I'm a 30 year old RPN student in second semester and just switched to reduced course load (so I anticipate it will take another 2-2.5 years to graduate). It's recently become a point of discussion to apply for BScN. I have previous university experience and love the academic setting. LTC is really not my bag as I'm learning with my placements and was not aware of how much of a ceiling there is for RPNs when I enrolled. Yes, there are RPNs in the ER, but that seems pretty rare, especially in Toronto when I look at current job listings. To cut my losses and start anew in BScN is something that more and more are encouraging me to do, especially the nurses (RN and RPN) in my placement. My thinking was to apply this winter, and if I don't get in, well, I still am in RPN and will be a nurse in the end which is the goal. I don't mind LTC as a short term position at all. It's a great environment to learn if you can withstand the general discontent in the patients who are unhappy with their situations (understandably so). But to think, "Well, bed baths are basically my future and that's about it," is a mildly deterring thought. Whenever I come across an interesting career profile in nursing related to RPN, it's actually an RN who kept going with their education.
My major problem is my age. Children are a part of my plan and although I don't have any need to have them right NOW, I don't want to shut the door on them by delaying it so much, I essentially start trying to have a family at 36 (start BScN at 31, graduate at 35, work for a year...).
I know bridging is an option. However, I've spoken to students in my college who are in the process of bridging and they're pretty stressed. One was taken off by ambulance last week because of a seizure that have started to occur in her final months of RPN. Her doctor believes they're stress induced and I by no means am immune to academic stress! I inadvertently took the most difficult route possible to RN.
As a backdrop, I'd be in paramedics if I felt the career had longevity or job positions in Toronto. I love acute settings but the stability of nursing appealed, not to mention being able to preserve your back by not untangling bodies from bizarre locations to load onto a stretcher. It's fun! But perhaps not reality for the aging body.
I'm at a loss. Has anyone found themselves in a similar boat? What were your experiences?
Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.
As an RPN i have worked and know people in all sorts of areas: LTC, home care, dialysis, medicine, rehab, maternity, pallaitive, pediatrics, complex continuing care and remote northern nursing.
I am getting my BScN but that is because it is the next step for my eventual goal of becoming an NP.
All nurses can and should provide cares because leaving someone in "poo" until a psw arrives to me is an ethical issue. Teamwork is vital in healthcare and this i am above providing this care to someone because its not my job is disgusting and i wouldnt want you as a nurse for me or a loved one.
Trish, that northern remote nursing sounds amazing. I assumed that was limited to RN but then again, I've been surprised in the past in terms of how few qualifications you need to get hired up there for various jobs.
I've done a lot of thinking and talking to current RPN's, RN's, and medics. For ME, it does sound like RPN in itself won't likely be my end goal. I love pre-hospital too much. I don't think I'll risk not being able to have children either, so the BScN won't be in my near future. I THINK my tentative plan is to stick with RPN given all the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into it so far and hope that I might get some placements beyond LTC. To work in emerg sounds pretty good to me, but I know these jobs are rare in my city. It's mostly just LTC for us on any given job search. To continue into paramedics is a real possibility I think, and something I would have done from the start had I not been so misinformed about the ceiling RPN's experience.
I'm close to the dream job, just not quite in it yet. Ultimately, I want to help people and make a difference so it's a win with all the above options. Just tweaking on how to make it work best for me!
Trish, that northern remote nursing sounds amazing. I assumed that was limited to RN but then again, I've been surprised in the past in terms of how few qualifications you need to get hired up there for various jobs.
I've done a lot of thinking and talking to current RPN's, RN's, and medics. For ME, it does sound like RPN in itself won't likely be my end goal. I love pre-hospital too much. I don't think I'll risk not being able to have children either, so the BScN won't be in my near future. I THINK my tentative plan is to stick with RPN given all the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into it so far and hope that I might get some placements beyond LTC. To work in emerg sounds pretty good to me, but I know these jobs are rare in my city. It's mostly just LTC for us on any given job search. To continue into paramedics is a real possibility I think, and something I would have done from the start had I not been so misinformed about the ceiling RPN's experience.
I'm close to the dream job, just not quite in it yet. Ultimately, I want to help people and make a difference so it's a win with all the above options. Just tweaking on how to make it work best for me!
I've never experienced any issues getting a job outside of LTC, the opportunities that have presented themselves to me have been endless. I guess it depends where you are from!
I've never experienced any issues getting a job outside of LTC, the opportunities that have presented themselves to me have been endless. I guess it depends where you are from!
I hope you're in Toronto, then. :)
Your thread indicates you're bridging though, which seems to be the case with so many new RPNs.
Trishrpn80
272 Posts
As an RPN i have worked and know people in all sorts of areas: LTC, home care, dialysis, medicine, rehab, maternity, pallaitive, pediatrics, complex continuing care and remote northern nursing.
I am getting my BScN but that is because it is the next step for my eventual goal of becoming an NP.
All nurses can and should provide cares because leaving someone in "poo" until a psw arrives to me is an ethical issue. Teamwork is vital in healthcare and this i am above providing this care to someone because its not my job is disgusting and i wouldnt want you as a nurse for me or a loved one.