What's happening to the RN's being replaced by RPN's, if that's even true.

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So I've been hearing a lot of rumors going on that RN's are being replaced by RPN's. Are they being bumped up to management positions or just getting laid off? I'm wanting to pursue a degree in nursing. Is this a good idea, or should I just get my diploma? I would rather finish school in two years and get a job instead of wasting more time and money and end up being jobless.

Specializes in ICU, ER.

Only 45% of my original classmates graduated with me in my BScN program... There will be a high failure/drop out rate no matter which program you choose and no matter which school you go to.

We had some AWFUL teachers that we complained about time and time again, but we also had some good teachers. I think that's going to be the case anywhere.

My teachers really did tell us "look at the person on your right and the person on your left - at least one of them will not be with you when you graduate."

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

My personal opinion is that you dont need an degree to be a bedside nurse. In ontario the rpn program is very intense and very hands on so lots of slills attained if u put yourself out there. I find the new rn grads are not prepared skills wise. I am getting my degree but thats because companies have limited the rpn role. I am glad though that i got my rpn first because the degree program doesnt prepare you for realities of nursing.

Whichever you decide there are job opportunities for both and both are intense kearning but soooo worth it if this is your dream

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Specializes in ICU, ER.
My personal opinion is that you dont need an degree to be a bedside nurse. In ontario the rpn program is very intense and very hands on so lots of slills attained if u put yourself out there. I find the new rn grads are not prepared skills wise. I am getting my degree but thats because companies have limited the rpn role. I am glad though that i got my rpn first because the degree program doesnt prepare you for realities of nursing.

Whichever you decide there are job opportunities for both and both are intense kearning but soooo worth it if this is your dream

Some of your comments are offensive. While I absolutely agree with you that you don't need a degree to be a bedside nurse, I am offended by your comment that BScN grads are ill-prepared to do so. I don't know which school the BScN grads you have been in contact with went to, but my school had a huge focus on skills/general nsg knowledge AND theory. In fact, many of our professors that had taken the hospital/diploma programs "back in the day" have said that the first 2 years of our program were nearly identical to theirs with years 3 & 4 focusing more on the in-depth nursing theory. The feedback from the nurses in this area have been that myself and my fellow grads are well-prepared, show good clinical judgement, and have good critical thinking skills.

I am not saying that RN is the way to go for everyone or that RPN/LPN isn't a good way to go, but just because you have met some BScN grads with poor nsg skills it doesn't mean we are all like that. I have seen both RNs and RPNs with crappy nsg skills as well as both RNs/RPNs with good skills.

And to say that RNs are less prepared than RPNs for the realities of nursing is ridiculous. ALL new grad nurses experience a "reality check" when they start practicing. I'd bet there are hundreds, if not thousands, of posts right here on AllNurses to prove that.

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No worries bluer... good luck with your decision. There are benefits to both the RPN and Rn prgrams.

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

Rescueninja - i did not mean to offend u. I am sure there are many good rns coming out of the BSCN programs and i am sure that the program may be good ( i dont know which school). I will refrain from stating schools because i dont want to offend further. We find in our area that the rns are just not skill wise prepared. I have seen rpn grads with the same. I know that my rpn program was intense and skills were in clinical practice first semester whereas the rns were not until 2nd yr 2nd semester which is toooo late imo.

I guess i could of worded what i was trying to convey better. Some students no matter what school wont put themselves out there which also affects the skills they attain.

I hope the op comes up with what is good for them. I also hope that the divide between rns and rpns dies soon cuz its realky negatively affecting our pt's care.

Sorry for any typos as i am using my phone

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Specializes in ICU, ER.
Rescueninja - i did not mean to offend u. I am sure there are many good rns coming out of the BSCN programs and i am sure that the program may be good ( i dont know which school). I will refrain from stating schools because i dont want to offend further. We find in our area that the rns are just not skill wise prepared. I have seen rpn grads with the same. I know that my rpn program was intense and skills were in clinical practice first semester whereas the rns were not until 2nd yr 2nd semester which is toooo late imo.

I guess i could of worded what i was trying to convey better. Some students no matter what school wont put themselves out there which also affects the skills they attain.

I hope the op comes up with what is good for them. I also hope that the divide between rns and rpns dies soon cuz its realky negatively affecting our pt's care.

Sorry for any typos as i am using my phone

That is truly unfortunate not only for the students, but also the nurses they are buddied with, and the patients they care for during clinicals.

Businesses often accept comments/suggestions...maybe a little constructive criticism r/t this would be beneficial for all parties.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I would agree that RPNs and RNs are both valuable, and we all work hard, and we basically do the same job in the end. Furthermore, while the degree program is required to practice as an RN now, I always felt (and so did many of my friends) that certain subjects were a complete waste of time and money. For example, now that I am a newly practicing RN, I am realizing just how much I need to learn. Not like I wasn't fully aware of this fact before, but the reality is that the Geography electives I took as part of my degree will not help me save someone's life. I always thought we should have had even more clinical time, and I took advantage of that time I had. So I guess its a matter of personal preference as to which path you choose. Given that Ontario is hiring more RPNs, a few of us left and moved to Alberta. Others went wherever they could land an RN job. There is always work somewhere, but the notion of landing your "dream job" fresh out of school is slim.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

And at my school, we started clinical in first year, right through till fourth year. Still, I could have easily done without half of the electives.

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That is truly unfortunate not only for the students, but also the nurses they are buddied with, and the patients they care for during clinicals.

Businesses often accept comments/suggestions...maybe a little constructive criticism r/t this would be beneficial for all parties.

I know managers who have contacted our local university re this very problem. NOTHING happens. Failure for truly deserving students IS NOT an option, we've been informed. I remember one family that complained to the hospital management and AHS about a particular student and they basically got stonewalled. We did hear that the student in question would recieve "more direct mentoring". The woman truly was a poor nurse, bad people skills, and an I'm right attitude.

Some time back in the '70s somebody in an academic Ivory Tower decided that RNs needed a degree, hospitals were not the places to train/educate nurses and the problem started.

I have a degree in another discipline. My skills are good. I mentor new grad PNs and RNs. I know my scope of practice and I adhere to it. Do I want to be an RN, Hell, no. I never want to be Charge. Do I resent my scope constantly increasing and my governing body complying with the government requests to continue increasing it? YES.

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Specializes in PTSD, Mental Health.

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about what an RPN is as it means different things in different places. It seems many people commenting are thinking RPN and LPN are the same thing. Did the original poster mean Liscenced Practical Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses?

Here in BC an RPN is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and can get hired into almost any position posted for an RN (though not every job and not if the position requires a degree, unless of course the RPN has his/her degree). LPN's are not considered equivelant to either the RN or the RPN and cannot hire into an RN position.

There has been a new trend that has placed more LPN's on units because they are on a lower pay grid, and recently their scope of practice has expanded making it possible for mangement to place them in more areas. RPN's are not lower on the pay grid, unless you factor in the small amount extra a nurse gets paid for having her/his BSN or masters.

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There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about what an RPN is as it means different things in different places. It seems many people commenting are thinking RPN and LPN are the same thing. Did the original poster mean Liscenced Practical Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses?

Here in BC an RPN is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and can get hired into almost any position posted for an RN (though not every job and not if the position requires a degree, unless of course the RPN has his/her degree). LPN's are not considered equivelant to either the RN or the RPN and cannot hire into an RN position.

There has been a new trend that has placed more LPN's on units because they are on a lower pay grid, and recently their scope of practice has expanded making it possible for mangement to place them in more areas. RPN's are not lower on the pay grid, unless you factor in the small amount extra a nurse gets paid for having her/his BSN or masters.

Hi there,

I'm from Ontario, and RPN stands for Registered Practical Nurse here. We don't call them LPN's here. I'm pretty sure most of the replies weren't referring to Registered Psychiatric Nursing.

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@ PHATASS:

Welcome. You are new here and will shortly discover that the Cdn. forum can be very Ontario-centric. I've pointed out that the designation "RPN" has a totally different meaning out west. BC, AB, SK, MB are the only provinces that specifically educate Psych RNs in this manner. Be it what it may, 99% of the time here, the term "RPN" is used by an Ontario poster. Jan and I have stressed the skills of the R.Psych Nurse many times over the years.

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