Switching career paths

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Hi. I need some sound advice! I've got a BA and MA in a humanities subject. But life circumstances have changed and I've got a family to support so I've decided to make the leap to nursing. I need to get into the job market in as short a time as possible.

(1)I assume my university degrees don't count for anything much, considering they are from a non-science field; is that correct?

(2)Is becoming an RPN the best choice for me?

(3)I live in Ontario and am a permanent resident but not a citizen (American w/ Cndn hubby)

Any other advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

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If you are able to do all the prerequisites within 1 year with an 80+ average including the previous year of uni, the second entry bscn program will be just as fast as the RPN. I would check the school's website to see what courses you are missing. (1 year of uni + 2 years of nursing)

However, if it is not possible, RPN will be the quickest way to becoming a nurse. (2-3 years or nursing)

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Thanks; that points me in the right direction I think. Looks like I have most of the admission requirements for the BScN (looking at U Ottawa School of Nursing website) except the 6 credits in A&P and 3 in statistics. Maybe I could take those online first.

Not sure about the 'research methods' prerequisite. I did research methods for both my undergrad and grad work, but that was related to historical research :( -- though the Univ Ottawa website didn't specify anything more than 3 credits in research methods.

Any further thoughts/advice on this would be appreciated!

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Find your old course outline and try to find the course outline for the research course at U Ottawa and compare it. If it differs quite a bit, you might need to retake a research course that relates to science. If you're unsure or if it is quite similar, email the admission office to verify.

You might be able to find the course outline of that course on the internet and if you are not able to, just email the prof.

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Good idea: thanks!

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The nursing job market has surplus and shortage cycles, currently Ontario has a surplus cycle, there >4,000 newly licensed Ontario nurses competing for jobs every year, it's quite possible the market will still be saturated with applicants by the time you graduate.

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Will you be applying for jobs in Ottawa after you graduate? Are you bilingual? Not sure if you are aware, but proficiency in English and French is often a basic requirement for nursing jobs in Ottawa.

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No, I'm not bilingual (well, actually, I am but not in the Canadian sense lol! I'm bilingual in English and another language not French). I do speak a very little French and understand a fair bit in a familiar context. I do realize that being bilingual in English/French is often a requirement -- but that goes for most other types of jobs in Ottawa too! Relocating not an option, at least not any time in the foreseeable future.

As to the possibility of a saturated job market in a few years' time, I recognize that is a real possibility. But on the other hand, there will always be a need for nurses and it still seems like a more sensible option than anything else I can think of. I've always been attracted to the nursing profession but went a different direction academically....and now with a husband with a disability, and two toddlers, I've got to find a new career path.

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Best of luck.

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A BSN degree will give more career options and better income than PN diploma. If for some reason you want to step away from the bedside and work in research, occupational health, infectious disease etc you will find that most of the non-bedside jobs require a BSN at minimum.

If in the future if you wanted to become licensed and work in the US, it will be easier if you are a RN, you will not need to write another licensing exam, as you will have written the NCLEX in order to become licensed in Canada.

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Right. That makes good sense.

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Do you have any experience with working rotating 12 hour day/night shifts? If not, give serious thought to how you will meet your families needs, deal with the fatigue and stress associated with shift work and not end up with burnt out or compassion fatigue. Also, consider pursuing a health care career path that doesn't involve shift work and allows for more work life balance such as occupational therapy.

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