blackcomb

Saw that on the new here in Canada, very sad, glad the bus driver got charged, sad the children don't get to come back though. Sincere condolences to their family and friends.

That's actually quite accurate, though 3-4 yr degree course for RN's in the UK, and in Canada.. Unfortunately in Canada some employers have cut back from wanting to pay out RN wages for RN's and prefer to pay out less by taking on LPN's, in the UK we don't have enrolled nurses just RN's and carers and it's actually better, just don't work for those employers taking LPN's over RN's to save them money! Many of them are agencies. They're taking short cuts and the patients are not getting the best overall care obviously, but that's their neck not mine or yours. Similarly, some LPN's do have an attitude that they like to 'think' they are at an RN level when obviously they are not, it's just an attitude problem that is rife unfortunately. The answer to that is if any LPN does not like to be paid LPN wages and wants more responsiblity as per RN's, then do the full training and become one, but don't state things that are not true and that are not valid as that just annoys us RN's who did not work hard to gain our RN status for nothing. And the fact someone trained in 1984 is highly worthy too especially if still registered, they have many years of knowledge and experience and that is not to be taken lightly either. My recent employers, two which are ALSO agency jobs have only RN's or RN's, and care givers and I have to say they are wonderful to work with too. I get paid my full rate of pay too, rightly so.

LPN's which are in Canada as well as the US, are the equivelent of enrolled nurses that no longer exist in the UK who are not full fledged Nurses, unlike RN's in the UK. I work in Canada. LPN's have 1-2 yrs training, unlike RN degree training of up to 4 yrs, and LPN's can't take unstable patients, aren't trained to management level, research level, nor are they supervisors. The RN's do the IV's ECG's, take unstaible patients and do the LPN's patients IVs, etc. Hope that helps. I've have certainly NEVER been trained by an LPN, I have taught LPN s in training. Shown me where some paperwork and where things are maybe is as much as an LPN has done with previous workplaces especially long term care facilities and with regard to some of their normal procedures, but other than that it's the Nurse Manager who fully orientates and fully informs the RN of their responsibility of e.g. a long term care home, where you are more like the RN in charge and the LPN's are under you, with less responsiblity but where more of them work there compared to RN's, as one RN is usually in charge of the whole home when on duty. Hope that helps. Best bet as another said, is to contact the state nursing body where you intend to work, and the one where you trained to find out if you are a full fledged RN first, if not then no you won't be classed as an RN in the US either. Hope that helps.

Cost of livingis definitely high in London and the most expensive place to live and work and teaching hospitals there are the best especially if you want to get more educated and progress faster in the Profession, but 3000 pounds approximately extra given per year for Nurses working in London for the expense of living and working in London, I know that much as I lived and worked there for 3 yrs (I'm from England, nursing in Canada currently).

Very true on that first point seen below. It is a reason I didn't continue in ICU for the lack of support and brick wall barrier to my development, not to mention a bully manager who went out of her way to get her newer nurses struck off! The Union had a list of nurses before me who left for the same reason and said a court date in the future would occur and I along with the others would be a witness, however, she remains the bully manager in that department shockingly and some of the staff were still too scared to leave! The excuse I heard was that she was difficult to replace which is nonsense! There would be far better managers with people skills and management skills in nursing who would do a far better job and could easily take her place. Had to be one of the worst unhealthy places I ever worked in and I walked and 10 others followed me out the door I was told by staff that remained there before that manager stuck her knife in fully along with her sheep she managed to influence to do the same(senior staff on her floor). I also remember a nurse student who was a student when I was, first term and first year and had a bully mentor and he didn't even wait to discuss it with his tutor, he left fast! He was likely going to become a far better nurse than the nurse that mentored him. Have to say it made me highly angry, I almost left Nursing three times in the past myself as a result, and was going to become a lawyer instead, then dare those not so nice ones to pick on me or others then. I have remained a nurse as I found far healthier places to work, however I have never returned to an ICU environment to date.