Which way should I go??

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I'm wondering if I go to RPN program and then take RN progaram afterwards or go to RN program directly. In my opinion,I'm afraid of becoming RN without nursing experience. I heard a lot of RNs are without nursing experience. I heard a lot of RNs are from RPN or people who have experience working at hospital, so I wanna have experience first, but If I become RPN first, in a good case, I can be RN in a year and half after I become a RPN(only if i have over 3.0 GPA) and in the bad case, I may have to go 3 or 4 years to be a RN, so when I think about that it's be a RN, so when I think about that it's better for me to get into RN program directly. Is there any way I can work at hospital before becoming a nurse to get experience?? What other people decide to do when you become a nurse? I know this is my choice, but I really wanna hear this is my choice, but I really wanna hear other people's opinion or advice. Any opinions,advice and info would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Go the RN route and work as an ESN (Employed student nurse) during your RN training. That way you will end up with experience similar to an LPN's and be an RN at the same time. ESNs perform nearly the same duties as LPNs and get nearly the same pay, so I think this would be a win-win solution for you.

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I'm not sure what this fear of not having experience stems from.... alot of people do the RN program straight out of highschool with little work/life experience (myself included, not meant to be a put down!). The whole point of going to school is to prepare you to be a nurse. There is no requirement in the program that you have experience or work has a health care aid/lpn at any point.

Sure some people choose to do that, but lots work other places, and other part time jobs during school. I would take the fear you have and put it towards something positive, start reading a nursing journal, start reading books related to nursing. If you want to be an RN then go for it.

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Thank you for your reply. These info is very helpful for me. Thank you very much. Can you please tell me how I can be ESN?? I don't have to have any license?? I'm interested in to it.:) Also is it true that it's hard to get into Nursing program lately?? I heard that I may have to wait for a long time... I'm in Ontario now...Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

P.S. Is there anyone who became RN from RPN?? If so, I would like to hear your opinion,comments or advice.

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ESNs were previously called UGNs (Undergraduate Student Nurse). You can get more information about them from here:

http://www.vch.ca/careers/partnership/employment.html

or here

http://www.viha.ca/ppo/strategy/unp/

or here

http://cc.workopolis.com/EN/job/10421448?RSS=Y

I don't know about other places, but it seems it's still relatively easy for new grads to find nursing jobs in BC. I am a new grad and did not have any problems getting interviews or a job. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Thank you for your reply and information. I have a few more questions. Is it hard to get average 70% of grades in the program?? Alot of nursing students work as ESN in hospital??

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No, it's not hard to get 70% (70% is actually quite low); and

Yes, there are a lot of ESNs in hospitals. The nice thing about being an ESN is that you are not counted as staff, you are extranumerary meaning you help out but are not counted as workload. Being casual means you set your own hours and if you get swamped with schoolwork you can easily cancel shifts - no need to swap shifts with anyone since you are not part of the workload to begin with. All in all, the ESN program is a really good deal for students.

Here is more information about it:

http://www.crnbc.ca/downloads/435.pdf

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Thank you for your reply. I see, but ESN is different from students in clinical class right?? ESN can get paid right?? Once,became a nurse, I can work any department(unit) right?? My first language is not English,so I feel that it's hard for me to get into RN program directly...RPN would be ok?? Do you think working and going to school is hard?? Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Based on my own experience as an RPN returning to school for my rn, I would advise going directly to your goal of rn. As for English not being your first language, this will be a difficulty for you in either program. RPN training is not easy, in fact it is a very intense course. You can work and go to school, I did it as a single mom to three kids, and I will do it again. This also was not easy, but if you are determined you can do it.

Best of luck to you !

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Thank you for your reply, RPN_2006. I think you are doing great job for yourself and your kids. Did you already get accepted bridge program?? How did you make woking and going to school at the same time?? Do you regret that you should have chosen RN program derectly?? Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

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