Interview 2

Shelby, an LPN for 6-7 years, decided to become an RN for more opportunities and higher pay. The biggest challenge was preparing prerequisites at a university level. Overcoming it took dedication and staying positive. Getting acceptance was exciting but worrying financially. Transitioning to being a full-time student was easy due to nursing background, but the restriction in scope was difficult. It got easier as she learned teacher's expectations. Going to Kamloops in the fall is exciting yet nerve-wracking. The most nervous about the simulation room. Advice for LPNs considering the RN program is to be patient and prepare slowly. Hi Shelby, thank you for joining me today for the interview to talk about your journey from being a working LPN into a full-fledged RN student. How are you today? I'm well, thank you. How about yourself? I'm good, thanks. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? I was born and raised in Williams Lake. I currently live in Williams Lake still. I'm an LPN for about the past six to seven years. I have a lot of dogs, 12 exactly, and I like chickens, I guess. Okay, awesome. So you said you've been an LPN for about six years. What made you decide to go back to get your RN? I just wanted to have more opportunity with like different jobs. There's a little more opportunities for LPNs and of course the pay wage is a little different too. And to be able to say that I have my degree. What was the biggest challenge when preparing for and applying to the program? Probably preparing all of my prerequisites at a university level rather than a high school level. A lot of people saying that they're not going to have spots so you won't get in and then also not being placed in third year. Being placed in second year was kind of difficult. And how did you overcome those things? I guess dedication and continuing to just work on my courses and remain positive. Yeah, fair enough. How did you feel when you got your acceptance letter? Well, I was on my way to a concert in Vancouver and I was excited but I was actually also stressed because now I'm going to be going to school full time and not working. So I was kind of worried about financial situation. Yeah, that's totally fair. Let's talk about the transition from working full time as a nurse with your own autonomous scope to becoming a full time student. What did you find the easiest about that transition? Well, I mean, I have a lot of nursing background for second year nursing students so it was pretty easy with like knowing what to do but yeah. What did you find hardest about the transition? Probably the restriction in, you know, your scope or what you can and can't do because as a LPN I was working to my full scope the whole time and as a second year nursing student, a second year RN student, that's still less than my full-fledged LPN scope so that was difficult. Did you think it got easier throughout the program? I feel like it did, yes, but I also kind of just feel like I learned to know what the teacher's expectations were and just follow that guide to get through. Yeah, that's one of the hardest things is teacher's expectations. So you'll be going to Kamloops in the fall. Are you excited about the transition? I mean, I'm excited because I'm definitely ready to just finish the program and be an RN and start making money but I am also a little bit nervous because Kamloops is a much larger campus. Yeah. What are you the most nervous about? Probably that simulation room where they watch you from one-way glass and record you and make you feel uncomfortable. Yeah. A little bit intimidating. Okay, awesome. Lastly, if you were to give any advice to an LPN who's considering starting the process to bridge into the RN program, what would you tell them? Probably to just be patient with yourself and have that time to be an LPN and be comfortable working to your full scope as an LPN and then just slowly preparing. Like, there's no need to rush into it. You know, just making sure that you are ready and this is what you want, if that makes sense. Yeah, totally. Awesome. Well, that's great advice. Thank you so much for joining us here today. And hopefully this helped potential LPNs who are considering bridging into the program. Thank you.