Published Apr 4, 2017
bluestar776
145 Posts
I was accepted into RN and RPN but thinking of doing RPN and bridging in the future I had some questions for RPN's.
Is your role for patients different then that of an RN? and how do you like your job do you work in a hospital or clinic setting?
TIA :)
theRPN2b
147 Posts
I am an RPN and I work in a hospital on an acute medicine ward and I really enjoy it. The only thing I cannot do as an RPN on this floor is be charge. In my hospital system RPNs work in almost all settings except ICU,NICU,L&D, pediatrics and management.
What is your routine like each day? Do you still do IV's and things like that?
Thank you for answering!
Yup I do IV's,blood transfusions, pretty much any skill that we learned in school
jaimierpn
8 Posts
As an RPN in LTC let me tell you GO FOR RN! Many RPNs now require specialized cerificates to get into a hospital unless you're one those lucky ones who have great clinical placement options.
I didnt because it just wasnt available at the time at Seneca. RPNs get a lot of LTC options.
If you've been accepted into both RN and RPN I say go for the gold and get that RN. There is more opportunity although RPNS are being welcomed more and more we require specialty.
I have 1 yr experience as a RPN and will be bridging this fall. My choice to go further was based on what I just said above. And it will take me 5.5 years vs 4 if I did the RN at the start.
dtNurse82
10 Posts
I am an RPN and work at a hospital in downtown Toronto. We are an out patient clinic, and there is only myself and an RN and we do the exact same job (I do a little more because I am here 4 vs her 2 days a week.) I absolutely love my job, it is a very autonomous environment. I am bridging to RN in the fall, because I want to be a nurse practitioner.
Sounds like a good position. How's the nursing support? Do you work well together? That's really what it comes down to. I too am starting the bridge this fall. I work(ed) in LTC, not intentionally that's just wheee graduation took me. New management lacks all kind of nursing support so I got a job with Saint Elizabeth. I start that next month. Overall I do love what I do just not where I do it.
The RN and I get along very well. There is little to no animosity between RN's and RPN'S in that I know of (I'm sure it exists somewhere in the organization).
vintage_RN, BSN, RN
717 Posts
Depends on your career goals. When I was an RPN I worked on an acute surgical oncology floor. Absolutely no difference in scope of practice between RPN and RN. If I had of wanted to stay there, I wouldn't have gone back to school. I went back to become an RN because I always wanted to work in the NICU - and this area isn't available to RPNs. But if you want to work in an area where RPNs are thriving...then I say why not?