If you’re interested in becoming a nurse in Canada, you may likely come across other terms and acronyms, which may seem a bit confusing. We are here to help you understand what it takes to qualify for a career in nursing. We will do this by discussing the two key types of nurses in Canada; registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
What is a Registered Nurse?
A registered nurse, known by the acronym RN, has to complete a four-year BA degree from a Canadian nursing college or the international equivalent. The education requirement is the same across Canada. As an RN, you may specialize in patient care. These areas include emergency or surgical rooms, obstetrics or pediatrics, oncology, or rehab. You could also work outside the hospital in a community clinic, at a place of employment, or choose home health care.
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is similar to a Registered Nurse; however, they have more authority in some areas, such as providing prescriptions and flexibility regarding working at suitable clinics.
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), also known in parts of Canada as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), completes a two-year nursing degree. After completing the two-year nursing course, it would be necessary to pass the national licensing exam. Once the exam is successfully passed, an LPN/RPN can work in short-term care, long-term care, or out in the community. Licensed Practical Nurse has a higher than average annual growth by 3.7% in Alberta making LPN in high demand over the next 5-10 years.
Practical Nurse Programs allow students to gain knowledge using a mixture of in-class theory and real-life experience. Examples of employers for Licensed Practical Nurses in Alberta include Alberta Health Services, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Primary Care Network, and more.
For more information about the Practical Nurse Professional Diploma Program, click here.
If you’ve ever received medical care in this province, you’ve likely encountered a nurse. Whether it was at home, school, a regular check-up at the clinic, or a major health problem at a hospital, nurses are often at the front of the line in health care. Nurses provide generalized or specialized care to people of all ages, from newborn infants to geriatric patients. But did you know that there are different types of nurses in Ontario, and each type of nurse provides a special sort of care to their patients?
Registered Practical Nurse
Registered practical nurses are college-taught professionals who use their skills, education, and common sense to assist patients with general or straightforward health conditions. Registered practical nurses (RPNs) commonly work in hospitals, schools, clinics, and the community to provide safe and general care to people of all ages. While they study from the same source of knowledge as registered nurses, an RPN can obtain their diploma faster.
There are many RPNs working in Ontario. If your condition is stable, predictable, or non-severe, you’ve likely received care from an RPN in the past.
Registered Nurse
Like an RPN, a registered nurse has received several years of schooling and has also earned a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing from an Ontario university. Registered nurses (RNs) have extensive knowledge in their field, which allows them to help patients with more complex health issues. Registered nurses provide care in many establishments, such as hospitals, emergency crisis centres and ERs, clinics, etc. Registered nurses may also decide to specialize in a field of their own choosing, however, specialization is voluntary. Common RN specializations include neonatal, gerontology, emergency care, and community health.
Nurse Practitioner
What fundamentally separates a nurse practitioner from RPNs or RNs is the amount of schooling they receive. With advanced university degrees, nurse practitioners (NPs) are able to provide independent healthcare services to patients, such as diagnosing complex health problems and prescribing medicine. Nurse practitioners serve their community in hospitals, schools, pharmacies, rehabilitation centres, and home healthcare agencies, to name a few. An NP is responsible for managing chronic diseases, reducing and controlling pain, performing physical check-ups, and treating fractures and dislocations.
Without the extraordinary work, dedication, and professionalism of Ontario nurses, Closing the Gap would not be able to provide the quality of health services our patients need and deserve. We work with nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses, and registered nurses to provide high-quality care to every single one of our clients.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse in Ontario? Find out more about the profession and industry opportunities from these websites:
www.npao.org
www.careersinnursing.ca
www.rpnao.org/rpncareers/what-rpn
www.cno.org/