Ontario LPN's - how many are bridging?

Ingrid m · Apr 27, 2007

I would love to bridge to RN, but am not. I am a 1st yr RPN and feel that the 4 yr RN is difficult for me, because I live in Collingwood Ont. and the closest university is Toronto. Georgian College is desperately trying to get the BScn up here but it is taking far too long to come about. I am 46 and feel that commuting to T.O. is something I am not prepared to do. RPN is just fine with me. If the program was here, I would be an RN.

all the best,

ingrid

linzz · Apr 27, 2007

Hi Ingrid M, I think many people feel the way you do. I think that changing the requirement to a degree is just a way to create a shortage = higher wages, more job choice, JMO.

Cherry2 · Apr 28, 2007

I think Georgian does have the program... I just finished at humber college for upgrading certain classes and one of the girls in my classes had applied for the RN at Georgian. She got in, but I don't know if she accepted.

Why do you think they don't have the program? (I am confused now.. lol)

loriangel14, RN · Apr 28, 2007

I think she means they don't have it at the Collingwood campus.

I am in the part time program at the Orangeville campus. I am writing my exam in September and I will be 42 this year. I wouldn't consider bridging unless it was available part time some where as I am a single mom and I need to work. I have heard some programs want you to have some work experience before starting the bridging program as well. Right now I am glad to be done with essays, presentations and endless chapters to read, lol.

linzz · Apr 28, 2007

Hi Loriangel: I don't know about needing work experience for bridging but I think that if you have it, you will have a better chance at making it through clinicals because I think the instructors will expect you to have better time management skills than a first year nursing student. I have decided to work another year even though I got in for this reason because I don't want to blow it in clinical and be out thousands of dollars. I only say this because in my last semester, we had a very tough teacher who did fail a few students.

Ingrid m · May 3, 2007

Hi all,

Georgian College, Owen Sound and Barrie have the BScn program but it is a collaborative program with York University. 2 years are spent at Georgian and 2 yrs at York in Toronto. As of yet, there is no FULL 4 yrs, degree program at Georgian. I hope that clarifies things. Georgian does offer a bridge program. To be an RN now, after my 1st yr completed, I have 2 choices. 1st- finish the RPN - bridge for 1 yr - 2 yrs at York...OR start all over next year with the RN collaborative program with York.

Great incentives for people to get into nursing...riiiight. That is why I am doing the RPN rather than the RN.

ingrid

linzz · May 3, 2007

I think that all of this is a way to keep nursing wages up, along with job security. In the early 1990's, a lot of nurses lost their jobs and even now it is still taking years for RN's to get full time positions at hospitals. I just think it is what the powers that be think should happen. I think it will be a huge failure because it will create a shortage but what will this do for working conditions.

RPNinTO · Sep 4, 2007

I am bridging because I am miserable as an RPN

I live in Toronto and there are not many job choices here, and of those so many posting are casual and part time.

After going through a hellish time for 2 years, I am considering athabasca online bridging or will be in school full time

I want a public health 9 t 5 job. I am too burnt out by all the shift work, overwork and lack of support. Even though I am not an RN I have been in charge many times with no real pay or support.

I am very frustrated that they are making it so hard to bridge money and time wise but in the end I am going for it.

They really need to give more support and better jobs to nurses!

all of us, and healthcare aids too!

freshlpn21 · Sep 5, 2007

hi linzz, I am an LPN, i've worked in LTC in Minnesota for the last 2 years but i reside in ontario, the only reason i took lpn in MN was that there wasn't a course where i lived at the moment and i live on a border town and have dual citiz., which makes easier for crossing the border. But i am just plain tired of it. I am taking my RPN exam in a week from now, and if i pass i am going to continue my education to RN in Ontario next year. The reason for me doing this is that i've found as an LPN i end up doing CNA duties, plus finishing work the RNs leave behind when their shift is done not to mention med passes and treatments, and for the pay i receive it's just not worth working myself to the bone for. having BScn in NSG will open up more opportunities, and i want to travel, more jobs overseas will open up for me when i have my RN.

Fiona59 · Sep 5, 2007

You should get in touch with the Candian Nurses Assoc. I heard their Chair speak at LPN convention this year.

From what he said they are looking at revamping nursing education in Canada. In their dream world PN would be the entry point for all nurses, with a two year step progression/ladder (2-4-6-8-10 years of education) up to the PhD level. I think they are calling it the 2020 initiative.

The bridge is doing no one in any province any favours. I honestly believe that the provincial RN associations and RN unions have had too much of a say in it.

The sad thing is most PN's graduate with more skills and a similar education to the hospital trained nurses of the 1980s. Those RNs aren't required to obtain a BScN unless they want to work in Public Health or go into management. Well, the sad fact is that in Alberta, PNs work in Public Health in the School Programme and in the Immunization programmes. So where is the need for a degree?

Talia1981 · Sep 7, 2007

I briged in the USA in one year after I completed my RPN studies. I just wrote my NCLEX-RN and passed. I can not come back to Canada until I have a BSN but most facilities in the USA will pay you to get it. I have no regrets at this point.