RPN to RN Programs in Ontario

Khow89 · Mar 21, 2019

Check out UOIT, you don't have to reapply. I live in the North York area and I had placements in Markham Stouffville, PMH and Scarborough Cent. Some of my classmates had placements in Sunnybrook and St Michael.

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

On 3/20/2019 at 12:55 PM, NurseMarleigh said:
Hi everyone!
I was just looking for some insight on the RPN to RN programs in Ontario (Specifically, McMaster, George Brown/Ryerson and George Brown/Trent).
I'm currently a George brown student and I find that the bridging certificate to be quite pointless. What if you don't get the required average to bridge to Ryerson/Trent and then you wasted another year? Which is why I was thinking Mac was a better option because there's only the one three-year bridge program to be accepted into (and stay into!). But if anyone has any experience in either of these programs and you had some advice, maybe what you liked about it, what you didn't like or how you found the program was laid out that would be great!
Currently I am leaning towards the Mac program at Mohawk's campus but ultimately I wanted to stay in Toronto and work at a hospital downtown. I know how competitive it is to get a job in a hospital down here, but how much does having a clinical experience at a certain hospital help your job prospects? For example, If I had my clinical at Sunnybrook, is there a good chance I would get hired at Sunnybrook upon graduation and completing the licensing exam? This is something I've heard from many people and I just wanted to know if it's true lol
Thanks ?

One thing to consider if you were to continue at GBC is for the bridge you only need a 75% average to progress and there are four classes which require a minimum of 80% in. If you can finish the RPN program with a decent GPA the bridge isn't that difficult. The bridge is mostly sharpening those Apa skills. Unlike the RPN program which started out with 160 students and 50 graduated, the bridge and RN program have seen only a handful of the students not progress or drop out.

As for getting hired on at a hospital you do a placement at, being there, getting to know the staff, learning how the floor works, can give you a leg up over external hires but I don't think anyone can guarantee you that you'll be hired on at your final placement. They may not have the budget to hire on an extra nurse or not have an open line for you to work. There's also the consideration of nurses that already work there applying for jobs internally and using their seniority to get a job you might want. Toronto is a very difficult job market for nurses. As a new grad you might have to go outside of the GTA to gain some experience and come back after a year or two.

I know some nurses who finished the RPN program and got hired on at their last placement. I also know a lot of Rpn's who went months and month applying and didn't hear back from a single hospital. It's a gamble for sure.

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2019

I completed the bridging program through Mac. I enjoyed it, but it is not for everyone. It’s known for less clinical and for being more heavily research/theory based (Mac is considered a top research university so I suppose it makes sense). As someone who was very interested in moving in Public Health nursing, it was a perfect fit for me and I loved it.

FlowKlyn94 · Apr 1, 2019

@StudentGBC13 Are you enjoying GBC? I am starting Pre-health there in May but I have heard some pretty terrible things about their nursing program? I am wondering if I should be looking at changing schools for the nursing program itself?

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2019

49 minutes ago, FlowKlyn94 said:
@StudentGBC13 Are you enjoying GBC? I am starting Pre-health there in May but I have heard some pretty terrible things about their nursing program? I am wondering if I should be looking at changing schools for the nursing program itself?

I think you'll find most RPN programs have positives and negatives. I never found the instructors to be particularly caring at GBC. The attitude I ran into a lot is if you're having trouble in the program you should drop out. I think the biggest problem GBC has is they hire teachers who may well be excellent nurses but that doesn't translate into being effective educators.

I did my RPN at GBC and hated it. I did the bridge through GBC and found it better run and for the most part they had more competent staff. The Trent portion isn't good or bad in my opinion, it's like McDonald's. The food isn't great, but it'll fill you up.

I can only go based on what I've heard from other students, but I've never heard a bad thing said about the Humber RPN program. Everyone islve talked to who did the program loved it.

Prehealth2Rpn2Bscn · Apr 2, 2019

12 hours ago, FlowKlyn94 said:
@StudentGBC13 Are you enjoying GBC? I am starting Pre-health there in May but I have heard some pretty terrible things about their nursing program? I am wondering if I should be looking at changing schools for the nursing program itself?

The GBC Pre Health program is amazing! Good luck, Im headed into my second semester in May and really enjoyed it. Teachers are super knowledgable and available when you need them. I started the program off with no science or math background and am really excelling!

bootzie · Apr 12, 2019

Sorry, what do you mean one stays in the Mohawk/McMaster program? Do you mean there's no application from Mohawk to McMaster after that first year? I had no idea!

xokw, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2019

5 hours ago, bootzie said:
Sorry, what do you mean one stays in the Mohawk/McMaster program? Do you mean there's no application from Mohawk to McMaster after that first year? I had no idea!

That’s right. It’s one three year program, once you’re in, you’re in (unless you fail or something). You don’t reapply part-way through.

bootzie · Apr 13, 2019

35 minutes ago, xokw said:
That’s right. It’s one three year program, once you’re in, you’re in (unless you fail or something). You don’t reapply part-way through.

Well that's amazing. I'll bet it creates a feeling of camaraderie among students as opposed to nurturing that competitive theme I saw with the PN program. Well done, Mohawk.

xokw, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2019

15 hours ago, bootzie said:
Well that's amazing. I'll bet it creates a feeling of camaraderie among students as opposed to nurturing that competitive theme I saw with the PN program. Well done, Mohawk.

Yeah McMaster and some other programs do it that way! Much better!

jennjurapi · Apr 20, 2019

hi i have been working as an RPN for 5 years now in a longterm care and retirement home , i want to due the bridging program but my GPA was low 2.8 ,,my daughter got sick and one of my elective teacher didnt let me take the finals , though barely passed me - which i think greatly affected my average . can i take any course to boost my GPA to be able to qualify ? thank you !