Published Feb 4, 2013
pamiwhite05
24 Posts
Can anyone tell me what RN, RPN and LPN stands for and what each means? I am a British nurse trying to find out as much as I can about Canadian healthcare an nursing, In UK I am a registered nurse, I qualified from university after 3 years and have a Bsc in nursing, I am unsure what category I would fall under in Canada?
Thanks
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
RN = Registered Nurse, LPN = Licensed Practical Nurse (think of the old Enrolled Nurse in the UK, training similar and generally 2 years long) and RPN depending on province stands for either Registered Psychiatric Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse (similar to LPN)
Fiona59
8,343 Posts
Ontario is the ONLY province that calls LPNs, RPNs. The LPN is best compared to the now defunct SEN in the UK.
RPN West of Ontario is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. A Registered Nurse with an intense focus on mental health nursing. They are also qualified to work as RNs
loriangel14, RN
6,931 Posts
RNs have a 4 year BSN and LPN/RPNs have a 2 year diploma. The 2 year degree program for RNs is now defunct but many RNs working have it instead of the BSN.
Daisy_08, BSN, RN
597 Posts
Sounds like RN to me, but I'm not qualified to say so.