Nursing Advice

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Hello, I've always been interested in going into nursing. I'm gonna be done high school in about 3 months, I've already applied to several colleges. However, I'm not so sure about whether I'd like to be an RN or an RPN. Honestly, I don't really feel like being in school for another 4 years. I've looked at the average annual salaries for RPN's on some school websites and they all say around $40, 000 but I've been researching and I've been getting different amounts. I live in Kitchener, Ontario. Also, I'm so sure whether I'd wanna work in a nursing home. Does anyone have any advice or know if I could go directly into a hospital or doctor's office setting?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'll move your question to the Canadian nursing forum because it sounds like there might be some regional differences that we in the US might not be able to help you with.

Good luck!

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Well you're looking at at least two years for the Practical Nurse Programme. Are there waitlists out your way? We have waitlists for both levels of nursing in the west.

You need to look at the job market in your area for where you can work. I can only tell you in Western Canada, new grad PNs work in active treatment, clinics, and continuing care. If you google your local health authorities and check their employment pages you can get an idea of where there are jobs and what the hourly rates are. $40K could easily be achieved if you factor in shift premiums, OT, paid stats and stuff like that.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am a new RPN grad from the Orangeville area. I am working in a hospital as are many of my former classmates. I know two girls that got hired at Guelph General so I would say yes, hospital jobs are attainable.Best of luck.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I am aware of the job market in your area and I would recommend that you do your RN as the demand for LPN's in the hospitals in Kitchener-Waterloo is not great. St. Mary's hospital stopped hiring LPN's years ago. The local college does not even send LPN's there to train. K-W hospital and Freeport hospital do hire a few LPN's but you will be on part time/casual for many years after the 7 months of full time employment from the new grad initiative ends. A few students in my class got hired at Guelph hospital and once the new grad initiative ran out, most of them had to find other work in nursing homes as they were not getting more than casual hours. If you are staying in the K-W area and you desire hospital employment, get your RN and you will have no trouble getting full time employment in a hospital.

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