RPN- RN Bridging Inquiries!

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So I graduated from Humber College's RPN program last year and I just got my licensed and registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario. I am very interested in pursuing the bridging program from RPN-RN however I know my average is not high enough. I currently stand at a 73.6% cumulative. I have a few options such as start applying for RPN jobs and start working however, I feel like i'm not ready. I don't know if that's a common feeling but I feel nervous as all hell and terrified from having clinical experience with 1 or 2 patients to working in a busy hospital with 6 patients or a nursing home with like 50! I feel like more education is what I need. Re-taking courses at humber is pretty expensive, around $700 per class and although I am willing to put that money in and invest it in my future there's no guarantee that my average will shoot up to the requirements of the bridging program. I mean if i get a 96% in 1 class my average will go up to a 76% which seems unrealistic. Humber's bridging average requirement is 74% but I'm positive they start from the top and go down. I also have a bit of an anxiety problem that I'm only now starting to deal with. That is mainly what is holding me back from applying for jobs right now, I'm so terrified of being on my own without the aid of a preceptor. My last clinical experience was a year ago. I feel out of practice and that's really shaking my confidence. My HFO has expired as I graduated in May and recently got my nursing license this month. I'm just looking for any bit of guidance or thoughts regarding starting the process to bridge with any advice?

Thanks for listening!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Nursing in Canada forum

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Thank you! I can't seem to find a nursing in Canada forum though...

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

This thread is in the forum

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The RPN to BScN program isn't going to build your clinical skills, it will just build your APA format writing skills. If you want to gain confidence in your nursing skills you need to work as a nurse, sooner rather than later. If you are really concerned about managing multiple patients consider applying for a private duty job and work with one patient for the full shift.

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Specializes in Public Health.
The RPN to BScN program isn't going to build your clinical skills, it will just build your APA format writing skills. If you want to gain confidence in your nursing skills you need to work as a nurse, sooner rather than later. If you are really concerned about managing multiple patients consider applying for a private duty job and work with one patient for the full shift.

Couldn't agree with this more. I have one year of bridging left and haven't learned any additional skills.

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Wow, that's interesting but doesn't the bridging offer two more years of clinical experiences? I keep hearing that nurses learn most of the job, well ON the job! Is that true? I'm scared of being a new nurse and being perceived as an idiot and not knowing anything.....

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Specializes in Public Health.
Wow, that's interesting but doesn't the bridging offer two more years of clinical experiences? I keep hearing that nurses learn most of the job, well ON the job! Is that true? I'm scared of being a new nurse and being perceived as an idiot and not knowing anything.....

Yeah we do two more years of clinical but in my experience it's been in areas that aren't generally open to RPNs (public health, cardiology, etc.), and with each placement we specifically learn the assessments and role of the RN in that particular setting... Nothing new skills wise, however.

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Crazy! I posted this six months ago and I feel like my life has went in a complete 360! Shortly after this post I applied for a job on a palliative unit and got it! My first interview and it was crazy I was more excited than nervous because the facility and the hospital just seemed so incredible and I wanted to be apart of that team. I've been working there as a casual nurse for 3 months and I absolutely love it. I also have started the bridging program not full time or part time but flexible (70%) of the course load and am on call on the weekends for the hospital. I feel so much more confident in my skills and abilities and I love the bridging too. Thank you all for your words of wisdom from a new nurse to the more experienced nurses! MUCH LOVE :)

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Crazy! I posted this six months ago and I feel like my life has went in a complete 360! Shortly after this post I applied for a job on a palliative unit and got it! My first interview and it was crazy I was more excited than nervous because the facility and the hospital just seemed so incredible and I wanted to be apart of that team. I've been working there as a casual nurse for 3 months and I absolutely love it. I also have started the bridging program not full time or part time but flexible (70%) of the course load and am on call on the weekends for the hospital. I feel so much more confident in my skills and abilities and I love the bridging too. Thank you all for your words of wisdom from a new nurse to the more experienced nurses! MUCH LOVE :)

Congrats on getting the job. What hospital is it at? I graduated in December and still haven't found anything.

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Crazy! I posted this six months ago and I feel like my life has went in a complete 360! Shortly after this post I applied for a job on a palliative unit and got it! My first interview and it was crazy I was more excited than nervous because the facility and the hospital just seemed so incredible and I wanted to be apart of that team. I've been working there as a casual nurse for 3 months and I absolutely love it. I also have started the bridging program not full time or part time but flexible (70%) of the course load and am on call on the weekends for the hospital. I feel so much more confident in my skills and abilities and I love the bridging too. Thank you all for your words of wisdom from a new nurse to the more experienced nurses! MUCH LOVE :)

I love hearing updated stories, great to hear and congratulations :up:

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Bridgepoint Active Healthcare Hospital! Hey if you recently graduated the government of ontario has a program called HFO (health force ontario) where they take new grads (up to 6months after graduation) and allow them to shadow a nurse and still get paid at the same time for i think about 8 months, try applying through their and see if you find anything best of luck!

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