LPNs in Canada

exactly what is an LPN??? I only know RPN and RN.

LPNs or LVNs are what RPNs are called in the rest of Canada and the US. It means licensed practical or vocational nurse. It usually entails one year of school, and in most provinces, LPNs have their own registering body as opposed to Ontario's CNO which registers both.

I'd be interested to know if US LPN's can work in Canada (or Ontario, for that matter). My RPN Diploma entails two years of full-time study - yet I met an LPN in Michigan recently who studied for one year for a certificate!

And her class load seems a LOT lighter than mine :)

I've been told I am very, very qualified to work in the US as an LPN, so I wonder, are US LPN's a little "under qualified" (NOT meaning to start a war here) to work in Ontario as RPNs? Anyone know?

Worthy, if there is one thing I learned working in the US, it's that you can't generalize about LPNs education or competence. Some LPNs function as RNs with a few exceptions (like they can't hang blood), whereas some Canadian hospitals won't even hire LPNs or RPNs for any specialty areas anymore.... Some LPNs function as aides, others are much more clinically independent, juts like RPNs....

You must contact the individual nursing licensing body in the province where you wish to practice. As in the US each province has their own criteria for entry to practice. Not sure about reciprocity for LPN's. Be advised if you want to work in Quebec you have to pass a french language proficiency test to obtain your license.

yes RPN's are still hired in all areas in Ontario My RPN like the post above was two years. We have more then the US LPN's and are compariable to RN's in the US. With the courses and experience I have I am more qualified then my aunt who is a RN and she admits it

Originally posted by amber1188

exactly what is an LPN??? I only know RPN and RN.

you must be an oldie and a goodie like me

LPN is a licenced practical nurse (they changed RPN around the year 1993/94 mark)

LPN is the same as RPN

I don't know about the Montreal area but here in Ontario LPN and RN have a very good chance at getting employment although they hire you as part-time/ casual you can count on 40h work weeks and lots of overtime

If you are going to Montreal I hope you canspeak French. They have this thing about English speaking people in Quebec

DEAR MISS IAM A WOMEN WHO WAS TRAINED IN CANADA TO BE AN R.P.N. MOST OF THE TIME THEY FUNCTION AS AN NURSES AID!!!I WROTE MY TEST IN MICHIGAN TO BE AN L.P.N. ONE YEAR LATER . NO PROBLEM WITH THE EXAM- CANADA HAS VERY HIGH STANDARDS ON EDUCATION !!!! I PRAISE THEM FOR THIS . I WAS ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IM A CANADIAN AND AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. THE U.S. STATE TEST WAS EASY. *** GOD HELP YOU!! YOU ARE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. CANADA IS VERY DIFFERENT. I SUGGEST YOU LEARN ABOUT THE STANDARDS. IN CANADA YOU ARE NOT EVEN ABLE TO DO CERTAIN STAGES OF WOUND CARE. IT WAS IN MY COLLEGE OF NURSING MAGAZINE- YOU MUST BE A MEMBER WITH THE COLLEGE OF NURSING IN CANADA. THEY ARE VERY STRICT AND SOME WHAT BACKWARDS IN SOME WAYS. JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT GREAT!!! THEY NEED TO GET RID OF OLD WAYS AND IN WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND NEW WAYS. GOD WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF 50 MILLION 65 YEARS AND UP IN 2020. WE MUST ENCOURAGE MEN AND WOMEN TO ENTER THIS PROFESSION-- AND GOD WOMEN NEED TO STOP EATING THEIR YOUNG !!! GOD BLESS!! READ YOUR STANDARDS. MANY THING YOU DO IN THE U.S. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO HERE IN CANADA OR YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LICENSE TAKEN!!! TRUST ME I SPEAK FROM KNOWLEDGE. WRITE TO COLLEGE OF NURSES FOR STANDARDS!!!OR CALL THEM.

Actually, Sandra, my experience is the other way around.

I will be able to do a lot more in Canada than I would in the United States. According to the College of Nurses, RPN's can do almost the very same functions (with a few exceptions) as an RN can.

An RPNs responsibilities vary from facility to facility, but Canada certainly is not "backward thinking".

Where were you trained in Canada, and when?

BTW, typing in all capitals is considered to be yelling. I'm sure that's not what you intended...right?