I am a newly graduated RPN (Ontario) Our program is 2 years with a 320 hour preceptorship at the end. While in clinical and even during consolidation we do try to learn lots of skills. We had to pass a licensing exam to be able to practice in Canada. We are trained in everything from giving a bed bath, walking a patient, inserting catheters, initiating IVs, giving meds by po, INH, sub cut, intramuscular, IV, topical, initiating and monitoring blood transfusions, chest tubes, NG tubes, and so much more. We do our assessments and call the doctors PRN and get critical levels from the lab. As an RPN on a busy surgical unit I am part of a team. The RPNs work alongside the RNs. The nurse with the most experience (34 or 35 years) is an RPN and she is well respected. While the RNs do take the most unstable patients and the ones directly from the OR, we are more than capable of taking our own patient load--often 4 or 5 patients. I am thankful for the team that I work with especially as a new grad who desires to learn and grow as a nurse. I love my job! :)
