Vancouver Island school info needed

[ashschu]

If anyone can help, it'd be great!

I am looking into starting my BScN in the next two years and was wondering if anyone has any info or opinions on some of the schools and options I was looking at

First of all, has anyone here completed the BScN at Malaspina Uni-College? What did they think of the program? Anything you want to throw at me would be appreciated!

Has anyone taken or heard anything about the collaborative BScN program offered at the Comox Valley NIC campus that is connected with the BScN program at MalU? How was it? Do you take courses at both campus'? Are degrees that are obtained at a College viewed well by potential employers? I still have many questions to ask about this option and plan on speaking with an advisor in the next week, but any personal opinions would be nice.

For anyone who took their LPN training first and then bridged into a BScN degree, would you do it again? What did/didn't you like about doing it this way?

I am contemplating doing my LPN first because I can do it in my hometown for cheap(er). That means I only have to live away from home for 3 years instead of 4. Also, I am concerned that I will not be able to get into the BScN program right away (because really, it's prolly not going to happen without at least a little wait) and I thought that if I could work as an LPN while waiting to get in it would be good for gaining some experience. I also thought that there may be a small possibility that I could work casually as an LPN while finishing my BScN

Am I silly for thinking this? Do you think that I may be wasting my time with the LPN? Or will I not gain enough experience in the *hopefully* short time I would be working as an LPN? Would employers want to hire me if I was a student (knowing that I may not be able to commit to a huge work load hour-wise)

Lots of questions here guys! Sorry. I just like to gather lots of information before making any decisions.

Thanks!

[Fiona59]

Getting the LPN first is a good way to determine if nursing is what you want to do, if you are uncertain about nursing.

Having said that depending where you live and work in BC determines your scope of practice. Some facilities are very restrictive in what they let PNs do.

The thing with the Bridge is there has to be space available for PNs to enter into the programme. For a while there were more PNs trying to do the bridge than there were seats available.

You need to research this carefully. You also need to do some prereqs for entrance into year 2 of the BScN, can you do them from your home?

Education is never wasted. But from your second to last paragraph it sounds as if you feel that a PN license is a "waste of your time". Employers, particularly in LTC are always looking for staff. You will need to work summers while in uni and even weekends to make ends meet. Better to work at a PN's wages than what WalMart or Home Depot pays. You will also be able to determine what areas of nursing interests you the most.

You just have to see what work is available in your hometown. I've worked LTC and know that I'm an active treatment nurse. Prefer the constantly changing patient base to a residential geriatric setting, but I know people who adore working in LTC and DALs.

[noworries]

I Will offer a second opinion here.

Just go directly for your BScN. Reasons why:

1- you can apply to be a care aide after your first year of schooling

(some facilities require you take one extra course if you are in RN school.. but if you're in RN school they usually let you work right away, especially if there is a huge demand)

2- you can apply to be either a UGN or a LPN after your 2nd year of schooling. (UGN starting wage right now is approximately 22-23$/hr.. but the UGN contract is actually going along with the BCNU contract so.. by the time you reach 2nd year you could possibly be making 25-26$/hr.. LPN's are only making around 21$/hr i believe)

3- I "Heard" that RN schools are slowly phasing out LPN-bridge in's... BCIT already stopped taking in LPN's a long time ago.. and I know for a fact that Langara is going to stop taking LPN's in very soon (Langara is under the collaborative curriculum which includes UVic, Malaspina, and a about 8 other colleges of nursing in BC.

4- after the first two terms of RN school.. you'll realize whehter it is for you or not.