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I worked part-time during the program, usually 2-3 days per week. I made good friends with people who had similar expectations for themselves academically and we supported each other throughout the program (reviewing papers, study groups, etc.). I studied hard, harder than I did during my previous program, but I also spent a lot of time learning more about my own actual learning style and what works best for me rather than just cramming and memorization which got me through my PN program quite successfully. Even though it was harder I enjoyed the BScN program far more than the PN program because the focus was more in line with my interests as a nurse (research, evidence-informed decision making, public health/population health). I didn’t do any transfer credits (aside from the credits they give you as an RPN) and you already have to take a number of electives anyways (7 when I took the program but I think it’s less now). I actually loaded up on my electives early in the program to get them out of the way which made my first 1.5 years busy but definitely helped in the end. I also had a baby while I was in the program, took a bit of time off and returned for my final year when he was seven months old. It’s completely doable, don’t let yourself convince you otherwise ?!

I attended the Co-Mac bridging program and graduated with a pretty good cgpa (about an 85-86% average). It’s very doable!

Yes, it was five years total for both parts (Centennial and Ryerson). I chose instead to go full time which, from start to finish, could be done in under three years.

I did RPN first and then bridged to BScN. I don’t regret not taking the BScN right away as I was able to work as a nurse in the hospital while completing my degree and qualified for tuition reimbursement and grants from my employer and the RPNAO. If you have the means to go the BScN route though and that is your goal, do it and save the time.

There are a number of options but unfortunately most won’t take you with failed course or anything below an 83-85% average (not sure what you averaged).

Athabasca is legit but your clinicals are done in Alberta. I had a colleague who was doing the program and had to travel out west for it.

Not related to the original post but I did the bridging program at Co/Mac and I did find the first year the busiest. Not the hardest but definitely the busiest.

I know this is an older post but I’ll shed some insight. Some public health nurses (PHNs) work in areas like infectious diseases which can involve a lot of case and contact management of reportable communicable diseases - my understanding is it is a lot of interpreting lab results, tracking down contacts of those who have been exposed, managing outbreaks, etc. Some do clinic work (vaccines, sexual health, breastfeeding, etc.). Some work with school boards, community partners, etc. I do a lot of health promotion work which includes a lot of using research/evidence-informed decision making to influence policy/program planning in the community. I work on initiatives related to anything from falls/injury prevention across the lifespan, alcohol/substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion. On any given day I could be working on a literature review that is part of a larger research project which will be used to inform policy/program decisions, facilitating stakeholder consultations with community partners to uncover locals needs and gaps in service, or working with our epidemiology team to uncover local trends in any of my topic areas. It is a vast role. I used to joke when I accepted my job that I was trading in my scrubs for a lifetime of trying to explain what a PHN actually does, and it has proven true so far!

It was busy, it was sometimes stressful, but it wasn’t hard. I enjoyed it, I soared through getting great marks with half the effort of most of my peers. I also had a baby between my third and fourth year, took a couple semesters off and returned when he was 7 months old.

That sounds about right based on my experience when I was in the hospital.

Not everyone is unionized. Also, to touch on a previous poster, there is no standardized ONA rate of pay across the board. Those who are unionized have their own collective agreements and the pay and other benefits depend on what your bargaining unit can negotiate. Pay varies dramatically.

Ignore my previous reply, I thought you were asking about bridging programs! Apparently reading isn’t my strength!

I did the McMaster bridging program and absolutely loved it. Heavily focused on research/evidence-informed decision making at a systems level which is super great if you’re looking to get into public health or graduate level education but it isn’t for everyone!

My cap surpasses that number in 6 years (I’m on a 6 year wage grid). There are many positions that make more than that as a base salary in far less than 25 years, you just have to know where to look :)!

The cap is definitely higher than that in some areas!

You would have to register to re-write during the next exam period, whenever that is. You get the results very quickly with the NCLEX, I had my results in 20 hours. It would likely be similar when the CPNRE becomes the NCLEX-PN.

Nope, a few times a year still for the CPNRE, which is better than it used to be, when I wrote in 2013. It wasn’t even that long ago but there were only 3 days per year to write. Yep, 4 days. One mid-January, May, and October. Hopefully when the CPNRE moves to the NCLEX (I don’t know when), it will be more open like what happened when the RN exam switched over!

Really? It is a shame that that has been your experience. My workplace is on a wage grid that brings you to $49.61/hour after 6 years with amazing benefits, pension, 6 weeks vacation, etc... You’re obviously working in the wrong area if you think the pay sucks. I’m sorry for the patients who are on the receiving end of that negativity.

I bridged through Mac, our courses cost around $800-900, so it is pricey to take electives that way outside of your normal course schedule.

It definitely may have felt like you lost that many, but drop-out and failure rates are closely monitored by the CNO. If a school has a rate that is high like that they are investigated and at risk for losing their accreditation. Centennial College, for example, was at risk for losing their accreditation (approved but with conditions) a few years ago and I believe it was around a 55% rate of people who didn’t finish the program and they had to develop a plan to lower this number and post a disclaimer on their nursing program webpage! Just a side note ? Also, Mac is not organized haha.

I think the bridging students started out around 60 at that time and we definitely lost probably 15 that I can think of. Some failed, some decided they didn’t like Mac so chose to pursue other options.

It was reasonable I found. Tons of people still don't make it to the end, but that is usually a reflection of habits rather than actual intelligence.

Mac is 65% to pass I believe if I remember correctly and no you don’t have to reapply, it’s just one program which makes the most sense.

Well it is an accredited nursing program, approved by the CNO under the same criteria and conditions as every other nursing program in Ontario ?

I really enjoyed PBL! I graduated from Mac (RPN to BScN stream although we all end up at the same place eventually) so if anyone has PBL specific questions I would be happy to answer them.