So Confused

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Hello!

My name is Louisa and I am 23. I currently live in BC but will be moving back to Ontario.

I would like to get into nursing but I don't know what to do. Should I start with Practical Nursing and then after working for a couple of years go back and get a BScN to become a RN?

The benefit of doing it that way would be getting to work and earn money sooner.

But to get the BScN it would only be an extra 1 and a half years.... but that's an extra year and a half of accumulating debt.

Also I am not sure what the main differences between RN and PN are in Ontario. Would someone please help me understand?

Either path I take I will have to do academic upgrading. If I was to go for the BScN I would be almost 30 before getting in the field, is that too old to start?

Would I be able to work part time and go to school or are the programs really intense? If you could choose any school in Ontario to study in which one would it be?

I am so confused and stressed :(

Thank you,

Louisa

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I use to want to go the RN route too... I may still one day but right now it is best for me to set my sights on the PN route.

I also need to upgrade for both programs. I am almost done Biology 30. Then I need to upgrade an english course and a math course. I would need to take the course by distance so they also require me to take A&P I and II before starting.

If money is an issue to you go the quicker way. If you have time and your budget allows then go the BScN route.

You can also take a healthcare aide course and then bridge over into the second year PN program. Pretty much the only pre-req for HCA is English 10... so you might be able get right into that with out even upgrading.

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Specializes in Hospital nursing.

It's up to you, obviously...but IMO, if you know you want to eventually be an RN, and can afford it, go for the RN right away. And 30 is not too old, plenty of people switch careers and become nurses later in life! I'm 31 and just graduated from a PN program. I will be starting my RN bridging program in the fall, hopefully. That means that when I start that I'll be 32, so I'll be starting as an RN at 35.

As for the difference between RN and PN...the simplest differentiation is that RNs take care of unstable patients with unpredictable outcomes. PNs take care of stable patients with predictable outcomes. So RNs can work in ICU and places like that, whereas you're more likely to find PNs in long term care as well as hospital units where the patients are more common, like med-surg, respirology, complex continuing care and postpartum. That said, there are hospitals in less populated areas that hire RPNs into settings like ICU and L&D, but if you're planning on working in the GTA, you won't be likely to be working in any of those areas.

I personally would have gone straight for my RN had I been able to afford it. I couldn't, so I had to do it this way, so I can work part-time while I do the bridging program. Good luck in whatever you decide! :)

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In the "ideal" nursing world, what you said about caring for stable patients only, would be correct.

If I had a $ for every unstable patient I've cared for over the years, my carloan would be paid off.

I don't know about Ontario, but here in AB, LPNs are being hired into ICU (Calgary has done so).

On most wards, if it comes down to an experienced LPN or a new grad with less than two year getting the unstable patient, well, give me the $ now.

LTC/Continuing Care is a great place for LPNs who want greater independence than in an Acute setting. Charges are LPNs. I've worked shifts where there has been one RN in the building and every unit has been under the Charge of an LPN.

Depends on your situation, your finances, and if you really want to work some of the specialites (which are even difficult for RNs to get into). Yest, there is a difference in the hourly wages but remember how long can the healthcare system afford to pay for multiple RNs when the LPN scope of practice is constantly expanding. Add in that in AB and ON the PN education is now based on the two year RN diploma/hospital programme and then ask yourself what the future of nursing in Canada is going to be.

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Specializes in Hospital nursing.

I'm a new grad PN, so I'm just going by what we were told in school. Thanks for the clarification, though! I'm glad to hear that it's not just rural areas where PNs can be hired into ICUs and given unstable patients. We were just told time and again "If you stay an RPN, you won't be able to work in an ER, ICU or L&D unless you go to a small, rural hospital"

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
I use to want to go the RN route too... I may still one day but right now it is best for me to set my sights on the PN route.

I also need to upgrade for both programs. I am almost done Biology 30. Then I need to upgrade an english course and a math course. I would need to take the course by distance so they also require me to take A&P I and II before starting.

If money is an issue to you go the quicker way. If you have time and your budget allows then go the BScN route.

You can also take a healthcare aide course and then bridge over into the second year PN program. Pretty much the only pre-req for HCA is English 10... so you might be able get right into that with out even upgrading.

You cannot take the health care aid course and then bridge to the second year of a PN course.

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Yes, in Alberta you can. Two of my grilfriends have gone that route. What they told me is they just had to complete a few A&P classes, sociology and a couple other online courses. Along side 200hrs of work as a health care aide.

and of course the pre-reqs for the PN course like math at a 20 level, english at a 30 level and biology 30.

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