RPN to RN bridge too lengthy (Ontario)?

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

I recently completed the RPN to BScN bridging program through Conestoga/McMaster and now work as a full-time Public Health nurse with my Regional Municipality. I don't think the program was too lengthy and I think it is natural to look at the program, see the extra one year, and assume it is too much or that it should be shorter, but it isn't going to change and people have been complaining about it for YEARS. Yes, you will see classes where the description or content may seem like it will be similar, and in terms of overarching topic it may be, but the depth and breadth of those classes IS different. The nursing theory, anatomy, pathophysiology, research, etc., that I took as a BScN student were far different than those that I completed as a PN student. The sciences in particular were way more in depth, something I highly underestimated before I began the program and as I look back now I recognize that I entered the bridging program somewhat naive to what exactly the differences would be. I would be happy to send you some of my typed notes if you would like to see what I am referring to. I also regularly wrote 10-15 page papers where I felt I was graded with much higher standards in regards to my quality of evidence than I was as a PN student. In my bridging program I also spent a significant amount of time learning about statistics, research, the critical appraisal and application of evidence to inform organization and system-level changes, etc., all of which are highly applicable to my Public Health career, an area of work that is not available to RPNs or even diploma trained RNs (at least in my Region).

I'm not ragging on PN programs, truly, I was the proudest RPN for many years and in fact I just officially resigned my RPN registration last night and it stings a little bit. I will always advocate for RPNs, I believe them to be highly skilled health care professionals that have such an impact and important place within our system. I am, however, able to recognize that I am a completely different nurse than I was before I bridged - not better, not smarter, just different.

You can PM me if you want any additional information or an example of the coursework in a bridging program.

Edited to add: If my intent were to stay in med-surg where I worked as an RPN, I would never have bridged. I would have practiced no differently from one day as an RPN to the next day as an RN, because there is really nothing I learned throughout my BScN to better prepare me for that role and if that were my intention to stay in that type of area, I would have felt robbed. Because of my interest in Public Health, the bridging program was an invaluable tool and I feel like I gained so much.

JuliWB · Mar 31, 2019

You are definitely the first person to say that they found the bridging program adequate in length or valuable in content, so I suppose that's a good thing. Can I ask how long ago you graduated from the PN program and from which school?

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

I graduated from Conestoga in April '13. I guess it just depends on your career goals and your professional interests, but I have quite a few friends who completed the bridging program with me and really enjoyed the majority of it!

Khow89 · Mar 31, 2019

I agree with xokw that some courses does go more in depth in the bscn program compared to the Pn program. I also do feel that some courses may have been repetitive. However, my point of view is from someone who went into the bridging program right after the Pn program and everything is still relatively fresh. The students who have been out of school for a while may find the longer length of the program and the courses helpful in helping them become a RN.

Maybe in the future they can have two separate programs for those who graduated Pn within 3 years and those more than 3 years.

JuliWB · Mar 31, 2019

I think it depends on where you graduated from as well. I graduated from Georgian PN which is 5 semesters and in comparison has more courses than 4 semester programs. I noticed that there are many differences within the PM programs itself, I took 2 A&P, 2 Patho and 2 Pharm courses; looking at the course maps of other programs, they often only offer one of each or combine them somehow, yet all of us get the same amount of transfer credit. It's ridiculous. Clinical hours also vary among the programs. One of my colleagues took the centennial bridge followed by the Ryerson program. She had to do a surg placement for the bridge. She learned nothing new, as she has been a surgical nurse for years. It just bothers me. Admissions and transfer credits should be a lot more individual. I have three kids and one on the way. $40000 and 3 years is a huge obstacle. I will do it eventually, because ultimately I'm planning on getting my masters and becoming a neonatologist. I just wish it was more affordable and a little shorter.

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

2 hours ago, Khow89 said:
I agree with xokw that some courses does go more in depth in the bscn program compared to the Pn program. I also do feel that some courses may have been repetitive. However, my point of view is from someone who went into the bridging program right after the Pn program and everything is still relatively fresh. The students who have been out of school for a while may find the longer length of the program and the courses helpful in helping them become a RN.
Maybe in the future they can have two separate programs for those who graduated Pn within 3 years and those more than 3 years.

To clarify, I started the program within two years ?

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

2 hours ago, JuliWB said:
I think it depends on where you graduated from as well. I graduated from Georgian PN which is 5 semesters and in comparison has more courses than 4 semester programs. I noticed that there are many differences within the PM programs itself, I took 2 A&P, 2 Patho and 2 Pharm courses; looking at the course maps of other programs, they often only offer one of each or combine them somehow, yet all of us get the same amount of transfer credit. It's ridiculous. Clinical hours also vary among the programs. One of my colleagues took the centennial bridge followed by the Ryerson program. She had to do a surg placement for the bridge. She learned nothing new, as she has been a surgical nurse for years. It just bothers me. Admissions and transfer credits should be a lot more individual. I have three kids and one on the way. $40000 and 3 years is a huge obstacle. I will do it eventually, because ultimately I'm planning on getting my masters and becoming a neonatologist. I just wish it was more affordable and a little shorter.

Yeah I guess it just depends on your experience with the PN program and your nursing goals. When I took PN it was 4 semesters like most programs at the time, which included one A&P, two pathos and three pharms amongst other classes, so a fair bit of science as well. During the bridging program I retook all of those sciences but at a way deeper level. I’m not sure how you can get around that, it is a science degree afterall.

It cost me probably $10k per year for base tuition plus other expenses but the increase I have in both pay and a few other benefits (schedule, advancement opportunity, pay grid, etc.) made the sacrifice beyond worth it for me and my family. I didn’t want to spend my life at the bedside, I’m very interested in professional growth and development and would eventually like to get into more managerial roles. I’m beginning to prepare my MSc applications for next fall and always knew I wanted to go that route so maybe it’s that perspective that made me enjoy the program more ?.

JuliWB · Mar 31, 2019

I guess that makes sense. I love bedside nursing and want to work in the NICU eventually so that is my main motivation. I'm not really interested in managerial roles. I just want to work in more critical settings. I work on a medical floor right now and there is no real difference between the RN vs the RPN role (other than not being able to do the charge role, but the extra trouble is not worth the extra $2/hr) and until the 5 year mark the pay difference is also not very large. I guess it is what it is. One of the recent grads from the Trent bridge works on my floor and she said that there are plans to shorten the program due to all the negative feedback, maybe others will follow suit by the time I'm ready to apply.

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2019

I completed my PN at George Brown in 2013, started the bridge in 2016 and will be done in nine days. There is for sure filler courses. You could probably remove a whole semester from the GBC/Trent program and the six remaining would be more than enough. Bridging is a pain in the you know what. But, if you want to be an RN you have to jump through some hoops. I don't regret doing it and given the choice I would do it again. With that said I don't feel like I took a lot away from the program. My APA skills and essay writing skills are top notch now. The research courses are a huge drag but you definitely learn more about the subject. I say go for it if you want to have a wider scope of practice. And let's be honest, more money.

c.Maud · Apr 1, 2019

7 hours ago, xokw said:
I recently completed the RPN to BScN bridging program through Conestoga/McMaster and now work as a full-time Public Health nurse with my Regional Municipality. I don't think the program was too lengthy and I think it is natural to look at the program, see the extra one year, and assume it is too much or that it should be shorter, but it isn't going to change and people have been complaining about it for YEARS. Yes, you will see classes where the description or content may seem like it will be similar, and in terms of overarching topic it may be, but the depth and breadth of those classes IS different. The nursing theory, anatomy, pathophysiology, research, etc., that I took as a BScN student were far different than those that I completed as a PN student. The sciences in particular were way more in depth, something I highly underestimated before I began the program and as I look back now I recognize that I entered the bridging program somewhat naive to what exactly the differences would be. I would be happy to send you some of my typed notes if you would like to see what I am referring to. I also regularly wrote 10-15 page papers where I felt I was graded with much higher standards in regards to my quality of evidence than I was as a PN student. In my bridging program I also spent a significant amount of time learning about statistics, research, the critical appraisal and application of evidence to inform organization and system-level changes, etc., all of which are highly applicable to my Public Health career, an area of work that is not available to RPNs or even diploma trained RNs (at least in my Region).
I'm not ragging on PN programs, truly, I was the proudest RPN for many years and in fact I just officially resigned my RPN registration last night and it stings a little bit. I will always advocate for RPNs, I believe them to be highly skilled health care professionals that have such an impact and important place within our system. I am, however, able to recognize that I am a completely different nurse than I was before I bridged - not better, not smarter, just different.
You can PM me if you want any additional information or an example of the coursework in a bridging program.
Edited to add: If my intent were to stay in med-surg where I worked as an RPN, I would never have bridged. I would have practiced no differently from one day as an RPN to the next day as an RN, because there is really nothing I learned throughout my BScN to better prepare me for that role and if that were my intention to stay in that type of area, I would have felt robbed. Because of my interest in Public Health, the bridging program was an invaluable tool and I feel like I gained so much.

Wow! Love this response, I’ve just been accepted into the Conestoga/McMaster bridging program for September. I would love to see a set of your notes if possible or any other info you believe to be helpful!

On another note I see Both sides of this debate. On the one hand three extra years after you’ve already completed two years in nursing does seem a bit much, And on the other hand it also wouldn’t be fair to those who did a 4 year program, for us RPNs to work 2 years sooner and still complete our BScN at the same time, if we choose. The schools have to give some incentive to the students otherwise majority would probably complete their RPN first and then bridge to BScN in order to work faster. Hope that makes sense! Just my opinion:)

hypnotizer90, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2019

Hi. My goal all along was to do RPN then bridge to BSN. I graduated from Seneca in 2013 then started Bridging via Centennial (2014-2015) to Ryerson (2016-2018). I completed the BSN program last Dec 2018.

The bridging and university focused more on collaboration/ group work. Since some classes were online, group discussions were included to mimic classroom interaction. While at school, you always taught of practicing as an RN. The RN always needed to use theory, leadership, management etc in practice.