Cherry2

That's sad. I mean, here you are hospitalized and that isn't good enough? I am sorry. Maybe you will find a batter job soon though! :)

I am just beginning LPN school, but I do understand how you feel. My plan had been to do RN, but in getting ready to apply, I realized it would just be too much for me now. So what? Right now all I care about is getting my LPN then working for a year or two. After the break from school, I may start taking one or two classes a semester, but I am not rushing myself. I may not bother at all in the end, who knows? Either way, a nurse is a nurse...

and already I have had someone question why I would bother since "the pay sucks and no one will hire LPN's" This was coming from a nurse friend I know online who also lives in Ontario. I can't handle 4 years now.. I have an almost three year old, no money, I am getting married next august. Not to mention, my math grade was too low for me to get into RN now, so I would have had to take that over and THEN apply- not even knowing if I'd be in then. I may go for RN eventually, but my plan was to do this first, then work for a bit and then do the rest part time to get my RN- thought I am hoping they will have some kind of bridge in place by then... I wish people wouldn't make me feel so discouraged. Why do RN's have to sit there putting me down over this?? It's just so mean.

I think Georgian does have the program... I just finished at humber college for upgrading certain classes and one of the girls in my classes had applied for the RN at Georgian. She got in, but I don't know if she accepted. Why do you think they don't have the program? (I am confused now.. lol)

Really Fiona? That is great! Honestly, I have been wondering why it WASN'T like that all along. It just makes sense to do that in my opinion.

If it helps, the actual term for what crocs are made of is: EVA or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene-vinyl_acetate

Mine is about $7000 for the 2 year program at a college, but I am in Canada, so I guess that isn't helpful to you, since we do things differently in that respect. Coming from another mom, who is in school now... as much as it would suck to be even further in debt, I would probably just pay and go the the one that is closer! I have been doing my pre req's this year and have had to travel an hour+ on the bus to and from school everyday, WITH my 2 year old. Needless to say, when I start LPN school in the fall, we are moving and my school will be a 10 minute or less train ride away, and my son will not have to come with me, b/c he will be at a daycare closer to our house. All that traveling will wear you out so much, you will have a hard time getting the energy to study... that is how it has been for me. Good luck deciding!

Yes, it is. They are called "Licensed Practical NURSES" for a reason.. lol. Despite what my mother in law (the RN drop out!) tries to tell me. :)

WRONG! I had one done just before my c-section when my son was born 2 years ago, and it was even worse than my recovery time afterwards. Honestly, the foley is what I remember as being the worst part. Well, all the laxatives they made me take weren't fun either, but with the foley, the nurse just kept screwing it up and it hurt so much.

I do it too! I am about to start nursing school (fall 07) and I just KNOW that I will embarrass myself many, many times because of this. Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world that does it. Other people just don't get it- they think you are a big baby, but it just happens no matter what you do. I may have to try that elastic trick though.. my hair is nearly down to my waist, so I always have an elastic, lol.

Oh I am so jealous! My program doesn't start till September... I have been doing dosage calculations in my math classes this term and they aren't too bad. I need a lot more practice, but I am sure I will get lots, lol. Good luck with school- let me know how it goes!

Congratulations!!! I am so glad you FINALLY found out.. Now, I just have 2 more years until I can say that I made it too... *sigh*

I found it very easy to get into my LPN program. I have been doing pre req's this year b/c I thought I wanted to go into RN, but changed my mind after struggling with getting my 2 year old to school everyday and back on the bus, and never having time for homework b/c of that. All I really needed was the proper math, bio and chem, which I did not have from high school (most do have it). Other than that, it was a very simple test to write. I wrote it on a saturday and by monday morning I got my acceptance. Easy as that.. and I am not much of a student by any means, so if I did it that easily, any one can!

Hi, I was in your place a year ago. I really wanted to be a nurse, but didn't have my bio or chem.. so I went back to school this year and instead of taking just those classes I took a full prep for health sciences year, which also gave me the credits I needed. I had been out of school for 7 years, traveling and having a baby and being a mom, so it got me used to school again. I am now in for nursing school in September 07! If you are planning on school in Canada, you can take either just the courses you need part time, or do a program like I did. However, I suggest you figure out where you want to go to nursing school and then contact that school and ask them exactly what you need. They will be the best help, since different schools accept (or don't accept) certain programs. Good Luck!!

My program is at a college, George Brown in Toronto to be exact. The computer course and communications I am exempt from, thank goodness! I *think* part of the reason they have us do so much, is in prep for RN, as they do have a bridge program run through one of the collaborative colleges that run half of their RN program as well.

So you guys are saying that I am completely in for it aren't you? lol Great...

I agree with the others. It isn't a safe situation and if you hate it that much, then I would just walk out the door. You can't use them as a reference after such a short time, so it doesn't matter if you don't give the 2 weeks. You need to be happy with what you do!

Here is the list of courses by semester: Semester 1 ANAT1052 Anatomy and Physiology I NURS1026 Profession of Nursing GSCI1020 Health and Wellness NURS1029 Clinical Applications GSSC1057 Lifespan Development COMM1007 College English COMP1082 Computer Skills and Applications Semester 2 ANAT1053 Anatomy and Physiology II PATH1016 Pathology and Therapeutics I NURS1027 Nursing Theory I NURS1030 Clinical Applications II COMM1134 Professional Communications GNED General Education Elective Semester 3 PATH1017 Pathology and Therapeutics II PHAR1007 Pharmacology NURS2016 Profession of Nursing II NURS1028 Nursing Theory II NURS2021 Health Assessment NURS2018 Clinical Applications III SOC1018 Sociology Semester 4 NURS2017 Nursing Theory III NURS2020 Clinical Applications IV It is a full time program, and I know the full time program I am in now (prep for nursing) is 18+ hours a week. So I am guessing it will be at least that much, though likely more, per week for this program.

I start my LPN program in fall 2007 and the program is 2 years long (4 semesters). Why are LPN programs only 1 year in the US? Are they more condensed, and therefore more difficult? As long as I have read these boards, I don't think I have yet seen a US LPN program that was two years..

Congratulations! I know how relieved you are, I got mine in February and am so excited. I wish I was starting as early as the rest of you seem to be, but in Canada you usually only start in January or September. In the fall though, it will finally be my chance! I am just so excited for all of us!

I just want to thank everyone for the comments. I am having the same issue as the OP, but unfortunately, where I live there isn't as much demand for LPN's (Toronto). Good thing I am not such a fan of Toronto anyway and hope to move! When I had my son in 2004, I only had ONE nurse of 5 that I really loved. She was amazing and the only one who actually helped me when I was trying to get the hang of breastfeeding (the rest just stuck him on there and took off, so once he popped off again, I couldn't get him back on right without help). I found out recently, through a friend who is now an LPN at the same hospital and on the same floor, that my favorite nurse was an LPN! I certainly didn't know when I was there, and now that I have decided to go with LPN vs RN, it meant a lot to me to know that the LPN was the "good" nurse. Nothing like that to show you LPN's really ARE nurses and that they can have just as much or more impact on their patients. I mean, I have a terrible, terrible memory- but I still remember that nurse's name! :)

Well, I live in Canada- so my only choices are a 2 year diploma (LPN) or a 4 year degree. Even the (few) bridging programs I have looked into are three years long, so in the end I will actually be ADDING a year to get my RN. For me there are many reasons for LPN over RN though. I am 26, with a 2 1/2 year old. I want another baby within 4 years and so obviously you don't want to try and do that right in the middle of getting a degree. Also the money side of it- I just want to be working! But most of all, I am just very certain I will never enjoy that much stress and responsibility. I do know that I can still work in L&D here (maybe not in Ontario, but I know I can in other places in Canada) and I am also interested in working with people who have eating disorders. My only concern is that "only" having an LPN will stop me from one of those things somehow. If it does though, then I guess I just have to decide if it is worth going after the RN for...

Why do people have to make it sound like I am taking the 'easy' way out? I intended to go the RN route, but after being out of school since 1999, and having a 2 year old to care for and no help at all, well, RN is too much right now. I have no money and I need to work as soon as I can. I do plan on getting my RN later, but I am just fine with LPN. I have been doing prereq's this year to prepare for nursing school and right around mid year I realized that LPN is fine. I can be just as happy doing that. I will never want to be in any form of management. I don't like to be the 'boss' of anyone and the only thing that I want to do is give meds. So I will get my certification for that. Why is this not good enough? Why is this degree so important to everyone? Even though those same people thought I was an idiot for wanting to be a nurse in the first place just one year ago. "Why would you want to clean up poop everyday of your life?" Honestly I am just sick of it. I may be very happy to 'just' be an LPN, but if I want to continue and get my RN, it is MY choice. :angryfire Sorry for this huge rant- I just need to hear from others who understand. Besides, I am already into school and I didn't bother with the RN applications. I know what I want.. even if it is just 'for now'.

Okay- the way it works here (Canada) is that to be an LPN is that it is a two year diploma program. The RNs, like the US, have a BSN, but as a practical nurse, I would have my diploma-- is that different from the way the US does it? (I am getting that impression anyway from some of these responses) There are no 1 year programs here for nursing- it is either get your diploma and be a practical nurse (2 years) or get your degree (BSN for 4 years) and be an RN. I guess I am getting confused with the differences,lol.

Well, I am in Toronto-- but the real problem is my grades. I just don't know if I will get in. I just started back this week, and I am going to do all I can to bring my grades up this term (math was really horrible, and I am two marks below what I needed for chemistry) This term I have anatomy, biology and math- besides the other stuff they are making us take (3 other courses). I think I will apply for both programs anyway- but I just don't want to feel like (if I have to go with LPN) that it is a bad decision, you know? I just don't know how to decide, and I have no nurses to talk to other than those here, and most seem to be from the US.