Joyce37

Hello SingDanceRunLife! I had not noticed your June 16 (2015) message, sorry for my very late reply! In Quebec, it's actually 18 months : my vocational school lied on its advertisements. In most schools, it's 18 consecutive months, and if the Summer is off, it's 2 years long, while the RN program is 3 years long. In Quebec, it is taught at vocational schools, but in the rest of Canada, it is taught at the college level, if I am not wrong. Reason: Quebec is the only province where RN can study at the college level. Not a lot were studying at the university level. So in Quebec, there are two programs at the university level: a 2-year long for current RNs, a 3-year long for non-RN. I doubt that Canadian LPN programs are the equivalent of the USA RN programs. But I agree that it's longer, so it must be an in-between! I personally think that the Canadian LPN programs are the equivalent of the RN programs of 50 years ago : closer to the patient.

Hello Miss.Jersey, thanks for your August 26 (2018) advices, sorry about my very late answer, I had forgotten about AllNurses! I started the RN program at university in Fall 2018. I work about 2 shifts per month at another job, not the one I was offered at 4 shifts monthly. Except in Summer, when I work between 3 and 5 shifts per week, as a student nurse. Your home pediatric nursing job is a terrific idea! Since I'm a mother and that I might have a very busy semester next Fall (tons of courses), I'll keep my current arrangements, but if my circumstances change, I'll keep your suggestion in mind!

Hello Jedrnurse, thanks for your July 28 (2018) advices, sorry about my very late answer, I had forgotten about AllNurses! I started the RN program at university in Fall 2018. I work about 2 shifts per month at another job, not the one I was offered at 4 shifts monthly. Except in Summer, when I work between 3 and 5 shifts per week, as a student nurse. This RN program is full-time only, and even its "non-RN" courses are part of it, I.e. tinted with RN notions, such as Ethics. All courses are mandatory. Since I already have several diplomas, the university level courses are actually less stressful to me than the strictly RN courses! I am nervous in the clinical and job settings because I am observed... We're all different, right? Thanks again for your inputs!

Hello Caliotter3, thanks for your July 27 (2018) advices, sorry about my very late answer, I had forgotten about AllNurses! I started the RN program at university in Fall 2018. I work about 2 shifts per month at another job, not the one I was offered at 4 shifts monthly. Except in Summer, when I work between 3 and 5 shifts per week, as a student nurse.and discovered that indeed, they are way less accommodating than in other programs in which I have studied. As you wrote, this program's teachers and administrators are way less accommodating than the ones of the other programs I had studied in. When I had problems in the RN program, I decided to tell them the truth, so that we establish an honest rapport. Maybe I shouldn't have, according to your post, but I also told them what I was doing about it in order to solve it. So it's both a challenge and a positive change in my life, since the problems I am addressing will be tackled, if I may say. ?

Hello JKL33, thank you so much for your inputs! I know that some teachers can be accommodating, but you're right, I can't assume they will *all* be. Plus the orientation at work will probably span over 3 weeks. And indeed, I'm worried that in a few or several years, it won't be a good timing to attend school. Thanks again for your time!

Hello Callioter3, many thanks for taking the time to give me your opinion! Coincidentally, I read another post about a 50-something thinking about RN school (https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/is-this-a-1169711.html) to which Horseshoe commented: "Experience is the best teacher for new nurses. If you are limiting your exposure to the job, you are limiting those opportunities for learning and skill advancement." You replied to the above comment with: "Could not have said it better. Establish your knowledge and experience base before you seek part time." It makes so much sense. Starting my LPN career with a part-time job (2 days per week) is not conductive to success. Thanks again for your feedback!

In the province of Quebec, I saw a medsurg floor with: - 1 RN - 1 RPN - 1 orderly for 11 patients

Hi all, I'm a new second-career LPN, in my early 50's. I had a 8-day orientation in a hospital - med/sug - and was fired : my anxiety got the better of me. Even if I'm sad and worried, I know that I can get through this and succeed at a future job. I thought about my issues and errors and about ways to not repeat them. I wonder if I should go to RN school or work as a LPN again. I love being a LPN, but I know, from my previous jobs, that I'm more confident with paperwork, which is a big part of the RN job. I've been accepted to a RN school (BSN), which is very rare for an LPN. I thought they'd tell me what to do in order to be admitted "next time" and use it as a plan for the next few years. But I was admitted! If I don't attend this year, I might loose my chance to ever attend, since admission depends on the other candidates as well as on the market. In an ideal world, I'd work for at least 3 years prior to RN school. But I had the luck to be admitted now. And I have a new job offer as a LPN in another hospital. Of course I'm scared of the orientation, because of what happened at the other hospital. I'd love to do both: study to be a RN *AND* work as a LPN, in order to consolidate both my learning with my job and the work with the new knowledge. As well as to bring some money home. It would be only 2 days per week. But an hospital orientation is very stress-full, and the probation period afterwards is not easy-breezy neither. The orientation would start about 3 weeks after the school start. I could work hard at school in the beginning order to be able to miss school for the orientation period. Like do homework in advance, read everything, etc. Reading what I wrote make me realize it's nuts for a NON 20-something. ;-) So here's a recap: Plan A) Both study and work: not enough time with my family, risks for my health Plan B) Only work: not enough money, risk of another failed orientation Plan C) Only study: no money but more revenue on the long run What do you guys and gals think? Thank you for reading

Hi! Here, in Quebec (Canadian province, not Québec city), it's between 15 and 24 months. My program is 18-month long, with a 1-week break at Christmas and a 1-month summer break. So it's about 17 months long, full time: About 9 months in school: 30 Hours per week, including labs (at least 20% after the first month, depending on the courses) About 8 months of training in hospitals and hospices (is this what you cal "clinicals" ?) : min 35 Hours per week Both excluding lunch break Yep!