RPN to RN upgrade but with a gpa of 2.7 (Just need some advice)

melissa.22, LPN · Feb 1, 2014

Hi! Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but I do have a question! I am currently looking at bridging into Mohawk's PSW to RPN program. Have you really been finding it that difficult to find a job? Mohawk keeps telling us that more RPNs will be hired and less RNs, but many people on this site seem to be having difficulty finding a position as an RPN.

I will likely still do the RPN as I work at a Dermatology office and can likely work there as a nurse. But I did not realize it was so hard to get a job! Where are you applying mostly? Hospital, long term care, etc?

Thanks!

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2014

Hi Melissa,

I just graduated from Mohawk's RPN program in December and already have a full time job lined up in a hospital. Many of my classmates got jobs from their final placements, and many others also have jobs lined up. I wouldn't say it's hard to find a job at all, but you need to be willing to take anything, and you need to be willing to go above and beyond with managers (I got my job by emailing the manager directly and then going in to see her personally to drop off a resume, and many of my classmates got jobs by doing this as well.)

Daisy_08, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2014

OP - With that GPA and failed courses I honestly don't think you have a chance. However, if you get a job, experaince may be considered. As well many hospitals have agreements with some schools for p/t bridging programs. So my advice would be to start looking for work.

Melissa - I wouldn't worry about that, I don't know any RPN;s who cant find ANY work. I know some who are unhappy, like many workers, but they still pay the bills.

Vintage - Congrats.

NUNurse007, BSN · Feb 11, 2014

Your only real shot is going to be Athabasca, I believe their GPA requirement is a bit lower (just not sure how low) I can tell you from experience with the program and having gone through it, a 2.7 GPA is not going to get you in this very competitive program. You would think though that as one of the participants and collaborators in these bridging programs (Centennial) they would tell potential students that this is a strict requirement and also ensure that THEIR OWN graduates got the support they needed to maintain a 3.0 GPA so that they could continue to rip off people in their useless "bridging program", it is such a money grab its pathetic ... I spent two years in that program (which by the way, when you've finished it you still have to maintain that GPA semester after semester at Ryerson or you get booted out) only to find out that I still have to take almost the exact same courses again at Ryerson. There is NO DIFFERENCE between what I did and learned in the Centennial bridge program Research class and the one you take AGAIN at Ryerson ... Clinical does not involve any extra or added skills as a nurse (did the exact same thing for my patients as I did in PN program while at clinical). They wasted my time and money. The general belief is that most PN students are not "University level students" therefore they have to get you to that level first and proof your, well basically ..."smart enough" than you can move on. Its really sad, humiliating and unethical (they didn't touch on stealing nursing student money in the Ethics class, but maybe they should have), ... You are so much better off taking the pre-health science year in college and than applying to a Collaborative BScN program if you didn't have the requirements for University. In my case, I simply couldn't afford the money and time a BScN program was going to take at the time, and had nothing to do with not having my requirements, but now Im paying the price, because it has costed me much more time and money. Ive come to far to stop now, I am almost done with my BScN, so I continue moving forward. But if I had to do this again ...I would have either done the BScN from the start or move to an area where their is more opportunity for an RPN besides nursing homes, home health and foot care ...and that offers more continuing education courses for RPN's to develop a speciality. If you're in an area that has these types of courses available, I honestly advice you do that. (i.e,.. OR, OB, critical care) make sure you get extra and valuable stuff , like ACLS, PALS, NRP ..... Those are all added skills that are useful and attractive to employers ... RN or RPN programs do not teach these skills in school, they are all extras that EVERY nurse has to take, especially if they want to work in any "speciality area" like ER, OR, OB etc .. So research it well before you take the leap, because my experience has been bad ... But thats just me and my opinion, to each their own. Good Luck with whatever route you choose.

toronto_nurse · Feb 21, 2014

Like Nursebetty1975 said Athabasca may be your best option since they accept practical nursing diploma graduates with a GPA of 2.0 including failed and repeated courses. Many of my classmates who repeated a failed course or was below 3.0 GPA after the bridging program at Centennial College pursued the rest of their studies through Athabasca. I wouldn't say the bridging program was useless and RPNs can market themselves as a candidate with additional training. The bridging program is designed for nurses to transition into the post-diploma BScN program and they are at a greater advantage than diploma RN holders and there are statistics available at Ryerson to prove this.

JessBess · Jun 15, 2017

Hi, I have the similar situation, did you end up figuring out what you were going to do in regards to being interested in upgrading but low grades and repeated classes holding you back? Let me know! :)

Mujeerna · Apr 25, 2018

Hello,

I am currently in the same situation as you were. I graduated with a CGPA of 2.8 from Centennial College and plan on completing RPN to RN bridging program. I am debating whether to apply to Athabasca University or any other University that will accept me. I wanted to ask what did you end up doing?

hf20 · Feb 19, 2020

hi @kingstongirl17

just wondering if you ever successfully bridged?

Hello @Mujeerna

also wondering if you successfully bridged?

Mujeerna · Feb 19, 2020

@hf20 Yes. I am currently in Athabasca University's bridging from LPN to BN nursing program. Going into second year.

Connie123 · Feb 20, 2020

Hi Mujeerna

How is the program so far? Are you located in Alberta as I believe clinical is there? I am looking into this program as an option myself (along with Centennial/Ryerson etc). Any tips and tricks? Are the courses hard?

kingstongirl17 · Apr 17, 2020

Hey guys, it’s April 16, 2020 now. It has been SO long since I logged in and I can finally update you of what my career has been like and my pursuit to obtain an RN degree.

Recap of my story:

May 2013- I graduated RPN at Centennial College with a GPA of 2.8. I failed Theory 2 and this is recorded in my transcript.

NONE of the Ontario colleges would accept me for the RPN-RN bridging program because of my GPA and the failed course documented in my transcript. These two do not meet the criteria for admission.

I tried to upgrade my GPA by taking Athabasca’s online courses, but I could not multi-task or do online classes. I prefer the in-class type of education so I gave up the online classes.

I did not find a full-time RPN job not until February 2015. It took me 1 year and 9 months to get a FT job in a weight loss clinic. From May 2013- January 2014, I worked for a coffee shop, one RPN agency, two PSW agencies, and one retirement home.

I barely got RPN shifts (4shifts in total) through my agency, and I really did not like how I would just be assigned to cover shifts in different retirement homes. It was scary for me at that time as a fresh graduate because I wasn’t familiar with the protocols, staff, and residents I have to deal with. I worked mostly as a PSW through my other agency. My regret was giving up the casual RPN position in Revera home in Nov 2014. I only worked with them for 3 months. I was enticed to say yes to the full time job offered at the weight loss clinic, so I quit the bedside care work I should have kept.

February 2015- August 2019: I was enjoying my time and life so much that I had forgotten about my career plan. I considered doing online classes but I really cannot do it. I quit my job to enroll in Humber College’s Prehealth Science to get into their BSN program in September 2020.

Present time: I am doing well in the Prehealth Science so far. I am just waiting to get an offer for the Fall intake of Humber’s Bachelor of Nursing program. I got accepted at York University’s RN program but King City is too far for me.

A lot of you maybe asking why did I choose to do the very LONG route of 5 years in getting the bachelors degree. The reason is, I feel like I forgot some nursing concepts from working in a clinic environment for almost five years. My previous work did not have bedside work. It was more on doing administrative nursing, injection administration, and health assessments only. I feel like the saying “You lose it if you don’t use it” applied to me when I chose to work in the clinic. I don’t mind re-learning some basic concepts again. Maybe I was just really confused in my career path but I am working on it now.

So I hope this post helps anyone finding options to upgrade their career! Everyone has different paths and I am sharing my experience. Thanks for visiting my page:)