Obtaining your LPN out of province?

[Jallerina]

Hi!

I am a relatively new Canadian citizen thinking of pursuing my LPN. I live in Nova Scotia and I have two options. A local LPN diploma option, full time on-campus at Nova Scotia community college with local clinicals, or the Norquest College distance/online option for which clinicals must be done in the Edmonton AB area.

My question is - how important is it to do your clinicals locally as far as obtaining your first job afterwards? Or references? Would I be at a disadvantage doing the clinicals in Alberta if I want to work in Nova Scotia? Is it the case that clinicals may actually lead to your first position, ie students end up working where they did a clinical placement? Or is that unusual. Probably this question is very silly/obvious to Canadians but where I come from the education system is pretty different so I am not sure.

Thanks for any advice!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Working in NS and mentoring LNP students I would suggest doing training locally as it will get you noticed and helped towards jobs

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I agree with silverdragon102. But I'd like to add the bit about how much more expensive the Norquest option would be. You'd get a great education, for sure, but think about having to fly to Alberta for an extended period of time, finding and paying for affordable accommodations that are transit-able or close enough to walk, having no support system and all those other factors. The school is only required to ensure you have a clinical placement. All the rest is pretty much on you. I know lots of people go to schools far away from where they live, but they're usually in a full, multi-year program rather than just doing the practical part of their education in the distant city. There's usually some assistance with housing - even if it's just a list of options. You're already going to be nearly $15,000 out-of-pocket just for tuition and fees. For me, that would be my first consideration.

[Fiona59]

I was a student at Norquest when the distance ed programme was created. It was intended to used by students who lived in northern and rural Alberta, BC and parts of the NWT who didn't have access to the PN course locally. We'd see people come in from Barrhead, BeaverLodge, places like that. They usually knew somebody who could put them up for a couple of weeks, or current students would be asked if they'd rent a room to them.

I don't think it was ever really intended for across Canada use.