Tashia

Thanks for all your tips and encouragement. Ingrid m: ~I found that you really need to stay on top of all the meds. Make up flash cards and keep them handy. ~ Keep on top of all your lessons. I found it's a good idea to read in your text before class and then again after. That way you hear it 3 times and it helps to stick in your head. ~ I heard that 3rd and 4th semester are easier because you are basically just adding onto what you've learned. Such as IM injections, hanging Iv'x (only specific). So keep that in mind. ~ What I found to be very helpful in studying all the objectives, or the ones you are having problems with, write the Question on the front and Answer on the back in your own words. Keep it handy, then studying for the exams will be a breeze. ~ Good shoes are really important!! ~ Don't forget to have fun. It's very easy to get caught up in the stress of school and clinical. Definately Clinical. Take each day as it comes. Keep a note pad with you in clinical, jot notes down, research your client, this helps to use your critical thinking skills. ~ Most importantly don't give up! You might (probably will) feel stressed and feel like you can't go on. (I did) but keep plugging along. It gets easy the more you do the skills. Good Luck! Canadian Princess, if you don't mind my asking, what is a DSM-IV-R?

I too agree with NOWORRIES. Yesterday I just finished the first year of the RPN program (Yay! ) and I have heard that alot of people in our class had the same kind of trouble deciding what to do first. It really depends if you have the funds and if you are really prepared to go 4 years through school without having much income, keeping in mind your children. I know quite a few of single and married woman with children our class who decided to do the RPN course first and work a couple years then take the RN course. Their decision to pick the RPN course was because they wanted to work and get some experience (and $) and to just see if it is really what they wanted to do. My clinical teacher (who was a Nurse Practioner) mentioned that you can always go back to school, and if you really enjoy it, and can do it, then go for it!! As for phazing the RPN's out, that's not going to happen. Yes, there are some hospitals that don't hire PN's but I know a lot of hospitals that do and they are utilizing their full scope. Nursing homes arn't the only ones who hire PN's. I know that Labour and Delivery, and ER don't hire PN's for their floor just because the patients are not stable, but keep in mind that there are a lot of courses that you can add on the side to boost your knowledge and point you towards that dream job you want. PM me if you want to talk more. Good Luck in your decision. Whether you pick one or the other, you won't regret becoming a nurse!!

:balloons: Whoo Hoo!!:balloons: Hey Everyone!! I just had to tell someone... I just finished the last day of clinical today of the first year of the 2 year RPN diploma course. Yay for me!!! Just wondering if anyone has any special advice for entering the 2nd year? e.:monkeydance:

Welcome! I am in the RPN program at Conestoga, in the second semester and enjoying it!! Although it requires a lot of studying and dedication to stay on top of the objectives set out for you in your packages, make sure you don't get all flustered about it. Just remember to have fun and you'll do fine. If I can do it then anyone can!!!! If you have any questions you can PM me. Hope you have a great semester 1!! Tashia

Hi, I am a RPN nursing student at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, going into my 2nd semester and we are learning care plans. We have: The Data (behaviours); Cause (stimuli); Client Problem/Nursing Diagnosis; Client Goals; Nursing Interventions; Rationale; then Evaluation. As far as I'm aware of, we do it here in Ontario.

Hi, I live in Drumbo, Ontario (by Kitchener). I started the RPN program last September at Conestoga College and I love it! So hopefully, Godwilling, by April 2007 I'll be done!!!!

Ok, I have just finished the second week of school (RPN diploma program) and I am totally overwhelmed!! It seems there is just soo much material to cover and I'm starting to panic :uhoh21: I know some colleges just pack on the work in the first few weeks to weedle out the slackers, but will it slow down just a little? Anyone else starting out feeling this way? Am I just the only one? Any advice you can give? Anything will help right now.

Just started the PN course this September at Conestoga College. It's a 2 year ,4 semester course. If you need any questions answered or just want to chat.........

i am going to start the rpn/lpn program in september and i was thinking the same thing. i am just hoping i can get a job in a hospital after graduating. i too, find that working in an ltc facility would be very depressing. i had my grandmother live with our family for 3 years. she had parkinsons and passed 2 years ago last feburary. she lived with it for 10 years and i saw how she just went downhill. i don't think i could deal with the emotional part of it. i know... working as a nurse i will see alot of this but i would like to try to stay out of the ltc, retirement , etc part of it. maybe work in the surgical, delivery, whatever. i live in ontario and i am just wondering if anyone else in the kitchener, cambridge area had any luck finding a job in a hospital after graduating?

Can anyone tell me... I just asked a career advisor if it is possible for me to get a job working in a hospital after school. This is what she told me, "It is more difficult to get a job in the hospital...mostly due to RPNs keeping those jobs forever because of the salary and job (challenge)". Just wondering how many of you RPN's are working in a hospital, and was it difficult to get in? Did you have to take any specialty courses? If someone could give me an idea, I live around Kitchener, Cambridge. How is it in your area of Canada? :)

I recently asked this question to a career advisor from RPANO and this is part of what she had to say... " The RPN is not being phased out, as a matter of fact the number of seats available in the program across the province has increased.".......

Thanks for all your help. It helps to know a little bit before to calm those dreaded nerves!!!

Thanks!!

i hope to start the rpn program in sept. at conestoga. i am just wondering what kind on shots you need to have? do you get them done at the clinic in the college or at your doctor? is there a specific date that you have to get them done? hopefully not the course start date. i would guess they would probably give you a little bit of time as long as it's before your clinicals. right? any advice would be appreciated. :)

I was just going to ask...