Before the Morning (Failed CRNE three times. what now?)

World Canada CRNE

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I just received a bad news. My nursing career is over. Yes, I am no longer one of you, but I feel a need to share my story. I have failed the CRNE for the third time and honestly, I don't know what is there left for me. I know things happen for a reason. sometimes, i just think that GOD is being so unfair. Throughout my nursing school, all i did was to do my best both theory and clinical. I have received praises being a "very good" Graduate Nurse. But then again, all has to end with an examination that I can't seem to pass even though I have put my thoughts and heart on preparing for it. At some point, I think of myself as a dumb individual, up for no good. If nursing was not meant for me, why did HE made it possible for me to even complete my Degree Program? I have so many questions to GOD right now. I have prayed hard for that moment of finally receiving a letter with the word "PASS" on it, but instead a phone call saying I have failed on my third attempt and had to wait for a letter containing my options.

Nursing Has always been my dream and I can't see myself pursuing other career in life. I don't think I can handle another 4 years of schooling or even the strength to even try to put my life back on track. I know that God has a reason for why I'm going through this test right now (one I consider the hardest test in my life, so far), and probably there is more to come. I have so much faith in him that in spite it all, I still look forward to that one morning of waking up from my sleep and the pain, the sadness, the sufferings are over. I know that HE works in ways unimaginable. I know that he hears my prayer and in his own time he'll grant those prayers. But for now, all I needed is some sort of encouragement from you, whoever you are reading this post right now.

I still thank GOD because I have my life, I am breathing, I can still appreciate all the good things he had created. As long as there is tomorrow, I will continue to fight a good fight!

Specializes in surgery, dialysis.

yes you can take the NCLEX in the states if you have failed the CRNE 3 times. some states do not require you to show your registration. I wrote the CRNE and the NCLEX-RN. I have lic in Alberta and Alaska. try Alaska, you just send your transcripts. BUT the NCLEX is about a million times harder than the CRNE

Specializes in surgery, dialysis.

Alaska, you don't need a Canadian Lic to write in Alaska

All you guys that say the CNO limit of three tries for the CRNE are deluded. The CNO is one of the most beuracratic, hodge-podge organizations on the planet. I have NO connection to nursing, this is my opinion, because I have dealt with them on other matters.

Exams test what you DON'T know, not what you know. Many individuals cannot handle a paper and pen exam, that does not mean they would be bad nurses, I guarantee it. All those BS formulas/math you learn in school, all that theory, garbage! That is what BOOKs are for, if you don't know it, look it up.

The CNO, like any standards association, should be looking for critical thinkers, and not "exam passers". A critical thinker, through mentorship, can learn anything. The exams should be done away with, and a mentorship avenue should be used instead. 3-4 year course, then 1-2 year(s) of mentorship based on your schooling results.

In a horribly executed manner, this is what the CNO is doing, by allowing RN failures to write the PN exam. It also always them to grab for revenue from the exam charges.

Dee

Specializes in geriatrics.

The exam does test critical thinking, and the majority of people taking the exam pass it.

And CNO permitting failures to sit CPNRE is giving all LPNs a slap in the face.

@fiona59: that is exactly what i meant, when i said "horribly executed manner", i hope you took it that way. it is a bad approach, and an insult to people, poorly executed.

@joanna73: i have to respectfully disagree. critical thinking is based on the evidence at hand, and what you think is the correct answer for this situation, not what someone else thinks, or what a "standard" says. this can only be determined at the time, not on some dreamed up scenario written out on paper. there is no best answer to critical thinking, but the cno likes to think there is.

"majority" of people passing is not good enough in my opinion, what happens if it was split 51 pass/49 fail? the cno, in my opinion, is a blocker to good healthcare, not an enabler. if the people can pass 4 years of schooling (and the schooling is properly monitored and scored), then the crne does nothing but add another layer of beuracracy.

anyone is certainly entitled to disagree with me, but i wanted to reassure the people who have "failed", that there are people out there, that think the current crne system is no longer relevant.

unfortunately, if you want to pass in this current "system", you will have to "learn" their way of thinking, if you agree with it out not.

dee

Specializes in geriatrics.

Yes I would agree that there is more than one answer. However, our nursing education is geared to taking that exam at the end. Basically, it's a game....their game, and we have to play by their rules. Debating that isn't going to change it. As I've said before though, if they fail the CRNE, they should not be allowed to write the LPN exam. Three tries is more than fair.

Specializes in geriatrics.

And to clarify majority, Dee the pass rate is about 80 percent for the CRNE.

Specializes in Hospital nursing.

I am an RPN who definitely finds it insulting that would-be RNs who fail the CRNE three times are permitted to sit our exam.

If someone can't pass the entry-to-practice exam for thier desired profession, then they should consider that perhaps that profession is not for them.

Failing the first time, sure...but the second time, you know what to expect...and if the person fails a second time, then IMHO they should give serious thought to doing some remedial course work or perhaps take a course on exam prep to help them overcome whatever obstacles keep preventing them from being successful at writing the exam.

If the person gets super nervous writing exams, they should talk to someone about controlling their anxiety,and perhaps get documentation from their Dr so the CNO can accomodate their anxiety, perhaps by allowing them extra time to write, or a private room, etc.

If, however, the person's nerves are fine, but they simply don't know the right answers, that says that their education was incomplete. Just MHO.

In the spirit of discussion, why is it so bad to allow those who fail the CRNE to take the CPNRE?

Do those who fail the CRNE 3 times usually pass the CPNRE?

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

The issue is the suggestion that practical nurses are being equated with failure to be something "greater", such as an RN. When one has been educated as a future RN but is unable to pass the exam after 3 tries, the default result has always been either re-education or a change of career. It's a very recent occurrence that people have been given the opportunity to then magically turn themselves into PNs, and as far as I know, only in Ontario. It's definitely a slap in the face to those who have chosen to become PNs and it shouldn't be permitted.

Thanks for the explanation janfrn!

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