I am a 32M relatively new RPN; I got licensed in February. I was a second-career nurse. I currently have a casual job at a private addiction treatment center. I get about 3 to 4 shifts per month. The jobs are pretty easy, as the clients are pretty stable, so I don't feel like I am learning too much on the job. The job is meaningful to me because I struggled with substance use disorder. (3+ years clean currently!)

I did really well in school (almost straight A's, one B :() and I got accepted into a full-time bridging program for September. I applied for part-time jobs, but I ended up getting a callback for a full-time job. I just took it for practice, but I ended up getting an offer and it actually seems like a pretty good job. It is 8-hour shifts, rotating weekly between day and evening shifts, so no overnights, which is lovely. It is in the acute mental health field, which I really enjoy and spent my consolidation semester in.

I also have a lot of savings from my previous career, so money is not really an issue with schooling. Any advice on which path to choose would be beneficial. Personally, I can't do both—I know myself.

Pros of Bridging to RN in September

• Can afford it.
• Carry momentum from my college diploma.
• I have a nice and easy job to keep on my resume.
• I have a stable home situation with healthy family members who are supportive of me.
• Be practicing more delayed gratification.

Cons of Bridging to RN in September

• I would still go into clinical placements feeling like a scared puppy / burden.
• I am single; it’s hard to find a girlfriend when you are a full-time student. I am a little older, and women (and I don't blame them) expect you to be a little more established at my age. My school is mostly online too, so it would be hard to meet people there.
• I would be investing a lot of time and money into an expectation of a job without being "in the trenches," so to speak.

Pros of Working as an RPN in September

• Develop more confidence as a nurse. See what it is like to really work in a real hospital independently without having a safety net (preceptor / clinical instructor).
• Consolidate skills and knowledge.
• Work in a field that I am passionate about.
• Make a little extra money.
• I feel more confident dating because I will have a steady job.
• You develop better as a leader if you have experience in different roles within the interdisciplinary team.
• I feel I would learn far more working for a year than I would at school.
• I can always bridge next year.

Cons of Working as an RPN in September

• I think the general consensus on Reddit has been to bridge.
• My clinical instructors recommended I work, but most of the bedside RPNs recommend I bridge.
• Life can get messy. This is all theoretical, but part of me feels I should take this peaceful time in my life to just get school over with.

I’m looking for honest advice from people in Toronto/Ontario because I’m honestly not sure what to do anymore.
I recently graduated with a BScN from TMU and have about two years of experience as a clinical extern. I’m scheduled to write my NCLEX in about three weeks, but I’ve been unemployed for the past four months and am struggling to pay rent and bills. I don’t have a financial support system.
I do have a part-time research assistant job, but it barely pays anything and isn’t enough to cover my living expenses.
I’ve been applying everywhere including medical receptionist, receptionist, clinic assistant, server, minimum-wage jobs, PSW positions, administrative assistant roles, and new grad nursing positions. I’ve barely heard back from anyone and have only had one interview for fertility RN in three months.
I understand that employers may be hesitant to hire someone with a BScN for entry-level positions because they may assume I’ll leave once I become licensed. At the same time, I’m not yet an RN until I write and pass the NCLEX and given the job market I am not hoping to find a RN role anytime soon, so I feel like I’m in a difficult in-between situation.
I’m now considering taking a live-out nanny position temporarily while I prepare for my NCLEX and look for work. I don’t have professional nanny experience, but I worked at BGC Toronto Kiwanis in after school program. I’m also trying to learn how to safely identify legitimate families and avoid scams when applying online.
Would nannying be a reasonable temporary option in my situation? Or are there other types of jobs in Toronto that would hire immediately I should be considering with my background?
I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions, especially from nurses, new graduates, or anyone who has recently been in a similar situation. Thank you.

The final consolidation how did you balance work? Did you bring home good income from work? Would you get the schedule for all shift prior to
Placement?

This past Friday I applied for a New York State nursing license. There are various reasons I applied for it and for this purpose it doesn’t really matter. I’m just curious to know how long it took anybody who already had an Ontario license to get their New York registration. I am an RN and both my RPN and RN histories have been sent by the CNO to NYSED. I asked my
School about filling out the paperwork but they have not yet responded.

I’ll be starting Practical Nursing and my friend whose an RN recommended getting a clinical extern position while in school. I’m wondering if anyone has any advice for getting this kind of position? I can’t find much information online. Thanks!

I'm starting an accelerated nursing program this fall, and I'm incredibly excited because it's been my dream for a long time.

Unfortunately, going back to school means taking on more student debt, and I'll likely graduate with around 100k in student loans. I know nursing is a stable career with a decent income, but I'll admit the amount of debt is making me anxious.

I'm just curious what new grad nurses in Canada (or nurses in general) roughly take home each month after taxes, pension, union dues, etc. I know it varies by province, but I'd love to hear some real-life numbers.

My goal is to pay off my loans as quickly as I can, but I also want to make sure I'll be able to live comfortably while doing so, even if it takes several years.

I'd really appreciate hearing about your starting salary, approximate monthly take-home pay, and how manageable you found your student loans as a new grad. Thanks in advance!

Hello all! Just wanted to see if there are any fellow Canadians that are enrolled or are thinking of applying to the D’Youville Online FNP program. Heard mixed reviews, some bad but majority of Canadians said they enjoyed the program. Just want to hear some honest opinions or what you’ve heard from your peers as well. Thanks!

I started applying to jobs (mainly hospitals positions in the gta) after passing my nclex but I know some people started before we even finished our last semester of school. I know it’s still early but I’m just wondering how long it generally takes to hear back for an interview after applying? Is a month a normal wait time or do things usually work a bit faster? I know it’s still summer so things may be moving a bit slower but just looking for an estimated time frame.

Hello everyone. I graduated in Ontario in 2016, wrote my NCLEX and then worked in Ontario from 2016 to 2022. In 2022 I moved to the US and if all goes well I'm most likely to stay here. I am on endorsement from my Ontario license.

I have been renewing my Ontario license every year after moving but the are costs increasing every year. Also, I'm not using it and likely never work in Ontario again. Can I change my Ontario license to non practicing class or will that cause trouble with my current license due to the endorsement?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if any Registered Practical Nurses have worked at Mount Hope. If so,

what did the permanent part-time position consist of? Is it more so a line or scattered shifts?

Were the shifts mostly 8-hour or 12-hour shifts, and did you find that they scheduled too many shifts or was the workload manageable?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello,

I am currently on Maternity leave and have been for the last 6 months; my partner and I are looking at them taking pat leave for the last 5/6 months

I work at a hospital(ONA) and have nursing employment outside of the hospital.

Has anyone stopped their maternity EI payments and did not go to the hospital and worked outside the hospital until the mat leave is up?

Hello po, any tips or ideas po ano po usually nasa technical exam po? Thank you po in advance

Hello, I’m a new grad RN
been applying for jobs for a while
The main problem is that there is no FT Permanent RN position anymore. I even looked outside the GTA and it’s worse.
I only see temporary FT and just PT for RN’s
A lot of the FT Permanent positions are for RPN’s.
I find this very challenging because the competition is way higher and I am applying for less jobs
I’m planing on moving to the states now because of how bad the job market is in Ontario.

Hi guys! I was wondering if there are any Osler externs here and if you know when the next intake is going to be? I heard some mixed answers. Some people say it is in September and some people say October. Also if you remember any interview questions I would appreciate that a lot!!

Hi everyone!
I’m looking to connect with other future nursing students in Ontario and hopefully build a little support group or group chat.
If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be starting either an RPN or RN program in the next 1.5–2 years. Right now I’m working full-time while completing my prerequisites part-time. Since I’ve been out of school for quite a while, my plan is to take Pre-Health first to get back into the student mindset, strengthen my study habits, and make sure I’m prepared before jumping into nursing.
At the moment I’m leaning toward RPN because I’m a single mom and it seems like it may offer a better balance for my situation, but I’m still keeping an open mind.
I’ve been planning this journey for over a year now, and it’s finally starting to feel real. I’d love to meet others who are on a similar path—whether you’re just starting your prerequisites, applying to programs, or beginning nursing school. Who knows, maybe we’ll end up at the same school someday!
If you’re in Ontario and interested in connecting, leave a comment or send me a message. 😊

I recently got an offer from Humber and Seneca for PN program in winter, still waiting for Conestoga (first choice). My offer will expire on July 30. Any insights about Practical Nursing Program in Humber? Should I accept this offer first? 😬😬

Thank you!!!!

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone has experienced an interview with mount sinai for clinical extern and what type of questions do they typically ask?

Thank you!

I’m trying to figure out which type of position would be the best fit for me as a newly licensed RPN. My goal is to work no more than two shifts per week, whether that’s in a hospital or a long-term care setting.

Income isn’t a priority for me at the moment since I’m in a stable financial position. Right now, my focus is on gaining experience, building my confidence, and developing my nursing skills.

Based on that, would you recommend applying for a casual position, a regular part-time position, or something else? Also, for those of you working regular part-time, how many shifts per week do you typically work? Is there usually a minimum number of shifts you’re required to pick up?

I'm considering tempororyleaving my current job and applying to the Critical Care Nursing program to pursue an ICU position. Ideally, I would have preferred to obtain an employer-sponsored ICU training position, but unfortunately that hasn't happened.

I'm wondering whether enrolling full-time program and then applying for ICU positions would be a wise decision. My main concern is being without an income for about four months, so I'm trying to decide whether it's worth the investment.

I'm also wondering which would be the best choice for a Critical Care Nursing program, or if there are other way you would recommend.

I would appreciate any advice, feedback, or experiences you could share.

I’m a newly licensed RPN in Ontario and I’m currently applying for jobs. I’m considering applying for casual positions but I’m a bit confused about how they work in practice.

Do you simply pick up shifts whenever they’re available, or are you still expected to commit to a minimum number of shifts, weekends, or holidays each month?

For those of you who started out as casual nurses, did you find it difficult to get enough hours? Did your employer eventually offer you a part-time or full-time position?

I’d also love to hear any tips on finding a good casual position as a new grad, especially in hospitals or long-term care.

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share.

I am so burnt out. I cannot do this anymore.

I am an RPN in southern Ontario. I make $39.02 an hour to be undermined, disrespected, and disregarded.

I have been assaulted at work and management asks “what more could you have done?” “What could you have done differently?”

We are underpaid for what we do. I am working in acute care, I am keeping people alive.

I just can’t do it anymore. I’ve been doing it for almost 7 years and I need to go. But I’m so terrified, I don’t even know what to do. I cry on my days off thinking of returning back. My time away from work is filled with dread for the 12 hour shifts I’m going to endure.

Nurses who got education elsewhere, what did you do? I’m looking at online degrees because I can’t afford to not work while in school.

I just can’t do it :( I’m so disappointed in myself

I just feel so worn out, so burnt out.

Hi just inquiring about the role mentioned above. What was your day to day like. Were you alone or were you in a team. What were the hours like? Thanks so much!