Start PN or wait to apply for BSCN! Pls help

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2016

Your thread has been moved to our Canadian forum where people will be able to provide you with more specific feedback and answers to your various questions.

Tosglo · Oct 23, 2016

Your thread has been moved to our Canadian forum where people will be able to provide you with more specific feedback and answers to your various questions.

Thank you.

ktrop03 · Oct 25, 2016

That it is up to you. I would wait and apply for the BScN program since if you do PN first, you need to work at least for a year in the field before doing the upgrade (if want to do the bridge over). Other then that you need to be in school for 4 years in the BScN. If you have good marks in your degree (around high 70's or even 80's), you should get in a second degree BScN program.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 25, 2016

You do not have to work a year before doing the bridge.

Tosglo · Oct 29, 2016

Thanks ktrop03

Tosglo · Oct 29, 2016

Thanks loriangle14

Fiona59 · Oct 29, 2016

You do not have to work a year before doing the bridge.

you do, if you plan on doing Athabasca. They require 1700+ hours for admission

loriangel14, RN · Oct 29, 2016

True. It varies by province I guess

madricka, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2016

Hello Everyone,
I'm finding it difficult to decide to decide whether to start a weekend PN program(Jan start) which I just got accepted into or wait to apply to second entry BSCN programs. I got accepted into lakehead compressed program for 2016 but couldn't start as my family moved and I have a one year old. I am currently taking Psychology and hope to take Anat and Physio for SPP at Nippising. But being a mum and wife is so demanding that I hardly have time to read as much as I would have wanted to.
Should I start the PN program and upgrade later? My dream is to become a nurse practioner and this pathway will take almost forever.
Advise pls....
Thank you all in advance.

The bolded comment is my biggest concern out of everything you have said. A BScN program is extremely demanding (& exhausting). Make sure you have the time and energy to commit to it right now. You want to get the most out of whatever program you choose. Don't worry about how long things will take. Time will pass quickly and you will get there! Nursing school is tough but you also want to learn as much as possible when you are there: slow & steady is better than rushed & messy. If your goal is nurse practitioner then your grades in BScN also have to be stellar since grad schools are very picky and there are a LOT of applicants with high grades. Make sure you have time to study to get the grades you will need.

Doing the PN program might give you more options (you could work before bridging if you want). But if you're super keen to get moving on your path to nurse practitioner, do the compressed BScN -- but like I said, you need to be prepared mentally & physically & make sure you have a lot of support around you. It's not impossible, just know what you're getting yourself into so you don't set yourself up for failure. If you plan things out well, you'll be fine. :)

OttawaRPN/RN2B · Nov 3, 2016

You do not have to work a year before doing the bridge.

It depends on the school you are applying to; the collaborative program between Ottawa U and Algonquin College requires that you work a full year with a diploma before applying to the BScN bridge. I thought it was a farce after obtaining my RPN diploma after already working for over 20 years as an RPN (with certificate). The piece of paper had made absolutely no difference in my skill set or scope of practice.

loriangel14, RN · Nov 4, 2016

That's odd. Two of my classmates went straight into bridge programs after getting their RPN license.