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ilialex
11-28-2011, 12:39 PM
My girl-friend wants to get into health care industry, and she's thinking about pharmacy technician or a licensed practical nurse positions. Is that a good choice? How much do they make? Is it hard to get in? Which one is better?

bourge73
11-28-2011, 12:40 PM
Best to first post pics of said girl-friend.

Affinityion
11-28-2011, 12:42 PM
I've had a couple friends do Pharmacy Tech about 5 years ago, when they finished their diploma they basically ended up at Safeway stocking shelves for the Pharmacy...Not to say that that's what you'll end up doing but for the most part I think you'll be doing grunt work for first little bit (not too different from most other jobs anyway). LPN might be the better choice to go for imo.

adam c
11-28-2011, 12:46 PM
apparently from what I have been told LPN is a shitty job that is grossly underpaid

G-ZUS
11-28-2011, 12:55 PM
Originally posted by adam c
apparently from what I have been told LPN is a shitty job that is grossly underpaid

It's true. The pharmacy tech program at Robertson College I heard is good and if she can get a job as a pharmacy tech at a hospital she will be better off then a retail pharmacy tech. At the hospital, the techs start off at 26.18/ hour.

kertejud2
11-28-2011, 04:53 PM
Originally posted by ilialex
My girl-friend wants to get into health care industry, and she's thinking about pharmacy technician or a licensed practical nurse positions. Is that a good choice? How much do they make? Is it hard to get in? Which one is better?

A pharmacy tech would have it easier for the amount of money they get, but a nurse will provide more job satisfaction despite the crap work (literally) they have to do. A pharmacist tech is a job, being a nurse is a lifestyle if you ask me. I know a lot of nurses who constantly bitch about the work they have to do and the amount of money they get to do it, but none regret their choice.

Depends on what seems more appealing to your girlfriend. If she's just looking for a good paying job relative to the effort needed to get into and continue with it. Pharmacy tech it is. If she's looking for a career that will challenge her, likely frustrate her but has the potential for great emotional payoffs (to make up for the lack of financial payoff relative to the work), nursing is the way to go.

ilialex
11-28-2011, 05:21 PM
So $26/hr for a pharmacy tech at a hospital. Does anyone know how much they make at a regular pharmacy? What about LPNs, how's their pay?

Any other choices she should consider? She's willing to spend 1 to 2 years in school.

kertejud2
11-28-2011, 05:45 PM
Originally posted by ilialex
What about LPNs, how's their pay?

~$25/hr depending on the job.

adam c
11-28-2011, 05:48 PM
lpn's make like 18-19/hour not 25

AndyL
11-28-2011, 07:33 PM
18-19 to start... You advance quickly, but they call them Low Paid Nurses for a reason... Basically glorified candy striper for the RNs - do the work so they don't have to get off facebook...

Everyone in my wifes LPN program is now out of nursing; she only graduated in 04 - that probably says something... 3 of them are at her canada post depot :rofl:

kertejud2
11-28-2011, 08:25 PM
Originally posted by adam c
lpn's make like 18-19/hour not 25
That's a starting wage. Get a few years in and you're probably making $23/hr, get into a specialty and you're clearing $25/hr. The average yearly earnings for an LPN is still over $40K in this country.

If you're an LPN you have to be ambitious though. The administrative and supervisor roles aren't there for you like the RNs(the 'facebookers') but the clever ones can make more than their RN counterparts if they play their cards right.

G-ZUS
11-28-2011, 08:30 PM
Originally posted by ilialex
So $26/hr for a pharmacy tech at a hospital. Does anyone know how much they make at a regular pharmacy? What about LPNs, how's their pay?

Any other choices she should consider? She's willing to spend 1 to 2 years in school.

Low teens to work @ Shoppers, Safeway etc.

ilialex
11-28-2011, 11:41 PM
So to sum up: LPN doesn't sound like a good choice, Pharmacy tech sounds better if you are at a hospital, but not much money at a pharmacy.

What's a good field to get in then with 1-2 years of schooling? What about casino dealers here in Calgary? Do they make good money, easy to get in?

403ep3
11-29-2011, 02:17 AM
Wow totally opposite careers. Lpn can make decent money depending on their experience, how much they work, and if their in a unit that offers lots of overtime.

Lpn
http://www.healthjobs.ab.ca/Jobs.Calgary.Licensed-Practical-Nurse.157524.aspx

Rate 23:37-31.07 an hour (higher number is working the weekend overnight shifts)

Don't know much about tech, but I found one position lol http://www.healthjobs.ab.ca/Jobs.Calgary.Pharmacy-Technician.157752.aspx

CompletelyNumb
11-29-2011, 04:07 AM
Chasing a career for the wages is a good way to ensure she`ll be back in school in a few years to do something else. Tell her to find something she likes to do and not worry about the starting wage. You should be the primary bread winner anyways :poosie:

G-ZUS
11-29-2011, 09:13 AM
Tell her to look into Health Information Management at SAIT

silvercivicsir
11-29-2011, 09:50 AM
Become and Accountant horrible job, but once you get a designation and put in the hours.. You'll be making some Sick $$$ if you want a job chasing the money...

Affinityion
11-29-2011, 01:48 PM
Any chance of EMT training? Probably won't get to do the crap (literally) jobs that LPNs do, but the trade-off is probably no less pleasant (blood and guts at worst?). Not sure about the hours and the pay but its an alternative

nj2Type-S
11-29-2011, 01:55 PM
how much training and schooling would an LPN have to have to become an RN?

silvercivicsir
11-29-2011, 02:45 PM
probably lots.. Inorder to get an RN you need to graduate from a 4 yr university program..