LPN to RN

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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

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

:uhoh21:

Hi Homesiclklpn ..no worries about being new, I am too. Nice to talk to Canucks from all over. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_7_8.gifI noticed this thread is a little old, but the following info might be applicable.

As previously posted, some provinces no longer have diploma RNs. In BC entry to practice is now a BSN. RNs who trained in the "diploma days" are still considered RNs and are not required to obtain their degree, but unfortunately PCC, CNE, and most of the infection control and other what I call Mon-Fri "day jobs" require a degree. Universities offer post-RN to BSN degrees for these nurses.

Many community colleges are affilitated with universities...you now would take the first 2 years toward your degree at the CC, then complete associated with a university. To make matters a little more complicated, some of the CC have now become universities, so are granting their own BSN degrees...or go the full university route for 4 years.:chuckle

Regarding LPNs (in BC RPNs are registered psych nurses), most programs are 1 crammed full year! the College of LPNs in BC wants all LPNs to be working at full scope by 2007 ...those who graduated earlier and have not had pharmacology are either required to upgrade, or work with a restricted lisence after that date. (or this is my understanding speaking tothe LPNs working on my unit). On our unit, LPNs do work at full scope.

There is no LPN to RN program in BC that I am aware of, but in AB Athabasca University has an online program with a practicum component that must be taken in AB....again, info from an LPN I know. I am not aware of any other bridging programs, in the east.

And regarding phasing out of LPNs, I highly doubt it....there just plain aren't enough nurses. There are lots (TONS) of jobs for RNs in BC (most definitely in my health authority), and still jobs available for LPNs.

I would encourage you to complete your BSN. You will have more options for the future and you'll never be out of work.

Regarding education paid for by the employer, many health authorities in BC will pay for specialy education for RNs. There is a shortage of OR, ER, CC nurses especially, and my health authority offers 100% reimbursement (wages, books) while you are going to school. The only program that I am aware of at this time for LPNs is an OR Tech program they have started for LPNs, but there may be others.

Sorry if this is rambling or useless info for you, but perhaps will help someone! :)

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Regarding LPNs (in BC RPNs are registered psych nurses), most programs are 1 crammed full year! the College of LPNs in BC wants all LPNs to be working at full scope by 2007 ...those who graduated earlier and have not had pharmacology are either required to upgrade, or work with a restricted lisence after that date. (or this is my understanding speaking tothe LPNs working on my unit). On our unit, LPNs do work at full scope.

i was trained in sept 2004 in bc and the intake before me and my class all had pharmacology, im and subq, iv monitoring and med admin. my course was indeed a cram packed year. do the lpn's on your unit hang iv bags? in my practicum i was told lpn's weren't allowed esp with k+. but where i work now if you have the courses lpn's can do all but meds on peripheral lines (including initiation). i work in alberta now, i started in acute care and i really had a hard time, too many new things (new grad, first job, new hospital, new unit, new province) i';m in extended care no and i like it but the lay out of the building makes me basically on my own (the rn is on anther floor). it's alittle more charge than i ever wanted and i don't get to spend much time with my patients at all. too much paper work.

anywho nuff said

yahooo bc rocks!!!! going back in the spring!!!!

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i was trained in sept 2004 in bc and the intake before me and my class all had pharmacology, im and subq, iv monitoring and med admin. my course was indeed a cram packed year. do the lpn's on your unit hang iv bags? in my practicum i was told lpn's weren't allowed esp with k+. but where i work now if you have the courses lpn's can do all but meds on peripheral lines (including initiation). i work in alberta now, i started in acute care and i really had a hard time, too many new things (new grad, first job, new hospital, new unit, new province) i';m in extended care no and i like it but the lay out of the building makes me basically on my own (the rn is on anther floor). it's alittle more charge than i ever wanted and i don't get to spend much time with my patients at all. too much paper work.

anywho nuff said

yahooo bc rocks!!!! going back in the spring!!!!

Nice to hear you're coming back! Regarding the IVS, and scope of practice, on my unit (medicine), LPNs hang and maintain any periph IV that doesn't have a med in it. Can't initiate IVs though, look after acute unstable patients, or do complex wound care. They are supposed to be phoning for doctor's orders shortly, though, something they have not been doing up to this point.

BUT, it varies from unit to unit and hospital to hospital. In my same hospital in ER and surgery LPNs do not give out meds! But work at full scope in ECU and subacute! :confused: More and more hospitals are going to full scope though, or they will not be able to keep their LPNs after 2007. Most LPNs do not want to work with a restriction on their lisence after that date.

it would be interesting to hear what the "scope of practice" is for LPNs in other provinces. :wink2:

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hey sickandtired,

which health region are you in?

a lot of my classmates have been paid to take bcit specialties (er, icu) by fraser health. up here in northern health, we get NOTHING. the last time they had a paid bcit course was back about 3-4 years ago. since then, it's 6 week in house training for icu, scn or er. i have a friend who is starting in icu at the end of the month up here, and she's been taking the bcit course on her own because our hospital's budget won't pay for anything. *sigh* am i frustrated? you betcha. there is very little room for educational advancement up here. i miss the lower mainland. but i digress.

i was also curious how open your health region is to educational leave.

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hey sickandtired,

which health region are you in?

a lot of my classmates have been paid to take bcit specialties (er, icu) by fraser health. up here in northern health, we get NOTHING. the last time they had a paid bcit course was back about 3-4 years ago. since then, it's 6 week in house training for icu, scn or er. i have a friend who is starting in icu at the end of the month up here, and she's been taking the bcit course on her own because our hospital's budget won't pay for anything. *sigh* am i frustrated? you betcha. there is very little room for educational advancement up here. i miss the lower mainland. but i digress.

i was also curious how open your health region is to educational leave.

I work in the Fraser Health Authority. There has been a shortage of RNs especially critical care RNs over the last several years. I did a paper last year and actually counted on the FH website...last March they were advertising for over 76 ER RNs in FH alone, never mind CC or OR. There were also over 500 nursing vacancies in all areas at that time as well. Mind you, not all were full time, but if an RN applied for one of the mentorship openings, and made it through the interview process, they had a decent chance at getting it. Some had to wait for the next class because BCIT only takes so many students. The longest I heard of one person waiting was 9 months, but he was coming from a smaller hospitial.

I've no idea what its like right now, but the last I heard they were still taking applications and still paying 100% tuition, books, and salary for classes and practicum time. I would check out the website if you are interested, as some of my info might be old. I'm fairly happy with my job right now, so have not been browsing the "career opportunities" :chuckle

if you want, check out the website http://www.fraserhealth.ca. Too bad the Northern authority is not putting up the bucks. FH knows if it doesn't do something, Coastal Health will snag all the nurses. They were paying 100% when FH was only paying 2/3rds about a year ago, so they had to change their policy! ;)

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Specializes in ortho,peds,medsurg ICU,psych.

hi. i am new to the forum and live in atlanta. i have been an lpn for 30 years (4 kids, horses, dogs, cats, ad nauseum) and work pretty much full time. i also have a ba in business/behavioral sciences.

so, i'd like to go from lpn to rn and i really have no preference for 2 yr or 4 yr aside from the obvious time commitments. i have been searching the net for programs and so far, have not found one with which i am comfortable (i.e., "you can take all of our classes and pass exams and then sit for boards...but not in georgia":imbar )

does anyone out there have personal experience with such a program? i am looking for minimal clinical time - i worked icu for eight years back in the day when lpns monitored their own swans ganz and art lines and started their own ivs and packed the wounds. it was a lot of fun...but i don't feel the need to do it any more than i have to, to get this degree.

thank you for any input you can provide.

alice

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Nice to hear you're coming back! Regarding the IVS, and scope of practice, on my unit (medicine), LPNs hang and maintain any periph IV that doesn't have a med in it. Can't initiate IVs though, look after acute unstable patients, or do complex wound care. They are supposed to be phoning for doctor's orders shortly, though, something they have not been doing up to this point.

BUT, it varies from unit to unit and hospital to hospital. In my same hospital in ER and surgery LPNs do not give out meds! But work at full scope in ECU and subacute! :confused: More and more hospitals are going to full scope though, or they will not be able to keep their LPNs after 2007. Most LPNs do not want to work with a restriction on their lisence after that date.

it would be interesting to hear what the "scope of practice" is for LPNs in other provinces. :wink2:

in my current job i do everything but deep suctioning....i talk to doctors, take and process orders, mediactions includingprns, process lab work, deal with families, do care conferences, admitting all interventions (catheters ect), i do all dressings, including complex ones, assessments, im, and sub q (and clysis) injections including insulin and narcotics. i don't think it's fair at all, the rn is supposed to be in charge and help me if i need it.:cool:

we have rn floors and lpn floors. rn's have their own unit on a different floor and are usually busy. most of them don't know our the residents, are casual, or leave too much of the decisions to us (ie. residents in potentially critical condition (vs outside of norms..."to report to rn" per text book) and discerning when to call the doc or send pt's to hospital) not all facillities are like this but it always depends on who you are working with.

i never wanted to have this much responsibility, if i did i would be an rn, the responsibility is not worth the wage at all...i used to think this was the way it had to be (everyhere) and i had no choices...but i was wrong..i have taken a float position (where i am not incharge) so i can work enough to keep my benefits and look for new work...so far it's good. i think i might go back into grouphome work...i love geriatrics..but i hate how the healthcare system expects us to operate extended care...nuff ranting

:blushkiss thx for responding april

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in my current job i do everything but deep suctioning....i talk to doctors, take and process orders, mediactions includingprns, process lab work, deal with families, do care conferences, admitting all interventions (catheters ect), i do all dressings, including complex ones, assessments, im, and sub q (and clysis) injections including insulin and narcotics. i don't think it's fair at all, the rn is supposed to be in charge and help me if i need it.:cool:

we have rn floors and lpn floors. rn's have their own unit on a different floor and are usually busy. most of them don't know our the residents, are casual, or leave too much of the decisions to us (ie. residents in potentially critical condition (vs outside of norms..."to report to rn" per text book) and discerning when to call the doc or send pt's to hospital) not all facillities are like this but it always depends on who you are working with.

i never wanted to have this much responsibility, if i did i would be an rn, the responsibility is not worth the wage at all...i used to think this was the way it had to be (everyhere) and i had no choices...but i was wrong..i have taken a float position (where i am not incharge) so i can work enough to keep my benefits and look for new work...so far it's good. i think i might go back into grouphome work...i love geriatrics..but i hate how the healthcare system expects us to operate extended care...nuff ranting

:blushkiss thx for responding april

Amazing how things differ from place to place...good luck in your float job and your new work search! :wink2:

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