RN vs RPN Career

Fiona59 · Nov 25, 2010

I'm an LPN, only Ontario uses the term RPN.

Money is usually about $10/hour less than an RN's.

In my province we work pretty much everywhere. The scope of practice is constantly narrowing but that is a lot of politics involved in the various Colleges of Nursing and unions. Lori will probably chime in soon with Ontario details.

You do realize that childcare will be your number one priority during school. It's not easy to find and it's not cheap. Yes, people have relatives, but you need to have back up arrangements in place.

Figure out how you are going to finance it all. Student loans only cover so much, especially if you are married (I only got $10K from the government and had to incur an student line of credit when I trained).

It's OK to say you have a passion for nursing, but the reality can suck the life out of you. Assignment after assignment, dealing with practical times in facilities that you hate (roughly 10% of my class dropped out after the first placement in LTC).

L&D and maternity are the most sought after spots by students. There are limited jobs on these units. Roughly 6 out of the 42 nurses I trained with wanted to work there. To date I only know of two who wound up in Women's Health and it wasn't the six who went on about it. Jobs on those units in my hospital are few and far between because the nurses there tend to stay in place until they retire (and I work in a hospital that is large and has over 3000 deliveries a year).

loriangel14, RN · Nov 25, 2010

As far as job availability and demand it will be hard to predict what the climate will be like down the road.Right now there aren't a lot of jobs in my area and people are pretty much staying put if they do have a job. Fiona gave a pretty good view of the PN situation right now. Our scope of practice is becoming more broad all the time, unfortunately the pay isn't going up much.

For some reason almost every person that I have talked to before they head to nursing school wants to work in L&D. Very few actually end up there. The bulk of jobs in that area seem to be RN positions but there are some PN ones. It is really hard to say you want to work somewhere before you have any expereince. Placements in school will give you an idea of what the different areas are like. Keep an open mind.The hospital that I work in employ PNs in most of the areas, excepting peds, ICU and dialysis.

You should be able to find satisfaction in being an RPN, I don't feel that I am missing out by not having RN after my name.

Gluteus Maximus · Nov 25, 2010

A few things to add: What area of Ontario are you in? Generally the province has done well surviving the recession but some areas have tons of nursing jobs, others have fewer.

Unless you have your science credits down pat, bank on at least 2.5 years as you will need at least one semester of pre-nursing/pre-health. All of the programs in Ontario schools of nursing, both RN and RPN are very competitive right now so you may not even get into your school of choice unless you're among the highest GPA. You may be wait listed and have to re-apply with each intake.

In Ontario, RPNs generally work everywhere RNs do except L&D, ICU, CCU, NICU or PICU, some work in ED but not often. My hospital employs lots of RPNs on MBU (maternity) but as others have stated these are the popular spots. Skill sets don't differ much anymore and RPNs generally care for stable populations with predictable outcomes but you will find the skill set will vary from hospital to hospital.

Many RPNs work in LTC as these jobs are easier to get. You can also work in the community, retirement home, corrections and outpatient clinics. Hospitals are prime spots - they pay the best and promote full use of scope of practice.

The role of the RPN is expanding which is a good thing and bad thing. Good that they are being recognized to work to full scope of practice but bad that a large wage disparity still exists compared to that of an RN. Until there is a dedicated union or shared with ONA (RNs), this is unlikely to change much anytime soon. Visit rpnao.org which is the professional association for RPNs.

As for specialization, you can get into the OR in a scrub nurse role but this is extra schooling, or be a foot care nurse - I know a few who run their own business.

A lot of nurses with families or other commitments ease into the health care role so they can start working sooner then continue their education while working part-time. You can start off by getting your PSW certificate, then take the practical nursing diploma then bridge into the BScN but realize this will take you at least 5+ years to get through but you are young so maybe something to consider.

I was in your shoes but several years older with older kids and I loved my nursing program, but the only regret I have is that I didn't do the RN diploma when it was only 3 years. Feel free to PM me if you wish. Good luck!

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Nov 25, 2010

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago (married-but a bit older at 30, two small kids, doing prereqs, etc), but I knew I couldn't do the 4 years of school as much as I wanted to due to finances. I took the 1 year LPN course and have been working as one for just over 2 years now.

I now plan to slowly do the upgrades and apply for the bridge in course to BScN, which will be another 3 years of school.

Overall, if you can swing it both financially and family wise, go for the 4 year degree. You still have many, many working years ahead of you and you will be better served over those years as an RN. Both financially and career opportunities.

I don't regret becoming an LPN one bit, but I know I want to go further in my nursing education. There was just no way to swing 4 years of school at that time (even 1 year was financially crunching for us). If you can do it, go for it!!!

Guest233447 · Nov 26, 2010

I am currently in school to become a LPN. Here in AB the program is 2 years long (and they're talking about wishing they could increase it because as things keep getting added to our scope, they just don't have enough class time to cover it all). I have 3 kids, and the amount of time you take to do all your assignments, study, write papers, etc, etc... well there is just no way I could keep this up for 4 years. I mean, I probably could, but I don't think it is fair to my kids to be so absorbed (your evenings are always full of some type of homework) for so long.

So far, I think I'll like it. Of course in a perfect world I'd get my RN because if I'm going to do most of that scope anyway, why not get the pay? But this world ain't perfect, and this gets me doing something that (at this point) I love and it has been more affordable both in terms of $ and of time.

We also keep hearing that finding work after we graduate will be easier as a LPN than as a RN since the AB gov't (at this point) has finally figured out we're much cheaper and still capable. Guess I'll find out this spring. :lol2:

Daisy_08, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2010

Hi, I am student in Ontario. As far as I have seen and heard the scope of practice is fairly similar, RPN's can suction, but RN's can deep suction. The biggest thing that RPN cannot do is hang some of the IV meds, but they can still care for these patients. At my school we have finished picking our pre-grad placements (last semester you work full time in an area with a preceptor) and there were 20 maternity placements, 10 ER and even an ICU placement and if you want peds there is that in the community setting. From what I understand this is a big change even since last year.

You have to consider that in the RPN program tuition is lower and you will be working two years sooner. Right now with the economy there are also more jobs for RPN's. But as an RN once you start working you would be making more money and your potential to earn is higher. If you took the RPN program, you can upgrade to RN while making a good wage. You need to weigh your options and figure out what is best for you. Having a family I think would be a big consideration.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2010

The hospital I work in permits the RPNs to work to the full scope of their practise. In face, they are starting to replace RNs with RPNs because its becoming more difficult to attract RNs to bedside nursing since the BScN became the entry to practise. Many of the new RNs think they are "too good" or "too educated" for bedside nursing now.

I would not be surprised if this trend continued more in the future.

NursetobeSil · Nov 28, 2010

You do realize that childcare will be your number one priority during school. It's not easy to find and it's not cheap. Yes, people have relatives, but you need to have back up arrangements in place.
Figure out how you are going to finance it all. Student loans only cover so much, especially if you are married (I only got $10K from the government and had to incur an student line of credit when I trained).
It's OK to say you have a passion for nursing, but the reality can suck the life out of you. Assignment after assignment, dealing with practical times in facilities that you hate (roughly 10% of my class dropped out after the first placement in LTC).
/quote]
Thank you for your honest response. I do know childcare is expensive. My oldest is in daycare twice a week right now so that he can have the opportunity to play with other children and what not. It's a home daycare, so it's a fairly reasonable rate. My mother in law does not work and has offered to watch our kids while I'm in school. She did it for my sister in law's kids too. My oldest will begin school full time in Sept 2012, so if I do get accepted into the 2011 program, she will only have to watch both of them together for 1 year. I know it's a lot to ask of her, but she loved watching her granddaughters and really wants to help with our boys.
As for financing, I'm planning on applying for a student line of credit through our bank.
I know it's probably funny to hear someone who has not practiced let alone study nursing say that she has a passion for it, but from what I do know and from what I have experienced, I really do.
After having my boys and needing the help of nurses during my recovery from my c-sections, I gained such respect for who they are and for what they do and I could really see myself doing it. I know that nursing is far more than just what I saw during my recovery, and I still have a lot to learn, but I am interested in it, and I think that's the first step.
I know school is going to be tough. I graduated from a 3 year HR Management program 4 years ago and I rememeber how much work it was. I've heard that nursing is an extremely demanding program. This is why I'm questioning whether or not to pursue 4 years as oppose to 2.
I know in the long run 2 extra years isn't all that much if it means I will have the career that I want, but if I can have the career that I want with only 2 years of education, I think it will be better for my family.
I guess that's basically my question. What are the major differences between an RN and RPN.
If you could do things differently, would you have become an RN instead?

NursetobeSil · Nov 28, 2010

A few things to add: What area of Ontario are you in? Generally the province has done well surviving the recession but some areas have tons of nursing jobs, others have fewer.
Unless you have your science credits down pat, bank on at least 2.5 years as you will need at least one semester of pre-nursing/pre-health. All of the programs in Ontario schools of nursing, both RN and RPN are very competitive right now so you may not even get into your school of choice unless you're among the highest GPA. You may be wait listed and have to re-apply with each intake.

Thanks for answersing! In response to your questions, I live right outside of Windsor. I was told by the program coordinator that I would not need to do a whole year of pre-health and would only need bio and chem. At the college where I am taking the prereqs I need 2 bios and 2 chems. I have completed the 1st chem and am currently just a few classes away from completing my 2nd chem and 1st bio. I will be taking the 2nd bio in January through night school (as I've done with the other three).

I know acceptance into the program is very difficult. My average for my senior years of high school was around 82%, which I know isn't very high, however, I graduated at the top of my class from a 3 year HR Management progam with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 and my marks for my prereqs are good too. I have a 96.5 from my first chem, and I currently have a 92.3 for my 2nd chem and a 97 for my bio. I'm hoping the school will take these grades and my college GPA into consideration and not just look at my high school grades.

I was looking into applying for a housekeeping position at a local retirement home. Do you think working in such a facility would help me even if it's not in a nursing capacity?

Thanks again for your response :)

cherrycake · Dec 11, 2010

I am a new grad RPN in Ontario and have found job hunting to be tough. From the numerous job boards I search,the job postings for RPN and RN seem to be somewhat equal. All throughout school all I kept hearing was how RN positions are being cut to save money? I feel the RN is slowly being replaced with the RPN, and the RPN is being replaced with the PSW. This also means pay cuts for us!

It is tough to get a job at the hospital as a new grad. Unless you consolidate at the end of nursing school in a med-surge unit, most hospitals want 2-3 years experience. In order to even do your nursing consolidation in a hospital, your marks during school better be at the top of the class. Every one in my class wanted to work in the hospital, but there were only a few spots for students.The hospital takes students usually with the highest marks.

The rest of the class ended up in long term care. Not many students want to work in long term care because the pay can be less than hospital pay. I work in a retirement residence and the wage is considerably lower (not even $16). The hospitals average $23.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 11, 2010

My experience as a an Ontario RPN student was quite different. When I did my consolidation 4 years ago most of my class did their consolidation in the hospital and they don't have access to your marks to make that decision. No one can share your marks without your permission. I work with PSWs in a hospital setting and their wages have no effect on the RPN wage. Our pay raises are negotiated by the union and are not doendent on the fact that they have hired PSWs.