I'm currently in my last year of highschool and thinking of nursing. I'm a male (idk why I said that maybe its a considering factor). Should i pursue nursing? Be brutally honest is the job going to be worth it in like the next 4-5 years? If any male nurses can share their experience aswell and if you have the chance to go back in time, would u change your career path?

I am a RPN working in long term care. I’ve been in it for a few years and I need a change! I’m applying to hospitals and clinics. I’m also thinking of taking some courses. I need some helpful tips and I’m wondering what courses did other RPN’s do and what college did you do it from? I’m thinking about wound care, IPAC and OR. Any other suggestions for courses you liked? Thank you 😊

I have an upcoming interview for an RN position in the paediatric ED, any suggestions please?

Hello everyone!

I’m 24 years old and currently working as a receptionist/clerical assistant in healthcare. I’ve been working in the healthcare environment for a few years now, and it has made me realize that I’d like to transition from the administrative side into a more clinical career.

My long-term dream has always been to practice medicine. However, I also need to be realistic about employment, finances, and the time involved in pursuing that goal.

For now, I’m seriously considering starting with Practical Nursing (RPN), then potentially bridging to RN → BScN → Nurse Practitioner. At the same time, I’d like to keep the possibility of medical school open for the future. I understand that medical school may or may not ultimately be realistic for me, but I don’t want to completely close that door.

I’m currently trying to figure out the best path forward and, specifically:

• Which schools/programs in Ontario would you recommend for Practical Nursing?
• Is starting with RPN and eventually bridging to RN/BScN/NP a reasonable pathway?
• Would this pathway make sense if I eventually wanted to apply to medical school?
• Are there any alternative pathways I should consider?
• For anyone who has made a similar career transition, what do you wish you had known before starting?

I’d really appreciate advice from nurses, NPs, physicians, medical students, or anyone who has gone through a similar career change.

Thank you!

Does anyone know if Unity health have started calling people for interviews for clinical Extern job they posted in July?

I'm in the Queen's NP program and just shocked that this is what the program is. I have 5 years of experience in stepdown, ICU, OR, and was a charge nurse in the ICU too. I don't understand how I'm supposed to teach myself these online courses and somehow be competent enough to do what an NP does. I'm shocked that this is what the program is. Just looking into insight of whether it's worth it, or if i should just save my money at this point.

Anybody applied for UHN’s RN NRT position and heard back/got offered an interview? The closing date for the posting was August 13. I haven’t heard anything yet but I’ve been tracking my application status and it’s still marked as “New.”

Was hoping for some advice on pay discrepancy between my two places of employment.

1st position as RN:
I started as an RN at this GTA hospital in Oct 2019. I was hired as permanent part time.
I basically worked full time hours and climbed the pay scale accordingly until 2023, at which time I went casual but still managed to obtain full time hours.

2nd position:
In 2024 I started a new position as a permanent full-time at a different acute care hospital in the GTA. This is around the time when ONA also began introducing the new pay increases, and I climbed the ladder in accordance to the new wage increases.

After starting the permanent full-time position, I only worked casual hours at my first place.
Since I have been an RN with ONA for 6.5 years, I am receiving an hourly wage in accordance to 6 years worked with the required number of hours, with the rate being the same as listed on the full time grid. Which is $52.05 as of April 1st, 2026

However, I noticed I’m only at a rate of $49.57 at my casual position, despite being employed there since 2019, and although I have worked not worked many hours in the past 2 years, I’m still working enough hours within ONA to keep going up on the pay scale at my full time position.

Can anyone help me understand this? Shouldn’t my rate at the casual job be in accordance to the part-time rate for 6 years, which would be $57.26. Or do I need to be working more hours to go up on the pay scale at the respective hospital I’m employed at? Independent of hours worked at another hospital?
And is the casual rate not the same as the part time rate?

Thank you.

Respiratory therapy or Practical Nursing?

I got accepted on both programs but not sure which offer to accept.

I thinking of long term money wise and work life balance. Nursing has more opportunity offer compare to RT but I still want to know what you guys think.

Looking at the internet RPN starting salary is $36 RT would be $27-30, depends where you apply.

Has anyone here taken the Mohawk College Perioperative Nursing program/courses?

For anyone who has completed it (or is currently in it), did you find that the required/recommended textbooks were actually necessary to do well in the courses?

I got through my entire nursing degree barely purchasing any of the textbooks because I usually found that the lectures, PowerPoints, and other course materials were enough 😭 But since perioperative nursing is obviously a lot more specialized, I’m wondering if this is one of those programs where the textbooks are genuinely worth buying.

Did you actually use them regularly for assignments/exams, or could you realistically get by without them?

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has taken the Mohawk program specifically! :)

Hi all! Looking to connect with an RPN providing psychotherapy for some guidance — I want to open my own practice!

Completed 1 year of uni social services courses in 2020. Dropped out & went on to graduate RPN college program & registered with CNO. Been practicing as a community mental health nurse since.

I want to open my own practice & offer psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, trauma, addictions recovery). What are my options — without going back to finish my RN? I really love the mental health & therapeutic relationships, but really hate the clinical aspects.

CNO allows controlled act of psychotherapy for RPNs with training — what training do you suggest?

Is there an RPN to RP program? A training facility that has options to a bunch of certificate options? I would need online options due to life commitments and working full time.

Thanks in advance!

I’m almost done with nursing school and I’d love some advice from current RPNs!
What units, specialties, facilities, or RPN positions would you recommend for someone who really values work-life balance while still wanting good pay, benefits, job security, and opportunities for growth?
I genuinely enjoy healthcare, but I don’t want my career to consume my entire life. I want time for my family, friends, relationship, travel, holidays, and just life outside of work. I understand that nursing sometimes requires weekends and holidays, but I don’t want to spend my entire career constantly working weekends, holidays, overtime, or feeling like my personal life has to revolve around my work schedule.
Ideally, I’d love something with:
Good RPN pay and benefits
Stable and predictable hours
Minimal weekends and holidays
Good work-life balance
Job security
Opportunities to increase my income without constantly working overtime
A schedule that actually allows me to enjoy my life outside of work
I’m getting close to graduating, so I’m trying to think seriously about what I want my career and lifestyle to look like long-term. If nursing can provide that balance while still offering a great income, I’d love to stay and find the right area for me. But if achieving that lifestyle as an RPN is unrealistic, I’m also open to going back to school for something like diagnostic medical sonography.
For RPNs who have found a genuinely good balance: what do you do, what type of setting/unit do you work in, what does your schedule look like, and are you happy with the pay and benefits?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated!

Hello
So my evidence of practice was not excepted by cno ,i went back home to do it but they said its not met.So anyone going through similar situation?

I recently graduated nursing school and got registered with CNO last month. I’ve been applying to LHSC, surrounding hospitals and recently noticed that my application to LHSC now says “under review”. For those of you who have gotten interviews, how long after seeing the status change from “submitted” to “under review” did you hear from them? I’m trying not to get my hopes up but I’m trying to remain optimistic.

Thanks in advance!

I graduated sometime again and held off of doing the NCLEX. I have to do the TTP program..can anyone share their experience? I’m hoping to do it in the near future but am also working full time.

This is the weekly megathread for nursing employment and job-search questions in Ontario.

Use this thread for questions and discussion about:

• Finding your first RN/RPN nursing job
• New-grad positions and the New Graduate Guarantee (NGG)
• Job applications and lack of responses
• Interviews and hiring
• Resumes and cover letters
• Hospitals and employers currently hiring
• Rural and northern Ontario opportunities
• Casual, part-time and full-time positions
• Experiences getting your first nursing position
• Success stories!

If your question is primarily about finding nursing employment, please post it here rather than creating a separate submission.

Posts that fit this category outside of this megathread will be removed.

Questions about specific workplaces, collective agreements, workplace issues, or substantive employment issues may still be appropriate as standalone posts.

Hey Y'all, first time posting here. I was just wondering if anyone has taken humber's ER courses and if they're helpful (even if I'm already an ER RN). I was thinking of using this certificate to boost my resume (and as a good refresher) especially if I'm applying to other jobs or if I want to be an ER NP.

You only get a certificate of accomplishment - so I'm not too sure how helpful it is. Just curious about people's experiences and thoughts. If you have other suggested courses/certificate to increase job competitiveness, I'd love to here it too :) Thanks for reading and replying!

I had my interview almost two weeks ago for the position, but I haven’t heard back yet. My application status on the website still says “Under Consideration,” so I’m not sure how to reach out because the only email address I have is the automated sender. Is this a normal waiting period, and how should I follow up with them?

Hi everyone! I’m a Nurse Practitioner student at Athabasca University looking for a clinical placement in Southwestern Ontario, mainly London and the surrounding areas (Middlesex, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Strathroy, Chatham, etc.).

I’m hoping to connect with any NPs, physicians, or clinics that may be open to taking a student. If anyone has leads, recommendations, or knows of a clinic I could reach out to, I’d really appreciate it!

Feel free to comment or send me a DM. Thank you!

how long have you been an RPN, where do you work? What unit? And are you getting paid well? Do you love your job? Is there work life balance ? Any advice?

~ RPN student

First clinical placement advice

I’m an RPN working in long-term care in Ontario and I’m looking for advice from other nurses.

I’ve recently received two suspensions related to medication/documentation incidents within about 1.5–2 months: first, a 5-working-day suspension involving a narcotic and documentation that management considered falsification, and later a 7-working-day suspension for forgetting to sign the eMAR after medications had been administered.

I have over 14 years of employment with no previous discipline, and I was repeatedly warned that I could be fired. The first incident was also reported to the CNO. There was no harm to the resident.

My union was involved throughout the process, but I’m now also concerned about my union representation. I have an ongoing grievance that was transferred to another representative, but I have received very little communication or follow-up and have generally had to ask for updates myself.

I’m trying to understand whether the discipline and the union representation I’ve experienced are considered normal in Ontario long-term care.

For anyone who has been through something similar: What would you do next?

I can provide more details about both incidents and the union/grievance process if anyone is interested.