Which RPN program would you recommend?

xokw, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

Hi there,
I applied to RPN programs at Georgian, Mohawk, Conestoga, and George Brown.. just wondering what the differences were, pros, cons and overall experience if you attended one of these schools. Please don't hold back information it would help me either way if it was good or bad..
Thanks :)

I graduated from Conestoga's program in April 2013, and I'm currently a full-time student in the Conestoga/McMaster RPN-BScN bridging program.

I loved my time there during the PN program (and still do). The health science wing is only 2.5 years, and it is awesome! The program was excellent and I felt very supported by faculty, which is something I often hear/read complaints about from students at other schools!

Here's a link to a post I wrote about the layout of the program/class schedule, it's pretty long so I don't want to retype it!

https://allnurses.com/canada-nursing-programs/conestoga-rpn-class-912996.html

Try going on tours of each of the prospective schools. Ask questions about what the teaching styles are (they vary greatly from lecture style, independent learning, etc.) and see what best suits your learning style. Also, find out how many placement hours you get during each school's program, as this varies from program to program and really helps you feel prepared when you graduate.

Good luck in your decision!

loriangel14, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I attended Georgian College and I had a great experience with them.

Missmissa · Jan 19, 2015

I heard Conestoga and Mohawk you have limited/random (if lucky) placement hours.. true? and oh how were placements at Georgian was there a lot of selection?

xokw, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I heard Conestoga and Mohawk you have limited/random (if lucky) placement hours.. true? and oh how were placements at Georgian was there a lot of selection?

Where did you hear that? Not true at all.

Conestoga does 900+ placement hours and there was no limitation. The hours are tracked and if you don't meet them, you don't graduate. Simple as that!

First semester - 100 hours long-term care

Second semester - 200 hours medicine/palliative unit

Third semester - 200 hours, surgical unit, plus two days paired with a community nurse

Fourth semester - paired with a preceptor at your choice of facility (I did ER), 450 hours.

The hours are set in stone and there's no shortage of facilities... Conestoga places students in Cambridge, Kitchener, Brantford, Guelph, Stratford, Woodstock, Fergus, to name a few :)

Missmissa · Jan 19, 2015

Actually on here... current students or graduates were complaining about how the schools lacked placements for the students to take.. maybe not so much Conestoga more Mohawk

xokw, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

Actually on here... current students or graduates were complaining about how the schools lacked placements for the students to take.. maybe not so much Conestoga more Mohawk

Yeah, I looked back and couldn't find anything in that regard about Conestoga :)

Missmissa · Jan 19, 2015

How did you find the classes?

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I would say that's true for Mohawk. I did long term care, complex care/ALC, medicine and rehab as my PN placements at Mohawk. I didn't get a surgical, maternity or psych placement because there weren't enough placements, so only some students got them.

Missmissa · Jan 20, 2015

Not very fair when you're paying thousands of dollars.... why admit students if there aren't enough placements for them? :no:

loriangel14, RN · Jan 20, 2015

There are always enough placements for the students. you have to get the legally required number of hours and everyone does. There really isn't a "selection" of placements. You do where and when they tell you generally.Plus placements are done in groups so they can't have students spread all over the place. You have to go where others are going except for your final consolidation.

Missmissa · Jan 20, 2015

What about Georgian did you like the most?