carz

Alberta LPN Just curious to know if you had to take any added skills to work in the dermatology clinic, sounds like you have a large role inclusive of suturing ....wow, sounds like a very interesting place to work. Never seen those postings come up.

How much does the program cost to become a BSN prepared nurse in the states? Here in Canada it is about 30,000 with no funding from our employers!

Dont you worry about the cost of financing the RN program at this time in your life? Not to be rude but I too consider taking the program (and I have taken a few of the courses, but 27000.00 is a lot of money when you may still have kids that you are assisting through school. Just curious to know what your program will cost you.

Have not done it but have taken a few courses towards it.... I think at your age it is totally worth it! Not too sure for me though as I am 49.

Just curious to know how many older LPNs are making the bridge to RNs and do they feel it will be worth their while from a employment perspective. I think it will take me approximately 5 years part-time as I work full-time I worry that it might not be beneficial to leave a full-time LPN job to start over as a RN when I finish. Anyone share my thoughts? The program definately is not easy, I find I am tired when I come home from work , I know blah blah blah.

[i am so glad to hear all your comments and they all sound very positive.... I hope this is the trend, as I would hate to think that all our skills and experience would not be recognized as a vital contribution to our over extended healthcare sytem.

I hope you are right, sometimes we tend to follow suite of other areas, sorry not trying to sound like a pessimist, but just concerned. I was the cray woman in her late 4os who started the RN program but I just don't feel like putting all that work in at this point in my life, so I will continue as a LPN, but I do worry about our future. Whats with the new hospital in Calgary will they staff LPNs?

"]I have been checking many blogs lately USA and United K iIngdom looks like many areas are reducing the amount of employment for LPNs and some areas have actually stopped offering the programs (such as enrolled nurse in England.) It is kind of scarey, I have about another 15 years to work (as a LPN) and I see many have been displaced after about the same amount of time or more. Do any of you feel this trend may happen in Canada?

]I just wondered if they are doing away with Enrolled nurses in Australia, I have been told they no longer offer the program in England is this correct? I am curious because the states seem to want to do the same thing with LPNs.

Wow, yiou are an ambitious lady! I use to live in Southern Ontario, I worked at the Dieu, are you familiar with it?

Just curious Whoopi Did you have any trouble finding employment as a RN when you graduated? I know that age is not suppose to be a factor but I just wondered if it was hard to find work. Also wondering where you are located. Cheers, Carz

well.... speaking from years of experience as a LPN I would say it would be well worth your time and effort to become an RN, Far more job opportunities, recognition ,learning opportunities, perks, and lets not forget a way better earning potential. If I had the opportunityto do it all over again I would not waste my time with the LPN route. (no offense fellow LPNs.)Go for it!

["]Thanks, yes I will try the ice, as for my friends it seems we are always fighting some sort of battle for equality after all these years! As far as the certificate vs the diploma , well, thats just plain garbage! I cant begin to count how many continuing ed courses I have lumped on to my certificate. I bet if I were to calculate I would equal a 3 year diploma.

I dont know, I have been toying with the idea for so many years, and I am concerned that if I dont at least try, I might regret it. Fiona, you are probably right. I dont know if it will be worth it in the long run, but I have heard from some of my friends who are lifer LPNs that say when they go for job interviews they are being passed over . Not for lack of experience, or competence, but because they are at the top of their pay grid. (wow big deal) I do not want that to happen to me, RNs always seem to be in demand. That being said..... I may a take a few courses and realize it is just not worth the aggravation. Be kind I am fagile and battling early menopause!

]:Well I did it, I signed up for athabasca classes at the ripe old age of 48, Not sure if I will be able to cope with more then two courses at a time , I work full time so it should be interesting. I imagine I will graduate around age 54 or 55. Just wondering if anyone else out there is as crazy as I am, my husband thinks I am nuts! I just wonder if it will be harder for an older nurse with no prior RN experience to be hired, especially with all you young grads around.lol

No Fiona I think you misunderstood my statement, or maybe I just was not clear. What I meant to say is there is far more opportunity as a RN in comparison to a LPN. I do have some of the above certifications and presently do work within community, I have for the past 8 years. I guess my worry is that what happens if I want to leave this area because lets face it a job gets very routine after a while, my opportunities will be very limited . I guess I just have always wanted the greater scope that the RN has and the for lack of better words,the recognition that goes along with it. Jan you mean to say that if I do go ahead with the RN route my senority would be recognized from date of hire with AB Health, and not from when and if I graduate as a RN?

[Thanks Fiona, I can always count on you to bite! No seriously, I read many of these posts and you always have such good comments to make, I knew you would have some good insight. I am also in Canada just like you, probably Alberta. You know I just dont know what it is, sometimes I will feel really good about being a LPN, but other times I think... the opportunities are so darn limited. Dont get me wrong I love nursing-always have, but the thought of writing all lthose essays and doing all that clinical time is a little exhausting. I unfortunately will have to work until I am 65 so I thought the RN route would be the way to go. I worry about the future of LPNs in our health care sytem, and believe my fulltime position may not always be there. I recall in other posts you saying you had another degree, would you mind if I ask what it is ?

Hi all it has been a while since I posted.... I have been working on nursing courses off and on for a while and now I am kind of wondering if I should continue or am I deluding myself. I have been a LPN for over 16 years,,, worked all over, and every few years I get the gut feeling that I should just bite the bullet and return to school for a nursing degree. Well, I start taking courses then something comes up (life) then I put it all on hold, but now I am thinking this is my last kick at the can , my concern is not about taking the courses, it is about finding employment when I finish. I have a full time job now, but sure would like to increase my nursing knowledge and the change in wage would really be beneficial as I head into later years. My other concern is, will I be able to keep up with the young girls... I know I have a lot of experience, but lets face it you young girls tend to process a lot quicker! Fiona.... I know you are out there, what is your take on it.

I think there will be a increase ratio for LPN to RN simply because of the scope increase and the wage difference, however this being said, I still think there will always be the mentality of both the public and other nursing categories not recognizing the LPN as a nurse. this is very unfortunate as I feel both categories can compliment each other immensely.

Wow, I am just curious how many courses did you take per year,and how many days do you work per week?

Fiona, Do you truly think that it will ever happen? I think for me that is one of the biggest problems with being a LPN is not being recognized as a nurse. You would think that at 47 I would be over this but... it always comes back to bite you in .....

Thankyou for your help, I am located in Alberta so Athabasca would be my option. I am sure there are many other LPNs who feel the same.

Hi everyone I have been a LPN for the past fifthteen years, and I have worked in many different areas and know matter how much I may enjoy the area, after a while the nagging desire to be a RN always returns. Why? Are wage is not so bad... okay it could be better! Maybe it is job security or maybe just a feeling of inadequacy, what ever the case it always comes up. My dilemma is I cannot afford to go back to school full time ,(I work full time) Iknow I can take it through Athabasca university but it will take approx 7 years! I will be 54 by then! Most nurses retire at 60. I guess I just wanted to vent and get some other perspectives on this. Feel free to speak your mind I will not be offended,am I being rediculous, should I just be content being a LPN?

Instead of recruiting all the foriegn nurses at a costly venture, why doesnt the government assist with bridgeing LPNs to RNs?

Thank you for the response and the encouragement, I will register for one course and see how I do. I will keep you all posted. Happy Newyear!