Taking CPNRE soon, need suggestions/recommendations

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical ICU; CCU; CV.

Hello, been here in Canada for almost a year now, a graduate of nursing in the Philippines, now awaiting CNO decision on my Nursing application. I know there are lots of nurses who can relate to my experience. I would really like to pursue on being a Nurse here in Canada but I think it will take months before I get the assessment from the CNO. So finally I have decided to apply for an RPN just so I can work in a hospital in Ontario and not to waste any time. Below are some of the questions I would like to ask and it will be my pleasure if some of you would like to answer to my post.

(1) Is it really worth it taking the RPN exam while waiting for the RN assessment from CNO?

(2) What are the review materials to get in preparation for the RPN and RN exams in Canada?

I hope you can share with me your experience as a nurse/rpn here in canada.

Thanks for your time.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

Plenty of threads discussing CRNE and CPNE in this and the Canadian forum

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

.........I hope you can share with me your experience as a nurse/rpn here in canada

You should be aware that RPNs ARE nurses.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical ICU; CCU; CV.

I know that rpn are nurses too.. and I know their differences.. what I am asking are the experiences of those filipino nurses who went here in canada and took the RPN exam while waiting for the bridging program from CNO for RNs.

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From what we experienced in my hospital, a lot were humbled. They felt that being and LPN would be easy and beneath them. Turned out they were wrong.

Skills that are everyday to Canadian educated nurses were not routinely done "back home". They claimed that the doctors or resident performed them. Time management was a big issue as was performing all care for patients.

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Considering that it will take time before you could be licensed as an RN, it is definitely a better move financially to work as an RPN than a PSW.

You can buy the Canadian PN prep guide and do the online predictor test for review. Mosby's Canadian Comprehensive review of Nursing is also a good book.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical ICU; CCU; CV.

For Fiona59 and Sam755, thanks so much for your posts.. really appreciate it. Well, I am working right now as a General Care Aide since I have no PSW background. Yes, it's tough, during my first few days I can't believe I am doing something like this.. but there's nothing to do..

I will try to find those books and hopefully the CNO assessment comes soon. Thanks again.

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.. . Well, I am working right now as a General Care Aide since I have no PSW background. Yes, it's tough, during my first few days I can't believe I am doing something like this.. but there's nothing to do...

Canadian nursing includes personal care. Huge part of our training. It's not beneath us and you'd better learn to 'believe that (you) are doing something like this". On every unit I've ever worked on, he/she who finds the poop cleans the poop. Managers get their hands dirty, just not aides.

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