thleenium

When I started school I was really surprised at how almost everyone wants to do peds! It had never crossed my mind and I have no interest in it whatsoever (I prefer the other end of life, thanks!). Maybe they forget that kids can get very, very sick, and that peds nursing is also family nursing.

Lots of work; busy; constant demand for accuracy, attentiveness, and good documentation. It's a steep learning curve for those with no background in anything health/medical/physiology related. You get lots of body substances (of every colour, consistency, and smell) and sick people. The hours are anything but normal unless you have some kind of clinic job or are a school nurse. On the other hand, this means you don't have to contend with traffic hour! Some days your patients will make you want to bang your head against the wall. And on other days you'll wonder why you ever considered doing anything else...like the mornings you enter your patient's room to, "Oh, I'm so glad you're here!" I don't think it's possible to really know what it's like until you try it. Maybe start as an LPN (RPN in ON) and see if it's for you? That's what I suggest to people who are thinking of going into nursing. It's shorter and cheaper and we do virtually the same things as RNs (at least in AB). If you really hate it you at least didn't invest a lot of your life into it! Think about why you're considering nursing and what attracts you. That might help you make your decision.

You'll probably get the provincial College/union speakers in your "transition to professional nursing" class. I don't know about pay rates, but in Alberta we apparently now sign as LPNs with our temporary registration. See this statement by CLPNA. Check with your provincial College--maybe they have a practice statement for Ontario.

Was it just her comment that made you second-guess your choice? Because if that's all it was, and YOU love your work, I wouldn't worry much. Who knows what the job market will be like in 3-4 years? It is constantly changing...which means that we can't exactly predict the future. Do you want to leave a job you love and spend 3 or 4 years doing something you don't enjoy as much "just in case"? We need people in LTC who love their jobs. I'm glad you're one of them!

Oh--the "listening to music" one looks easy. I haven't taken it though!

I have taken a half dozen courses with them. They don't tend to be easy (they expect university-level work!) and a lot of them are more involved than the online syllabus makes them appear! Stats was alright, but you said you weren't into math, but both the English composition courses are fairly light. The community health course has so much reading you'd think you were in grad school: don't take it. NUTR 331 is enjoyable (though in-depth) and the professional ethics one isn't too bad either. They're very well organized and the course is clearly outlined in the student manual.

Me too! You don't just "feel" this, CuriousStudent. It's a fact; the public is uneducated about what LPNs do these days. When I decided to go into practical nursing, I had all kinds of comments about how LPNs weren't as skilled as RNs. One person told me that PNs were "just techs." Even now, when half done the program, I continue to have to educate friends and family as to the role, education, and skillset of PNs. "No, we don't just do lifts, baths, and feeding, these days that is typically an HCA. An HCA is not an LPN. LPNs are professional nurses. We cram 90 credits of study into a two-year college program. Yes, we give meds; yes, we start IVs; yes, we are independent professionals who are responsible for our own patients." The explanation is getting really old. And I haven't even graduated yet! Eep! End rant.

Is this the current Care magazine? Which page number? I didn't see anything!

Just as an update, I am at NorQuest and I like it so far. The instructors are great and the student body diverse. I haven't had any problems with their admin. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to become a PN.

Your school advisor would be able to give you the most accurate, up to date suggestions.

I can vouch for the deliciousness of this. I had it at her house! It's great on rice too.

You have to look at the collective for the specific agency you're curious about. http://www.aupe.org/my-union/health-care/health-care-collective-agreements/ Click on the AHS one. It looks like it's $25.99 as of this coming April 1.

Now there's a good idea! That might actually get things done!

I highly doubt it. They are very particular and it seems to be extremely difficult to get anything to transfer. Not to mention how slow everything takes to get done there! You're probably better off with Athabasca.

Oh--I failed to mention that as soon as they told me they were full for Jan, I reapplied for Sept. That was on the first day of winter classes.