Why RPN and not LPn?

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I posted this question previously in the Nursing Student section of the forum. I received an answer that stated that this term RPN was used in Canada.

I am confused by this term and would appreciate a response from anyone who will be able to clarify this for me.

My questions are:

Does RPN mean Registered Practical Nurse?

Does that mean an RPN hasn't taken the CRNE-Pn exam?

Is RPN the actual Name of the program a person has completed?

Why isn't LPN used instead?

The program I have been accepted into an LPN program.

Actually it is a Practical Nursing Program and upon successful completion of the CRNE-PN exam I will recieve my license and become an LPN.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my questions.

Confused. :flowersfo

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This question has come up before on this forum.

ONTARIO is the only province that has Registered PNs. ALL others are LPN.

In western Canada a RPN is a Reg. Pysch. Nurse. An RN that specializes in Mental Health.

Unless you live in Ontario you will be an LPN.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

The name of the course in Ontario is the registered practical nursing program.We are licenced by the Ontario College of Nurses,the same body that licences the RNs.

Just out of curiosity,how long is your LPN program? My RPN program is 5 semesters.

:balloons:

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Just out of curiosity,how long is your LPN program? My RPN program is 5 semesters.

:balloons:

5 semsters long? Just out of curiosity, what school are you at? I'm an RPN student at conestoga and i'm only 4 semesters

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Thank you for your responses Fiona59 and Loriangel14.

Loriangel14 congratulations! I wish you all the very best with your program and future career. :smiley_aa

the Practical Nursing program I am beginning in Sept. is 16 months in duration and covered over the course of 4 semesters.

Is your program 2 years in duration?

:flowersfo

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am attending Georgian college in the part time program that takes almost 4 years to finish.What is your schedule like for the full time? Is it long days?

Sorry it took so long to reply,I was moving! lol

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Hi all,

I am attending Georgian College in Owen Sound as well. I wanted to attend the part-time course, same course as Lori, 2 yrs in a row. The course was cancelled both times, due to lack of interest. I will now be starting the RPN course in Sept. This full time course is also 5 semesters long. It will take 2.5 yrs to complete. I'm not sure why the 0.5. At the info session, they explained that it was due to the fact that the RPN course is now a more "in depth", and the RPN is reponsible for more things then in previous yrs.

I must say, that I am very happy that I found this site. I have already learned so much from everyone, and haven't even begun.

Good luck to you,

i

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The time spent in school varies province to province. I trained in Alberta where we did four academic semesters but went back to back for 13 months instead of two academic years.

It seems as if every programme is being tinkered with. Time spent in hospitals, etc seem to be the reason for some training differences. The programme that I attended has been tinkered with to include first year arts courses at university level, which will make it easier to do the bridge to RN if that is the direction someone wants to go. I think it will change the quality of student in the PN programme, the students will have to have a better command of the written and spoken language and be able to deal with more abstract concepts.

When I went to school, roughly half my class had at least one year post secondary education and a couple had degrees in other fields but we did not receive any credit for our previous education. Hopefully this will change.

And before anyone asks why someone with a degree would do PN instead of RN, it was because there was no accelerated RN programmes at the time, the RN programmes were having 1200plus applications for 120 seats, so people took what they could. I know one LPN who said even with her degree she doesn't have enough science credits to apply for the accelerated RN, so the hurdles are high and still there.

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"The time spent in school varies province to province. I trained in Alberta where we did four academic semesters but went back to back for 13 months instead of two academic years."

Fiona59, you've probably answered this in another post, but what school did you attend?

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http://camosun.ca/learn/programs/pn/pn-study.html I just completed my LPN here in BC. The licensing exam was Sept 10th and got the letter Tuesday with the PASS. The course at Camosun College was 50 weeks. BC is the only province with the condensed course. Inspite of lobbying for spreading the course out with a summer break, the gov't feels that it is working now so why change it? It was a very intense year of study combined with practicums. Everyone is our class of 32+ passed the National Exam. Heading back to school as a mature student (mother of 4) was a huge undertaking but am SO glad I finally did it! I am now working casual at Hospice and a smaller community hospital where I am full scope and very supported by my peers. Last night was my first shift on my own and the RN I worked with was wonderful. Not all RN's eat their young ;) Hugz, Tee
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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

This is a couple of years old and will close

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