OttawaRPN/RN2B

There is no commute to school; good thing, I live 5 hours from North Bay. It's all online and your clinicals and exams are close to home. You are required to be working at a location that has a partnership before applying as you will need a reference letter from your employer, and you are to be working at a partnering facility for the duration of the program. If your employer is not affiliated, they can contact Nipissing for a partnership agreement.

Hello sdg13, Yes it is a LOT of work for a PT program while working only PT. I'm just finishing up my first semester which was academic writing (lots of reading, essays and discussion board posts), and the second course was biology with weekly online assignments and quizzes. The final exams are 3 hours and proctored (mine are next week). Teachers are great, courses were great, super positive experience. Off the top of my head, every 3rd semester is clinical rotations and consolidation in the final semester, 15 semesters in total. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has, I had many starting out with little info found here and limited on the website. Are you thinking of applying? I was very hesitant and was debating doing it through Athabasca or going FT to Ottawa U, but I can truly say I'm happy with my choice and I do have friends in the other 2 programs to compare notes with. Nipissing is an amazing program í ½í±í ½í± Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Hello Danothemano, Because I'm taking it part time the entry requirements are different (I have to be employed at an affiliated partnering facility) and have an existing RPN diploma for which they grant you 30 credits towards the 120 needed to complete the degree. My marks going in were all high 90s, no repeated or failed courses. Are you thinking of doing the part time or full time program?

Hello GingerCrayons, Yes, I did get in, started in January. I'm taking mine part time through the blended delivery program and am loving it, although it is a LOT of work. Very good school and well set up. Good luck to you!

:unsure::unsure:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving a polite follow up phone message and it is very unfortunate that they haven't had the decency to get back to you. I have had this happen to me myself and know how frustrating it is. If you don't hear from them after another attempt, move on and hold your head high knowing you are worth more than working for people who don't have the decency to be more respectful than that. You gave them 2 hours of your time, they can at least give you a quick phone call! Good luck!!

Hello Cdgagnon; I'm hoping you saw my reply before the post was removed... And to the nurse that messaged me: thank you. I didn't want to publicly post that for that very reason. Unfortunately, both cdgagnon and myself don't have the option to private message on here, which I did not realize when I suggested it.

YES, EXACTLY THIS!!!

Hello Cdgagnon; I'm an RPN and worked in Ottawa for one of the Bernstein clinics for about 5 months in 2005. I can tell you that the pay was not competitive, RNs and RPNs were paid the same ($16/hour) unless you were the "team leader" who was paid $1 more per hour. High staff turn over rate. If you PM me I can give you more specifics, but my personal reasons for leaving after only 5 months pertained to issues that several of us found to be very unethical in terms of practice. The one positive about the position was that it was Mon-Fri, 6 am- 2 pm. Good luck to you whatever you decide!

There's got to be someone here taking the part time BScN through Nipissing!!... ?

It depends on the school you are applying to; the collaborative program between Ottawa U and Algonquin College requires that you work a full year with a diploma before applying to the BScN bridge. I thought it was a farce after obtaining my RPN diploma after already working for over 20 years as an RPN (with certificate). The piece of paper had made absolutely no difference in my skill set or scope of practice.

Hello, just curious if anyone else here is applying for January 2017 intake and awaiting acceptance? For anyone who is currently taking it, how is it going and do you have any positive or negative comments on the experience so far? Would love to hear from you!

I know this thread is a few years old, but just wanted to add my experience here. In 1995 the hospital that I was employed at as an RPN certified us as new hires to do added nursing skills that RPNs in Ontario were not traditionally performing. IV maintenance and removal (not starting IV's) was part of that as well as venipuncture for bloodwork, among other skills. In 2010 I took a one day workshop at our local Community College on "IV initiation and maintenance and venipuncture." The class was intended for nurses who either had no previous training or wanted a refresher. My original RPN training was 24 years ago so IV initiation was not part of my program, not sure if they include it in the curriculum now as so much has changed since then. In fact IM injections were not allowed to be given by RPNs back then either but it is something that has been my responsibility to learn on the job and remain current.

Hey Kylee! How did that first solo shift go? I'm confident that you survived it! Reading your post reminded me of the fear I had working my first solo shift in a 60 resident nursing home. I will share a little story about my first day, and I am pretty certain (and very hopeful) that no one can top it! It was a Saturday day shift for starters, meaning that there was no administrator or DON/DOC on duty. As the RPN on duty that day, I was responsible for all of the residents. I was also responsible for the rest of the staff in the building; kitchen, housekeeping, laundry and the PSWs/HCAs. I was to do the 8 am and noon med passes (plus who ever required eye drops or puffers q2h) and lets not forget the majority of residents who needed an AccuChek before giving insulin. I was responsible for ALL treatments; any dressing changes, colostomy care, application of any Rx creams etc... The HCA/PSWs (I believe they had 4 on duty for the day shift) were responsible for basic ADLs and delivery of meals and feeding in the dining rooms or at bedside if indicated. The PSW/HCA was to document bowel function and dietary intake. I was to document in the nurses notes for every resident on their condition and including details of treatments etc. If there was nothing to report, an entry is still legally required for every client. So I arrive for 7 am and was of course very nervous about how I was going to survive med pass, let alone anything else. Forgot to mention that I was to answer the phone and the door if the PSWs were tied up. I arrive; I am told that one of the cooks and a PSW have called in sick. (Saturday- coincidence?) Great I think; I am the one in charge, so I am the one who needs to find replacement staff, and last minute at that! I had 2 orientation shifts which included med pass, charting, tx procedures etc. I was never shown where to find phone lists etc. One disaster led to another that morning. Moments after being there I am told that there is NO hot water... WHAT?? I'm thinking OMG how are the residents going to have baths etc? I am led down to the basement and was told that I need to call the maintenance company and that I needed the key to the boiler room to give them access..... frantically trying to look at disastrous dog-eared and crossed out phone lists, I did not know who to call. Finally after trying to call the administrator and DON at home and praying for someone to return my call, I am able to locate the key and call the plumber. I'm looking at the time and nearly ******** bricks because morning blood sugars and insulins need to get done, let alone the cocktail of meds that every resident needed. (oh yes, most needed meds crushed and fluids thickened). Where can I find applesauce or jam to mix them with, and this small desert bowl is ALL we have for applesauce? Phone ringing off the hook, staff calling back to say no, they couldn't come in. A resident with a colostomy has ripped it off and is running naked in the hall with liquid fecal matter flying everywhere. Oh, guess what Nurse? That is YOUR job to deal with that mess, no one else is trained to give colostomy care. I AM OFFICIALLY IN HELL I thought. Next thing I know, a resident has fallen on the floor, face first, nose bleeding everywhere and of course hurting everywhere. Not only is this an injury and an incident report and V/S in need of taking, but it is also to be treated as a head injury and an ambulance needs to be called. OK, no, NOW I'm in hell!!!! Could ANYTHING else go wrong? Oh yes, a second PSW has not showed up for her shift and the cleaner has now also called in sick. Little things like having to lock up the med cart every time I walked away, having to enter pass codes for the elevator or doorways at every turn, or having to dispense the closely counted and monitored gloves and incontinence products to the PSWs chewed up a chunk of time as well. A woman with a feeding pump is beeping on the second floor (who knows for how long at this point!), that needs to be changed and where exactly are the supplies and Ensure located? This is ALL the Ensure we have??? This isn't enough to get through the weekend!!! It truly was a shift from HELL, but somehow I managed to (barely!) survive it. I went home in hysterics and tears for sure and was so stressed it was unbelievable. Not sure what I was (or wasn't) thinking, but I returned the following day for more abuse. LTC facilities (privately owned) are notorious for using their nurses to the max and paying them peanuts. I was HORRIFIED to learn that my pay was only $1 more/hr than the cleaning staff. Sadly, that is the reality and it just is not right.