RN or LPN

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I start my upgrading in the fall to eventually apply for the RN program at my local university, although, reading a majority of these threads I feel like it make be more practical for me to just do my LPN. My upgrading would be cut in half as well as my schooling. Also, I do have children so this seems like it would also be more realistic. The only thing is, is I would really love to do my RN just on the basis that my scope of practice would be larger and I could specialize in areas like labour and delivery which would be a goal of mine. But like I said before these boards can be quite discouraging when it comes to the amount of RN,s being cut in other provinces and jobs in labour and delivery are few and far between. I don't want to give off the wrong impression either as I would be happy to work anywhere as a nurse but a long term goal would be L&D if the opportunity ever arose. Anyways, what is your thoughts on this. Is LPN a good start to get the nursing career I always dreamed of or should I just bite the bullet and brave the RN program. Your experience and knowledge on this subject will help me weigh the pros and cons.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Where I am located PNs work in L&D. The only part of my hospital they don't work in is ICU

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I live out in Vernon BC and I'm pretty sure our hospital L&D is strictly RN's. At least thats the only nurses I seen throughout my twin pregnancy. I could be wrong though. And it could very well change in the future.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It may vary by province and facility. The scope for PNs is a lot narrower in BC.

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yes in BC it is RN only.

edit: we are just about to start having LPN's work in post partum in the big health authorities in the lower mainland (with the exception of a smaller health auth downtown Vancouver which has LPNs already caring for with low risk post partum clients.

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yes in BC it is RN only.

edit: we are just about to start having LPN's work in post partum in the big health authorities in the lower mainland (with the exception of a smaller health auth downtown Vancouver which has LPNs already caring for with low risk post partum clients.

Just goes to show the difference.

When I worked maternity a decade ago, I did ante and post partum. We did the high risk pregnancies for northern Alberta and parts of the Territories.

Charge didn't care who was high/low risk, you got the room and which evr patient wound up in it.

I just want to work one shift where I can say "I'm an LPN and only get stable/low risk patients". It'll never happen

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Specializes in NICU.

I agree. I'm in Ontario and no one ever looks at patient acuity...I work on a surgical floor and sometimes all my patients have things going wrong, all have epidurals/pcas/uncontrolled pain Etc and the RN has all ALC stable patients. They really should be assigning based on acuity but they don't.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Oh yeah. Lol I have spent the whole shift juggling a tricky patient and at the start of the next shift they decide to send them to ICU.

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I want to be an RN as well. I have 4 children & work FT. So I will be doing a 13 month LPN evening program. Starting 8/24, I am so excited. From there I will go back to Valencia College here in Kissimmee, Fl & transition into nursing. It will take 3 semesters of online Classes. I have all my pre-reqs done. It will take me longer, but I need to work. So I don't mind. See if you can do something like this where you live!! Good Luck :)

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I want to be an RN as well. I have 4 children & work FT. So I will be doing a 13 month LPN evening program. Starting 8/24, I am so excited. From there I will go back to Valencia College here in Kissimmee, Fl & transition into nursing. It will take 3 semesters of online Classes. I have all my pre-reqs done. It will take me longer, but I need to work. So I don't mind. See if you can do something like this where you live!! Good Luck :)

An LPN is "in nursing".

The educational route in Florida (and the rest of the US) is very different to the system in Canada. An LPNs education here is two+ years full time at the College level with university transferable courses. An RN programme is four years at university.

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Oh yeah. Lol I have spent the whole shift juggling a tricky patient and at the start of the next shift they decide to send them to ICU.

Been there and have several of those tee-shirts!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I want to be an RN as well. I have 4 children & work FT. So I will be doing a 13 month LPN evening program. Starting 8/24, I am so excited. From there I will go back to Valencia College here in Kissimmee, Fl & transition into nursing. It will take 3 semesters of online Classes. I have all my pre-reqs done. It will take me longer, but I need to work. So I don't mind. See if you can do something like this where you live!! Good Luck :)

LPN and RN are both "nursing".

Not an option in Canada. RPN/LPN is a 2 year college diploma unlike the US where an LPN can be 10 months to 24 months usually in a vocational not collegiate setting (there are a few AS in practical nursing degrees available). Canadian RN is minimum university BScN in Canada for entry to practice. While nurses in the U.S. & Canada are both generalist trained (unlike the UK which is specialist trained) the minimum education for entry to practice is different as is scope of practice. I'm guessing you did not realize this is a thread in the Canadian section of the site b

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