Pre-Nursing student: RPN(LPN) Or RN?

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Hi!

I am currently in the process of completing my pre-nursing certificate at an Ontario college, and I will soon be applying to both RPN and RN programs for the following school year. My concern is, if I am accepted into both programs, which one should I choose? I have researched and learned that RNs have a greater scope of practice, earn more money, and can hold management positions. But, I have also been reading speculation that RPNs (LPN equivalent) may be in more demand because they earn less and are less expensive to hire.

I would also be willing to relocate, so my question is for Ontario and all of Canada.

Thank you!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Sorry here is a quote from a website about magnet status: "Magnet status is an award given by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association, to hospitals that satisfy a set of criteria designed to measure the strength and quality of their nursing. A Magnet hospital is stated to be one where nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. Magnet status is also said to indicate nursing involvement in data collection and decision-making in patient care delivery. The idea is that Magnet nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice. Magnet hospitals are supposed to have open communication between nurses and other members of the health care team, and an appropriate personnel mix to attain the best patient outcomes and staff work environment. We encourage all nurses to learn more about the principles of Magnet certification, and to consider appropriate nursing certification programs for their hospitals. Learn more about Magnet status: eligibility for it, the benefits of it, hospitals that have achieved it, and hospitals that are seeking it on which the ANCC is seeking public comment."

Read more: Magnet status: What it is, what it is not, and what it could be

Magnet status is irrelevant to Canada as it's an American phenomenon. All RNs have a BScN in Canada unless grandfathered from years ago.

Canadian entry to practice is BScN there is no 2 year, diploma or associates nursing program in Canada. . RPN/LPN entry practice is the old 2 year nursing program.

Scope of practice for RPN/LPN is definitely very different and often more broad in Canada than many US states. Many hospitals, acute and critical care settings in Canada employ LPNs/RPNs to their full scope.

Aside from the fact that both countries now use the NCLEX-RN and nurses are generalist trained (unlike the UK where nurses are specialty trained or AUS where obstetrics is limited to midwives), comparing scope of practice and healthcare employment opportunities is like comparing oranges to moose.

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Thank You!!!

I know it's a public forum, but we try and stay out of the US individual states threads as we know nothing about working there, labour laws, or educational establishments. It seems that our forum for misinformation of the highest order

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RPNs are more restricted (oppressed?) than RNs in a number of ways, they are prohibited from membership in Canada's professional association (CNA), from obtaining national speciality certification and from membership in Ontario's nursing union (ONA). Also, if for some reason, a RPN is unable to work at the bedside, they are unqualified to do a less physically demanding job, such as; occupational health, infection control, case management, research or telephone triage.

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RPNs are more restricted (oppressed?) than RNs in a number of ways, they are prohibited from membership in Canada's professional association (CNA), from obtaining national speciality certification and from membership in Ontario's nursing union (ONA). Also, if for some reason, a RPN is unable to work at the bedside, they are unqualified to do a less physically demanding job, such as; occupational health, infection control, case management, research or telephone triage.

Only true for Ontario.

In AB, LPNs work in Occupational Health, the School Health programme, Well Baby Clinics, Case Management in private LTC's and in some of the bed management jobs for AHS. We also do occupational health testing in the private sector. There are research jobs out there, you just have to know where to look for them.

LPNs are now going out as clinical instructors with students to hospitals. Who better to monitor an LPNs practice than an LPN.

I don't know of any RNs who belong to CNA. Out west we just join our provincial colleges. The entire nation doesn't revolve around Ontario centric institutions.

The OP is not just looking at a future in ON.

It is also time for many RNs to realize that the LPN of the 21st century is well educated and no longer needs an RN to monitor or direct their practice.

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I recognize RPNs as well educated, I know the two year PN program has the same content as the old diploma RN program. My guess is, RNs who do not recognize PNs as well educated, are defensive diploma nurses who are protecting their turf. I do not know RNs who are monitoring or directing RPNs practice, the RNs and RPNs I know, are responsible for their own practice.

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Specializes in NICU.

Where I work the old diploma RNs seem to have a chip on their shoulders about RPNs...always making little snide remarks regarding staffing ratios and such. I never hear any flack from BscN RNs.....

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Specializes in NICU.

I can only speak for Toronto ON, but I think it also depends on the area that you want to work in. I work NICU, and from what I've seen in Toronto (correct me if I'm wrong), they only hire RNs. The Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, if you want to work paeds, only hires RNs as well. I know for a fact that some hospitals in Ontario are trying to apply for Magnet status and that does emphasize further nursing education, i.e. they would rather that nurses have an RN designation. And like the poster dishes said above, it seems like occ health and infection control and quite a few public health nursing jobs need an RN designation.

But obviously I only have experience with Toronto. :p

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I thought Magnet status was an American issue. Has Toronto completely sold out and gone American on us?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I know RPNs that work in occupational health and infection control in Ontario.

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Specializes in NICU.

I've never heard of this, I'm in Hamilton and the shift is definitely towards hiring more and more RPNs and replacing RNs...at both HHS and St Joe's. As far as I know RPNs are not in peds or neonatal though, I've never heard of an Rpn working at Mac children's except in postpartum.

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Specializes in NICU.
I thought Magnet status was an American issue. Has Toronto completely sold out and gone American on us?

Well I don't know about the selling out lol...but yes to the applying for magnet status.

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Filibus, for an overview of employment rates, check the College of Nurses of Ontario stats, the percentage of RNs and RPNs who are employed in nursing is approximately 85% for both (CNO Membership to Statistics Highlights 2014). Also, check the university and college nursing graduate employment rates. Consider monitoring the websites of large hospitals such as Sunnybrook and UHN to see the rate of employment postings for RNs and RPNs.

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