LPN TO RN in Ontario

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Hey there,

Im expected to graduate the lpn program here in edmonton this april and i was looking at some options at the moment. i dont really want to go to athabasca to get my RN so i started to look for some bridging programs in ontario that can allow me to finish a degree after i graduate the PN program. Does anyone know of any schools in ontario that allows me to do this. Also has anyone finished the athabasca route? how good is the program in terms of clinicals, course load etc? I just think that if i wait around to work my 1800 hours required for admission its wasting a year when i could just apply to a bridging program and get my degree right away and start as an RN in a couple of years. thanks!

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Many colleges have 2.5 to 3 year RPN to BScN program. Check out University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Centennial College (with Ryerson University), George Brown College and Mohawk College (with McMaster University). Im sure there are many more university than this.

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I was just wondering. how come i would have to go to a college and then to a university? would there be any universities that would recognize my college in alberta?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

There is also Georgian College and York University.

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I was just wondering. how come i would have to go to a college and then to a university? would there be any universities that would recognize my college in alberta?

Many colleges grant degrees. Look at GMCC here in Edmonton. They grant degrees in Nursing, the Arts and Sciences. It's only a name.

Trust me you need those 1800 hours of work experience. A good example is the accelerated RN students. Poor skills because they whip through that course like there is no tomorrow.

You can still apply to the UofA and GMCC's RN programme. Admitted to second year. Just work on your electives (2nd, 3rd & 4th year Arts) while gaining the experience.

Athabasca is a very good programme, if you are motivated to work independently. I know a couple of people who are nearly finished it. Good clinical experiences and smaller groups of students hitting the hospitals. They can't always guarantee a placement in your hometown, so you may be required to go to different areas of the province to do them.

If you are going to graduate in April 2010, I'd concentrate on your current course work and passing CPNRE before laying plans. There really are new grads out there who have failed the exam. You really don't know how much you don't know before you start working and gaining real experience.

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yes thats very true..ive actually thought the very same thing as you but it justs ucks that if i do apply to gmac or u of a my lpn only is credited for 1 year of the program so i would have to do another 3 years.. unless id o go through the athabasca route. which the only thing thats mainly independent is the theory courses right?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Most bridging programs here in Ontario are three years long, however most people work part time during the first year anyways. I agree that it is a good idea to get work experience as an RPN, you won't need it to get into a bridging program but you wil find that it will make a big difference when you get to those clinicals, as you may be in a clinical group with other students with work experience.

The other argument in favour of work experience is that, until you have actually worked as a nurse, you won't know whether you want to go on or not or even remain in the field. I am not saying nursing is all bad but you will soon see that certain workplaces can be challenging and others are pretty good, but nursing can be stressful on a pretty regular basis.

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Do ALL Bridging programs (including centennial college to Ryerson BScN) require a grad RPN to work x hours? No where on the centennial college states that a RPN grad needs working hours... Same with McMaster.

Just making sure...

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

No, most bridging programs in Ontario don't require work experience, just a certain GPA. That said, many enter the bridging program after gaining some work experience as it gives them a big advantage in clinical and in obtaining employment as a new grad RN, just from the point that you will have people that know you, who have worked with you as a nurse and will vouch for you as a safe care provider.

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How about RPN-RN @ McGill? Having a tough time finding the admission requirements for that program...

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I don't know much about McGill, although I do know it is in (Quebec) and as far as I know there is a requirment that nurses are able to pass a french language test in order to be licenced. This may be an issue if your french is rusty or nonexistant like mine.

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