TheLongWayNP

Just read this post, its been quite a few months it seems like, however I want to share that when I was a RPN (Ontario) in Canada, I took my NCLEX-PN in the USA for my licensure as a LPN in Michigan and it was pretty easy to do. The application process was simple.

As a follow-up to this post ... I passed my test after stopping with smoking and all nicotine products 3days (apx 72 hrs maybe a little less) before the test .. I drank tons of water .. Took high levels of Vitamin C (foods and supplements) and by time I took the test I passed. I dedicated to eating super healthy too. Good thing that came from this ... I stop smoking now ..so thats a good thing ..sometimes I guess it takes this to push you. I was smoking about 10-12 cigarettes a day

I respect that ... I can't teach or advise on smoking if I smell like smoke ...but what if I don't EVER smoke at work ..or before smoke or at breaks .. I only smoke when Im at home and on my own time .. Tell me how that makes a difference for my patients or my co-workers ...the only difference it makes is for the hospital saving money on premiums in which I do not see savings being passed on to me or anyone ... Its legal ... Do you know how many nurses I knew on Vicodin during work hours?? I think that would impair your judgement ..Cigarettes don't and especially if your not even using them at work.

I recently was offered a ER position at a well known hospital chain in Michigan. I was so excited to hear I got the job, as it was one of those major life goals I had set for myself ... and it seem maybe I had finally reached that goal. Well its about 3 wks before my official orientation day, and I have to take a drug/nicotine screen and Pass in order to move to the "orientation" phase and officially be hired. Unfortunately I "smoked" apx 8-10 cigarettes a day for at least past 15 yrs, I have recently worked at facilities that were "tobacco and smoke free" and that has never been an issue for me, I can easily go 12 hr shift and not smoke, I get it and understand why ,... And I respect that. I always say, even as a smoker, I don't want to smell it when Im ill, so Im sure others would not like to smell me either. But I have a HUGE problem with this condition to hire, I just don't agree that what I do outside of work, could or should be their business ... Im not smoking crack for crying out loud, yet I would be penalized the same way. I don't think its fair at all, especially when its only being done to help with the company insurance premium and has nothing to do with their concern with my health or the patients. So anyways, I have tried desperately not to smoke.. I was using a patch for a few weeks prior, which of course is also not acceptable ..you will test positive. They are doing a Urine test tomorrow (Tuesday) and my last exposure to Nicotine was Sunday at 745 AM ... after a night shift. Ive been under so much stress over this that I can't even think straight and its making my cravings worse. I am suppose to be leaving for vacation the day after this test, for 7 days with my family, and Im so consumed with the thought of this test that I can't even focus on packing or doing any of the other things I need to do before you leave on vacation. Im stressed out because although I have tried so hard to quit, they don't take that into consideration, and if I fail you can't reapply for 90 days ..but how will they flag your file?? What are the chances that they will actually call you again considering that you didn't pass a "drug screen" that happens to include nicotine .... Ive been drinking water, popping Vit C, eating healthy for past two days ... I just pray this doesn't ruin my vacation and everything I have worked towards .. Had I known this was going to be the case, I would have not applied until I was Nicotine Free 100% and comfortable ... I will keep everyone updated, But Id like to know someone else's experience with this? How long did you quit before you took the test and pass or failed? I know all the disadvantages of smoking (I am a nurse after all) so please save me the lecture ..I am going to quit and Im trying hard ..I just want to know other people's experience

Wow this sounds completely different than what we did at Centennial/Ryerson! We didn't take any A&P and Patho! ... We did more Nursing courses (i.e., physical assessment, Maternity & Family) but I guess in our program they assume you should have already learned A&P .. I mean how do you even get through RPN program with at least know your A&P well .?? And when we finished our Centennial part, we than applied to the Post-Diploma to BScN program, so all the people in our class were already Diploma RN and Bridging RPNs .. No 2 or 3rd yr students .. Im sure glad I didn't pick this program than, and opted for Centennial/Ryerson. I would have not finished it if it had been like this, I find it insulting that they would feel the RPN is at the level of a 2nd yr Nursing Student ...its not even close.!

RN1980 is so right, hope you do the right thing and Call BON .. if someone else does and you get caught up in that group .. you're toast!! And you have too much to loose

I just wanted to say, Im an RPN .. completed 1 more yr of this bridge program ... qualified to take my NCLEX RN exam (had my education evaluated), and I PASSED!!!! ... This little Ol' RPN Passed!! 1st try! And sitting next to me were 5 BScN students 3 PASS 2 FAIL ... and I haven't even graduated from the BScN program yet!!! ... Proud RPN moment ..or shall I say RN!

Im in RPN, I start IV, IV meds, Access PICCs, Meds via PICC, Ports, ... Chest tubes, EVERYTHING!!! AS long as the patient is "stable" there is no difference in the "skills" we practice under the same Nursing Act (LOOK IT UP) ..the difference is ONLY the stability of the patient ..but even than the simple "RN" title doesn't mean they are competent of taking care of a unstable patient either, its about experience, competency level, policy .. and a designation does not determine that.

I just wrote the NCLEX April 1/15, I live and work in Canada as an RPN at the moment, but applied for RN Licensure in Texas after completing the first part of the Bridging program here in Canada (Centennial/Ryerson) And I found out Friday AM (Texas has Quick Results) that I passed ... I have to say it was a very difficult exam, but knowing "how to test" and having strong critical thinking skills is really going to help you have success. Im still a little frustrated with the CNO that they won't let me apply for my RN license in Canada until I complete my BScN (which Im working on) even though I took and passed the EXACT same test as every other new RN in Canada! ... I also recommend that you review Delegation, Prioritization because it came up a few time in the exam and in Canada RPN do not work under direction of RN (RPN are autonomous in practice) but they may Delegate to UCP's ... So that may be unfamiliar content to Canadian practice, but they can't "remove" questions to accommodate Canadian nurses ,, The NCLEX is the NCLEX .. By the way I did the PVT and Got the good pop up within 2 hrs after exam and than again after 24 hrs, .. and sure enough I passed! .. If you didn't pass it will let you pay, your credit card goes through ...which I figured if it did, it wouldn't matter because I would eventually have to re-pay anyways for the test if I had failed ... but NOPE ..PASSED, 1st try!! With a Nursing Diploma!! LOL

I live in Ontario Canada, and in 2005 they required that all RN education must be a BScN, They changed it from a 3 year Diploma program to BScN. BUT, they allowed all RN's prior to this to continue to practice and they still continue to be hired despite not having their BScN. My thought on this BScN is all BS and not the degree kind .. I know in the US it is a requirement from your governing board to take CE to maintain competency and improve practice and skill set. That has always been part of nursing, you never stop learning. I have a hard time understanding how they can simply throw all those years of experience out the window! I find it so unfair and can't imagine how horrid it must feel for someone to basically say, after all these years of service, "its not good enough anymore", I think had they done this in Canada, they wouldn't have had any nurses left! .. They pay their nurses crap in Canada as it is, so they would have lost nurses and then our "shortage" would be a crisis! ... I'm so sorry that this happen to you, shame on them ... I know we also have a HUGE shortage in nurse educators .. there goes one more, highly experienced and knowledgeable nurse that could have been utilized to teach the newbies, down the drain .. what morons!

Thats what I too Fiona59, i worked as an RPN for awhile, and of course it does help when you have experience and Are already a nurse ... Its not at all like when you go to school the first time around, and you can apply what you are learning daily because your working ... Do it only & if its right for you

Why wouldn't you do the collaborative as a 1st option? Better shot of getting in, you save thousands in tuition by spending first two years in college, your classes are smaller and makes learning so much easier (believe me in nursing you want all the help and attention you can get) because instructors can pay more attention to their students individually and help support them in their learning (imagine class of 50 vs 150), especially the first two years when you learn the most difficult and new content.,, if you don't know your A&P and disease process well by end of 2nd year, you will have a VERY hard time in the last 2. Than you move over to University for final two years and still graduate with a BScN from the exact same University and what is left of the ones who opted to start at University first .... I just have never understood why, when given the choice, you would choose the most expensive and difficult route? ... Thats my opinion at least. And Im Sure you will have a choice of either with those marks! Good Luck:nurse:

Your only real shot is going to be Athabasca, I believe their GPA requirement is a bit lower (just not sure how low) I can tell you from experience with the program and having gone through it, a 2.7 GPA is not going to get you in this very competitive program. You would think though that as one of the participants and collaborators in these bridging programs (Centennial) they would tell potential students that this is a strict requirement and also ensure that THEIR OWN graduates got the support they needed to maintain a 3.0 GPA so that they could continue to rip off people in their useless "bridging program", it is such a money grab its pathetic ... I spent two years in that program (which by the way, when you've finished it you still have to maintain that GPA semester after semester at Ryerson or you get booted out) only to find out that I still have to take almost the exact same courses again at Ryerson. There is NO DIFFERENCE between what I did and learned in the Centennial bridge program Research class and the one you take AGAIN at Ryerson ... Clinical does not involve any extra or added skills as a nurse (did the exact same thing for my patients as I did in PN program while at clinical). They wasted my time and money. The general belief is that most PN students are not "University level students" therefore they have to get you to that level first and proof your, well basically ..."smart enough" than you can move on. Its really sad, humiliating and unethical (they didn't touch on stealing nursing student money in the Ethics class, but maybe they should have), ... You are so much better off taking the pre-health science year in college and than applying to a Collaborative BScN program if you didn't have the requirements for University. In my case, I simply couldn't afford the money and time a BScN program was going to take at the time, and had nothing to do with not having my requirements, but now Im paying the price, because it has costed me much more time and money. Ive come to far to stop now, I am almost done with my BScN, so I continue moving forward. But if I had to do this again ...I would have either done the BScN from the start or move to an area where their is more opportunity for an RPN besides nursing homes, home health and foot care ...and that offers more continuing education courses for RPN's to develop a speciality. If you're in an area that has these types of courses available, I honestly advice you do that. (i.e,.. OR, OB, critical care) make sure you get extra and valuable stuff , like ACLS, PALS, NRP ..... Those are all added skills that are useful and attractive to employers ... RN or RPN programs do not teach these skills in school, they are all extras that EVERY nurse has to take, especially if they want to work in any "speciality area" like ER, OR, OB etc .. So research it well before you take the leap, because my experience has been bad ... But thats just me and my opinion, to each their own. Good Luck with whatever route you choose.

Dearest mmcc26, I read this an had to giggle ..sounds like I've been at a few of those BBQ's before First, keep moving forward in your educational journey, because the rewards will SUPERSEDE the negativity from people who are feeling inferior & jealous. Of course it is going to tick you off! You have every right to feel that way, after all nursing school is HARD and we doubt ourselves at times, so when others doubt us too, than it only reinforces your insecurity at the moment. I cant ever think of a moment I haven't or didn't doubt my ability to finish nursing school .. but I kept my eye on the prize and nursing in my heart. Don't let others negativity take away from such a positive thing in your life!! I cant tell you how many times I had people say "YOU are going to nursing school?!", or "YOU are a nurse?!", I always answered that question very proudly & said "Absolutely, isn't that great, Im quite proud of myself". If anything it's an opportunity to practice a very important nursing skill, .. in which you learn that you are dealing with people usually at their worst (in this case her negative, insecure and jealous behaviour) and you find a way to communicate in a manner that brings them back to focusing on the realistic possibilities and positives for the betterment of their mental health. And most important forget proving others WRONG, just prove yourself RIGHT! XOXO stay calm and nurse on!

I wanted to share my experience on attending Centennial/Ryerson on a part-time basis. I had to take the "RPN to BScN Hybrid program" because it is delivered in my area at a RAC (regional access centre) on a part-time basis only. If you live in the TO area than you can take this program on a full-time basis & complete in 3 yrs. There are 3 college together with Centennial (Mohawk & George Brown) that are in partnership with Ryerson for this program. To apply you will have had a current CNO license, finished a diploma RPN program & must have a 3.0 Cumulative GPA in the PN program with no failed or repeated courses. For 2 years I took courses at the RAC (classes were held in a hospital in their education/board room) one evening a week, 2 (sometimes 3) courses per semester. No breaks in between, we went from one semester, right into another the entire year. The 2 years consisted of 2 Theory one semester than 2 Clinical courses the next, BUT not all courses had clinical component though. You have to complete this "certificate" program at Centennial or what ever other partner college is offering the Bridging, and earn a RPN to BScN bridging certificate. This certificate than allows to enter into Ryerson University as an Advanced placement student .This is similar to the Diploma RN's in Ontario, they too enter University as Advanced placement students to earn their BScN Remember Diploma RN's got grandfathered in after they made BScN mandatory for the RN level & Certificate RPN's were grandfathered in after they made Diploma a requirement for the RPN....Many RN's have returned to school to get their degrees and RPN's have gone back to either get their diploma or take courses to be able to practice at the level of the new RPN (i.e., IV Certification, update pharmacology, update Pathophysiology & Theory courses such as Health Assessment & Ethics) But to get into Ryerson you have to also have maintained a 3.0 GPA with no fails or repeats, if you fail any course from Centennial during the first two years or GPA drops below 3.0, you will not be allowed into their program You may still graduate from Centennial but you end up with a, pretty much useless, certificate that cant be used at any other Bridging University in Ontario because all the requirements are the same. Although, we did find out since that Athabasca will take this certificate and allow you to apply to their BScN online program, but I find it to be super expense (you have to travel to Alberta at some point for clinical & pay the fee to apply for LPN license in Alberta that has to be maintained the entire time you are in the program) but it is an option for those who didn't qualify. Once you apply at Ryerson, the program is an additional year (fulltime) or 1 1/2 years part-time. There are many Universities, like McMaster with the same set up as Ryerson, and its just a choice of school, but makes no difference in the time spent in the program. Unfortunately for me, I live in southwest Ontario, so part-time is my only option. ..... Cant imagine driving 8 hrs round trip, once a week for a 4 hr class. The courses are also delivered partially "online" which basically means it gives the course content with different information, PPP, references, videos & notes apart from your textbook to help understand the content. I found Nursing Research to be the absolute hardest class these past 2 yrs, thought it was going to be the death of me in this program, but I survived ... BARLEY!! I just completed my very last clinical placements (Community Health Practice, Mental Health Placements) than Im done forever with Centennial. My advice as far as choice ...DONT PICK CENTENNIAL, unless you can attend the campus ... The RAC idea is a good one, but still new and the coordinators are a disorganized mess (we were on our own!) No care or attention like the students at the campus in TO. ... Thank goodness for good teachers though, We had the Best profs ever, they were all seasoned nurses with degrees at a Bachelor & Masters level, Nurse Practitioner's & even CNO Staff member, all worked in our area and formed part of our teaching team... had tons of knowledge and experience and helped out SOOOO much, but even they often commented what a disorganized mess this program was. Each course had its Objectives, so as a class we teamed up to make sure we met those objectives by seeking out help from the instructors and forming study groups. See, we wanted to LEARN, because we know its not just about getting the degree, we still have to take a little something called a CRNE! So we must know our stuff! I already applied to Ryerson for September & I don't anticipate any issues, they reserve so many spots for these particular students,and Ive never heard of anyone who qualifies to not get in. I know its a lot of info but I hope it helps. They do not send a letter of acceptance until Centennial provides the final transcripts of the program, which are not yet available (Some people are still finishing their Community Health Practice, they have till Aug 8/13, I just already finished my hours & turned in my papers ...I wanted more of a summer than 15 days) As I mentioned in other post Im no spring chicken (37) mother of 3, (1 daughter started college, 1 in middle school and 1 tiny surprise baby boy in day care!) So kids, a home to run, a job and a husband that also works full time & sometimes Overtime hrs, it is a tremendously difficult thing to take on. A sacrifice of valuable time & money ..A Sacrifice everyone in my family has had to make because of me. But they have stuck it through and because they have I CAN NOT FAIL THEM NOW or myself for that matter. We have come to far for mom to throw in the towel. I hope this helps some of you, and at least gives you an idea of what my educational journey has been like. Now if ONLY, there had been more full-time jobs in Southwestern Ontario for RPN's (other than LTC & Home Health ...which I didn't mind home health, but they're still part-time only) more respect & utilization to our full scope, continuing education opportunities to specialize (And NO!, we do not all want to do feet!) and low wages ...than I would have been VERY content with being an RPN. But because of all this I decided to bridge once that opportunity presented itself in our area. I hope for Southwest Ontario that the University and College also develop a program like the ones in the GTA, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. XOXO to all & Stay Calm and Nurse On!