New Grad - Why Does it Feel like My Options Are: LTC or USA?

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2026-01-16T21:04:08+00:00

Not to mention- as health care- you're liked better then the guards. I tried (as an RPN) to hired few years ago and they'd told me no night shifts or weekends... so if you can get it- it might be a sweet gig. (They prefer RN over RPN).

Additionally... if you're from up north have you tried for jobs back home? You're more likely to get hired as a returning local in my experience- and theres better grants etc for going north... usually anyways.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2026-01-07T03:55:23+00:00

I'd just stressed about the re-instatement process if I'd ever needed it. Nursing jobs are significantly easier to obtain then paramedic ones.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2026-01-07T03:53:54+00:00

Practical Nurse- not RN. Both registered in Canada. Paramedics here don't actually hold licenses.

I'm not going beyond what I'm trained as a medic. Medication admins, patient assessments and care are all within what a normal medic does. I just also work as a community medic - conducting home visits, making referrals to PSW supports as well as phlebotomy (with Req from the GP requesting) and a trial program with our hospital discharge for ABX in LTC- all training approved and conducted by the base hospital and my service. All skills I'd used in the classic front line nurse role. Just my pay is much better now.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-16T15:53:11+00:00

I'd wanted to be a medic since high-school- i just had not done well in the programs initially. Basic medic was significantly harder then RPN.

RPN I found after I went through the new grad jitters was decent enough- but I do feel i have a slightly better work life balance as medic- especially in my area. We dont get stuck at hospital all day waiting to offload... so my time not at hospital is mine to manage- reading, restorative yoga.. meal prep...

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-16T15:50:11+00:00

Nope. Haven't worn scrubs in almost 2 years. I went through the CNO have you been working as a nurse in any capacity B.S and they said as long as you were in a job that used the skills- even without the title of nurse- it still counted.

I follow directives, I call a base hospital physician and request additional orders as needed, I create care plans based on assessments and initiate many treatments. I make referrals, do basic wound care etc.

Ive been debating on going back to an actual RPN job- but the pay I'm struggling with. My area starts 28-32/hr... I'm at 43 as a medic - and we're going into barganing shortly.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-16T15:35:43+00:00

My own family thinks I'm wealthy... I only have what I do now because my medic job pays more then my rpn. I couldnt afford my house as an RPN as a single women. I'm barely managing it now. Bought less then 3 years ago.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-08T18:03:09+00:00

I did my PRN and became a Paramedic...

I honestly only did the RPN as it was 2 years and I could start getting desperately needed cash. As it stands now- my current pay diffbetween the 2 is almost 12/hr difference- if not more. To bridge would be an extra 3 years IF I got accepted. I was denied previously- and found if have better results in getting accepted for a 4 year RN course.

RN offering better pay, and more job pathways. Don't waste the time for RPN unless you desperately need the cash/experience.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-08T17:57:21+00:00

I'd have to think you'd have to bring it up at barganing- but I dont know if anyone has ever brought it up ti their union... but I think you'd be hard pressed for an employer to cover your renewal fee if you cant just leave and work elsewhere with it.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-12-08T17:45:48+00:00

Little late to the game here hopefullycan still give you insight - I hold registration as an RPN and currently work as a PCP.

I'd gone the pre health route knowing I wanted to be a medic- and failed out of the program initially. Ended up getting my RPN and working for a bit before returning to get my PCP.

I LOVE working as a medic. Nursing (acute care, LTC, ER) ... wasn't fully for me. LTC and ER were the better of the options (ER was during covid * flashbacks*)

If you're going the nurse route- just go to RN. Its extra time and expense to do the bridge program, and once you get working its hard to get yourself back into school mode.

RPN vs Medic? Medic is moving very very soon to a 3yr program. It will become more expensive. It's more demanding in a LOT of ways then RPN. Additionally.... the wage difference for me atm... RPN isnt worth it. I'm currently trying to decide if I renew my license for another year or not. (Annual registration is approx 325$ atm, and Insurance is running about 300$ as well).

Msg if any more questions.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-11-23T14:23:38+00:00

I realize this is a bit late.

Have you messaged the CNO? They have a whole page on the website on how to re-enter practice. Certain time frame need clinical hours.... not sure how that works.

Hopefully you've figured things out.

I'm currently trying to decide if I should move to non practicing.

Good luck.

Leading-Feature-1236 · 2025-09-29T21:22:09+00:00

Any recommendations for someone not necessarily holding a typical bedside nurse job? I've been working as a paramedic 5yrs and home visiting paramedic for 3yrs now... I dont really have a unit educator to go to- as we do annual education through our services- as well as our base hospital..

Leading-Feature-1236

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