RCA program under Sprott-Shaw Community College

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Hello there everyone.

I don't know if some of you guys are actually familiar with Sprott-Shaw Community College.

Well, they opened a SSCC campus here in Phil and offers a RCA diploma course. I'm studying under that course and it will end by November this year.

I need answers to my following questions since they can't give us a concrete information as to what would happen to us after this program:

1. As RCA, is there any possibility for us to upgrade our status as LPN/RN when we reach Canada? ( taking into consideration that I'm a RN here in my country but doesn't have any hospital experience yet)

2. if "YES", how long is it going to take before we could actually sit in the CRNE and does being a RCA will be counted as experience?

I know guys you are going to ask me if why I didn't go straight and take the CRNE and practice RN? well, it's because I don't have any hospital experience yet and I can't afford to look for one in this current situation of Nursing Profession here in our country.

So, just a little information will be highly appreciated.

Thanks so much and more power to this site (it's very helpful indeed.)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

What is RCA?

Whether the college accepts it or not is really a question you should be asking them

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RCA is Resident Care Attendants.

Well, I've asked them already about this but they are just giving us very vague answers.

So, I'm trying my best to find answers on my own way especially with the help of this forum.

Thanks..

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If they are being vague in their answers then I am not sure why you think we can give any answers, they are at the end of the day the ones that makes the decisions. I do doubt though that RCA experience can be counted towards RN or LPN experience as the roles are different. Many apply to Canada with no work experience and depending on the province college will depend on the requirements.

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Basically, the "RCA" is a glorified name for a nursing assistant. Toilet, bathe, bed making, feed, dress. Some facilities allow them to do vitals and empty drains.

It seems as if it's another attempt to separate students in the Phillipines from their money.

Perhaps some of these students need to look at the Canadian media. Alberta and Ontario have slowed down their hiring of new graduate nurses in their own provinces. We're hearing rumbles from Saskatchewan as well. If Cdn. new grads can't find jobs in their home provinces they will migrate to the province next door for work.

Sprott Shaw has a spotty reputation in some provinces as well. They promise the moon and charge a fortune while doing so. They opened a PN programme in areas of Vancouver Island where experienced LPNs couldn't find work and extolled the "high demand" for LPNs. They charge over $20K for an education if you go through a public college would cost under $9K.

So, I would say buyer beware.

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@ silverdragon: yes, i do believe that by the end of the day, it is them who'se going to make the decisions right?

but on the other hand, they are giving us information that we don't know if it's true enough or not.

@ fiona59: thank you so much for the reply. According to what you've just said, the situation there is awful as well.

But still, I want to know if as RCA/NA, could we still upgrade our status to LPN/RN? Wouldn't RCA work be counted as

a qualified experience for the CRNE?

Don't worry, I'm still keeping my hopes high. :wink2:

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What you are failing to understand is you HAVE a nursing education.

Yes, there are provinces in Canada where working as an accredited NA, you will be granted a small amount of credit towards your PN education. In Alberta and Ontario, the PN education is a two year diploma course. To apply to a BScN programme and experienced LPN is admitted in year two of the four year degree.

Working as an aide or assistant would make you more comfortable in providing direct care but gives you zilch towards experience in medication administration, wound care, discharge planning, psycho-social needs of the patient and their family. It's comparing apples to oranges. They are both fruit but different.

It makes absolutely NO sense for you to consider this route.

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@ fiona59: then what you are trying to say is that I have to undergo again another set of education for me to upgrade my status as RN?

So, it's not as easy as 1 2 3 for me to take CRNE in the future?

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What I'm trying to tell you is:

1) decide if Canada is the right place for you. Why do you want to come here, do you have family, been here on vacation? Do you have an understanding of the economic climate here?

2) Why aren't you just applying to the provincial college of your choice? Only the governing body can decide if your education meets their requirements.

You just seem determined to do this in as difficult a fashion as possible.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
@ fiona59: then what you are trying to say is that I have to undergo again another set of education for me to upgrade my status as RN?

So, it's not as easy as 1 2 3 for me to take CRNE in the future?

The route you are talking about makes no sense, that is what we are saying.

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Specializes in Acute Care. ER. Aged Care/LTC. Psyche.

buyang00,

what the people here are trying to say is: your means of pursuing a nursing career in Canada is on a wrong track.

First, you have a BSN. It's an education, enough to meet the minimum requirement to be registered as a nurse in Canada. Well, that is subject of course to the evaluation of a particular College of Nursing. But still, even if you choose to do the RCA training first, you still have to go through the same process in applying for CRNE, as it is with those applying directly as a nurse.

Second, try visiting the website of your College of Nursing of choice. Check their requirements, and you'll be surprised that you can meet all their requirement without doing the RCA program first. I applied before to College of Nurses in Ontario. Did not pursue it tho. But technically speaking, I can provide them the minimum requirements,.and I have no experience back then. A possible route for those without experience is doing the Bridging Program (subject to the College's evaluation)...

Third, RCA experience can't be used as a Nursing experience. But if there's a clear and definite path for you to come to Canada as a RCA, and you really want it as a means of earning first, then so be it.

God Bless!

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

Plus you don't need to have experience to take the CRNE.

To be honest, I don't understand at all why you are studying this RCA thing?? Very odd. Waste of money I think.

5cats

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