Should I switch careers? (Canada)

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

I'm in the US, but here nurses work usually 36-40 hours a week. Most nurses are paid by the hour so OT is given for more hours than that. Depending on your educational background you might be best to get your RN instead of LPN. The schooling can be about the same length but RNs have more responsibility and pay. It is a great career with many choices of work environments, and it serves your fellow man. Come on over...

morphed · Sep 19, 2010

I'm with the nurse2033, I think you should get into an RN program.

Beebop25 · Sep 19, 2010

In Canada RN is 4, and LPN some colleges do it straight through so that you can finish in a year and a half. I alrady went for 5 years to uni so I am pretty sick of school :S but I know a year and a half would be totally fine for me. I do want to be an RN but realistically I need to be working to pay back student loans and pay our mortgage. I have heard good things about the lpn-bn bridge program and I think I could do it at my own pace while working at least part time. What I do now is rewarding and I know I am helping people every day, but I feel like I can not take care of myself which is extremely important, and emotionally I am just not happy putting in these hours week after week knowing it will not stop until July. I don't mind long shifts at all and have worked shift jobs but then you get more time off too which is nice and right now I really only get a day. Maybe my mind will change halfway through this year but, if I could do something else that I loved that was rewarding and gave me a nice lifestyle with more time for myself I would probably be happier.

chihuahuaman · Sep 19, 2010

You should check out the BSN program at UBC. Perhaps there is a similar program at a Uni in Alberta?

https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/program.do?from=faculty&programID=153

From the UBC website:

"You can apply for admission into Nursing after a minimum of 2 years (48 credits) of post-secondary level study."

As you already have enough post secondary credits, this might be a better route for you. It's only 2 years once you are in the nursing program, and it will fly by fast.

Erik

Sarah010101 · Sep 20, 2010

UBC is a rip off... i go to UFV which is located in the fraser valley just outside of vancouver. My tuition is VERY affordable... approx 2,000 per semester.. UBC is upwards of 7,000 per semester.

Also UFV is now offering fast track.. which is 3 years.. you go through a summer semester.. about 3 weeks off between semesters except for christmas which is 6 or 7 weeks off. This is for the BSN program. You do all clinical time at the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Center. You work with REAL patients.. starting first semester of your program. UBC works on dummies at their teaching hospital until year 2.

I know a friend who goes to Grant McEwan... its another affordable program in Edmonton Alberta. Same as UofA... however they are quite expensive.

We have LPNs bridging into our class this semester (I am in 4th semester)... and they have been a great resource with knowledge and skills about the clinical setting... but some have lacked the critical thinking that the regular BSN students have been "brought up with" throughout the program.. making it hard for them.

Regardless.. do what makes you happy!!!! BC health care has a huge hiring freeze going on anyways.. i believe approx 80 RNs were layed off.. the hospitals seem to like to hire LPNs because they can pay them less.. resulting in a more stressful environment for the RNs who are ultimatly responsible for these patients :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 20, 2010

Moved to the Canadian forum

Guest233447 · Sep 20, 2010

the hospitals seem to like to hire LPNs because they can pay them less.. resulting in a more stressful environment for the RNs who are ultimatly responsible for these patients :)

Wow. Because LPN's aren't real nurses? LPN's are "ultimately responsible" for their own patients. We aren't playing "nurse" with the RN's as our overseers. We have our OWN licenses with our own governing board and code of conduct, our own professional practice AND our own ability to think critically.

You may want to investigate a bit more into exactly what the scope of practice is for LPN's and how they care for and manage their patient load. I have to say that if I had to work with you and you came out with a sentence like that in person, you'd get a prompt earful from me, and any other LPN who found out you think that RN's are "ultimately responsible" and more "stressed out" because hospitals are using LPNs to a greater extent of scope. Sheesh.

secondshot · Sep 20, 2010

UBC is a rip off... i go to UFV which is located in the fraser valley just outside of vancouver. My tuition is VERY affordable... approx 2,000 per semester.. UBC is upwards of 7,000 per semester.
Also UFV is now offering fast track.. which is 3 years.. you go through a summer semester.. about 3 weeks off between semesters except for christmas which is 6 or 7 weeks off. This is for the BSN program. You do all clinical time at the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Center. You work with REAL patients.. starting first semester of your program. UBC works on dummies at their teaching hospital until year 2.

This information is not accurate.

First, UBC is not $7k a semester. From their website, "The annual tuition for Nursing, excluding all other costs ( e.g. books, housing) based on 36 credits is $5184 for Canadian residents." (That said, you're right, it's not the cheapest program around.)

Secondly, upon entry to the program, UBC nursing students begin clinical right away. See their standard time table for Fall 2010: http://www.nursing.ubc.ca/CurrentStudents/documents/Term1Fall2010Schedule.pdf (clinical begins in October).

Perhaps the confusion is because UBC does not admit students into nursing until at least 48 credits towards a degree have been completed (essentially, the program starts in year 3 of a 4 year degree). This means it's not necessarily the best choice for someone who is starting from the beginning; however, for students who already hold previous degrees (as the OP does) it's a good option as you graduate with your BSN in 20 months.

(I'm not a UBC student btw... but I'm applying for 2011 and just attended their info session.)

chihuahuaman · Sep 20, 2010

Edited to say: I see secondshot posted basically the same thing I did 5 minutes before me. :)

Hopefully the OP will realize from this discussion thread that there are lots of options for him in either province. Be proactive and make your own future!

Erik

jenn8500 · Sep 21, 2010

If your in Alberta, I believe UofC may have a 2 year RN program (BNAT) for people with a bachelors degree. I think in the LPN to BN program you would ultimately be going for like 5 years. I may be wrong, but I know some people that went that route and it took them a long time to get there RN

Beebop25 · Sep 21, 2010

Thanks for the info. everyone. I am actually living in Calgary, my husband has a good job here and we just bought a home so I am not leaving here, so the best option for me right now is Bow Valley College. Its a year and a half to complete the LPN program and with already having been in uni. 5 years with loans, its just not practical for me to go into a BN program, altho that would be my ultimate goal in the end but I would just need to be working sooner.