPN??

Excuse my ignorance, I just don't know all these abbreviations.

paulacath · Jan 23, 2005

An RPN is a registered practical nurse. Some provinces call them LPNs - licensed practical nurse. Depending on which province you are the education is different.

In Ontario, an RPN now needs two years of college and receives a diploma. Their scope of practice is the "stable" patient.

hope that helps!

LPN1974, LPN · Jan 23, 2005

An RPN is a registered practical nurse. Some provinces call them LPNs - licensed practical nurse. Depending on which province you are the education is different.
In Ontario, an RPN now needs two years of college and receives a diploma. Their scope of practice is the "stable" patient.
hope that helps!

OK, so is that like a Licensed Practical Nurse in the US?

Sounds like your RPN has more education than an LPN.

Thanks for replying.

Lanceman · Jan 23, 2005

LPN's are getting phased out in many positions and they are mostly "grandfathering" the ones already on the units. If you want to specialize in a certain area it is best to go for your RN. I am going into the bridge program (LPN -RN) so that I will be more marketable. With a RN, or even in some cases a BSN, you can go anywhere and not really worry about qualifications.
:balloons:

Here in North Florida and South Georgia I see almost as many ads for LPN's as I see for RN's. I personally know several LPN's and they have had no problem finding jobs, and decent paying ones at that. I know a married couple, both LPN's, the husband(only been out of school a year) makes $21 an hour with benefits in LTC and the wife makes $26 an hour part-time(no benefits) at a nearby major hospital. The small rural hospital here pays LPNs about $15 an hour. Most of the LTC's and all the hospitals(6 or 7) within 50 miles of here employ LPN's so its not a dead profession yet. But most LPN-RN bridge programs are only a year long(after you get your pre-reqs done of course) so that would be the route to go in my opinion. I've seen some bridge programs that require a year or six months of LPN work experience for admission.

Fiona59 · Jan 23, 2005

When you say two years, do you mean four academic semesters? That's how it was done back when I trained in Alberta, but we only had two weeks off between semesters and completed all four in 13 months.

LPN to RN bridge works differently for us Lanceman. Most provinces no longer have diploma RN's, so we are required to bridge into a BScN degree. We get one years credit, take a bridging course, and are then admitted to year 2 of a 4 year degree. Gets expensive usually around $500/3cr. course (fees depend upon which province you live in). Plus books, etc. So approximately six semesters averaging five courses a semester, $15K for tuition alone, if I've got my math right. I only plan on working until I'm 60, so I might have just paid off my student loans....

So, like someone else said, I like my line of work, my wages aren't that bad, and I don't have to write a load of essays, deal with student politics, and can walk the dog when I want after work...

Canadian_Gal · Jan 30, 2005

Here, (IMO :) ) in one of the most beautiful places in the world (Vancouver, BC) RPN is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. You can get a Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing by completing a 6 semester, 24 month/2yr program. I hope that helps too! Also the LPN training here is still one year, but soon to be moved into a two year program. I am starting my 1yr course end of Feb/2005. Looking forward to it!

An RPN is a registered practical nurse. Some provinces call them LPNs - licensed practical nurse. Depending on which province you are the education is different.
In Ontario, an RPN now needs two years of college and receives a diploma. Their scope of practice is the "stable" patient.
hope that helps!

loriangel14, RN · Jan 30, 2005

I am constantly amazed by the number of different titles, even in one country. I am in an rpn program and I will be a registered practical nurse when I graduate. The college I go to has a full time rpn program that is 2 and a half years. I am going part time ( 2 nights /week, ALL year around) that will take me 4 yrs to finish. Thankfully I have been getting help from my family so I will have no debt when I get out. Later when my kids are older I hope to take the bridge and get my degree.

I would like to hear from other people in a similar position. Best of luck to all you students out there.

Ontario · Jan 31, 2005

Hi,
I was just wondering if there are people on here that have started out as an LPN and completed the bridge-in to their RN? Where did you do your program and are you satisfied with being an RN as opposed to an LPN? I'm trying to get some feedback on either staying as an LPN or going on to being an RN. I'm going to be graduating as an LPN in June.....thanks!
Kim

Check with your nursing schools and see what they offer. If I only knew when I was a younger new nurse what I know now I would have continued my education. Take a lesson from and older wiser nurse and go and get that RN degree. You can do it

HOMESICKLPN · Jan 4, 2006

couldn't help but notice your comments...sorr to butt in, i am a canadian lpn, trained in bc and working in ab. i am also young and blonde

the 1. we had one discriminatory teacher in bc. my friend who was mature and foreign (permanent resident). she was failed on a project and not prenitted to carry on or make up her assignment-it was a minor assignment.

she fought it, got rewrite option for all students and came back the next year to graduate with me....good for her!also my friend started originally in the same class as her daughter, who was my age...wouldn't that be wild

that teacher had been teaching forever and i had been warned to watch my p's and q's around her, her a year before i started school, but she was the only teacher like that. she was the head for the department but she is no longer. though she still teaches...she did have some great qualities (she was freaken hilarious sometimes!!!!)..she was flabergasted when everyone in my class passed.

the year i started they changed from first come first serve enrollment to grade based acceptance (the bar was high ) to meet the demands of the job market. i guess before a lot of people failed before that

2. my employer offers financial assistance for education to employees in exchange for commitment to return for a minimum number of years employment. (care aide to lpn or lpn to rpn or even just for advanced eduaction or workshops) there are all kinds of corespondance, remote part time study courses available in edmonton. i have friends enrolled who work, do correspondance and commute to school for labs and workshops.

any who, 'just goes to show you never can tell - i find there's a lot of that i nursing now a day

HOMESICKLPN · Jan 4, 2006

sorry if my message was confusing, it was directed to saskrn, fionna59 and blackbird's comments...i'm new at this discussions stuff.

:uhoh21: