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 geriatrics.

To those of you advocating for repeats....well, many of the people who were unsuccessful last June and October, it was no surprise, really. They either did not prepare properly, and/ or were lacking with both clinical and theoretical knowledge all the way through the program. Many of us passed, and we could see the people who were not going to make it long before they were unsuccessful with the CRNE.

Hello, I would like to state if it is unfair or insulting for an “RN” graduate to write the RPN exam then how is it fair for an RPN to be able to write the CRNE after only 2 years of extra education? Shouldn’t every RPN go through the full 4 year RN program to be eligible?

The scope of practice for both RN and RPN is significantly different, and if people state in the hospital the RPN can do exact the same thing as the RN then obviously that is not right. Both have different set of competencies and both cannot do the same controlled act. I do not think the CRNE is a basic exam, it requires a lot of critical thinking and is an overall difficult exam. I am sure so is the RPN exam, but overall both exams require you to study efficiently.

My advice to anyone taking the CRNE in the future, take the exam seriously this is your future whether the school prepared you or not you are responsible for passing the exam. You know the set of rules you might not agree with it but in order to work as a nurse in Canada you have to play by the rules. Good luck in your careers which ever path you may choose.

Hello, I would like to state if it is unfair or insulting for an “RN” graduate to write the RPN exam then how is it fair for an RPN to be able to write the CRNE after only 2 years of extra education? Shouldn’t every RPN go through the full 4 year RN program to be eligible?

The scope of practice for both RN and RPN is significantly different, and if people state in the hospital the RPN can do exact the same thing as the RN then obviously that is not right. Both have different set of competencies and both cannot do the same controlled act. I do not think the CRNE is a basic exam, it requires a lot of critical thinking and is an overall difficult exam. I am sure so is the RPN exam, but overall both exams require you to study efficiently.

My advice to anyone taking the CRNE in the future, take the exam seriously this is your future whether the school prepared you or not you are responsible for passing the exam. You know the set of rules you might not agree with it but in order to work as a nurse in Canada you have to play by the rules. Good luck in your careers which ever path you may choose.

Your post just illustrates what you don't know about PN education. We graduate with all the university transferable Arts classes required for electives in the BScN programme. Our education (or at least my schools) included a huge pharmacology course that was more indepth than the local RN programmes.

It is widely acknowledged that the diploma programme running in Alberta and Ontario is based on the two year diploma RN programme that ended in 2009. So, two years of PN education, a successful CPNRE and 1700 hours of work experience (required here in Alberta) to enter year three of a nursing degree isn't unreasonable.

Your profile doesn't give any background info on your nursing career. Did you pass CRNE or are you someone that "deserves" a crack at CPNRE just because?

Your post just illustrates what you don't know about PN education. We graduate with all the university transferable Arts classes required for electives in the BScN programme. Our education (or at least my schools) included a huge pharmacology course that was more indepth than the local RN programmes.

It is widely acknowledged that the diploma programme running in Alberta and Ontario is based on the two year diploma RN programme that ended in 2009. So, two years of PN education, a successful CPNRE and 1700 hours of work experience (required here in Alberta) to enter year three of a nursing degree isn't unreasonable.

Your profile doesn't give any background info on your nursing career. Did you pass CRNE or are you someone that "deserves" a crack at CPNRE just because?

Hi yes I passed the CRNE. Therefore I know what a struggle it can be to pass this exam. The RN diploma program in ontario was a 3 year program which ended in 2005, after 2005 all nurses required a degree. CNO makes the rules on who is eligible to write the RPN exam and the RN exam in Ontario. All I am trying to say its not unfair nor is it insulting to the RPN profession for an RN graduate to write that exam if they fail the CRNE. Thats all.

Specializes in geriatrics.

You aren't an RPN, though, who went through the program....so to say it isn't insulting...well, how can you say that? I mean, if they wanted to write the RPN exam, why didn't they just enroll in that program in the first place?

Specializes in Hospital nursing.
Hello, I would like to state if it is unfair or insulting for an "RN" graduate to write the RPN exam then how is it fair for an RPN to be able to write the CRNE after only 2 years of extra education? Shouldn't every RPN go through the full 4 year RN program to be eligible?

The scope of practice for both RN and RPN is significantly different, and if people state in the hospital the RPN can do exact the same thing as the RN then obviously that is not right. Both have different set of competencies and both cannot do the same controlled act. I do not think the CRNE is a basic exam, it requires a lot of critical thinking and is an overall difficult exam. I am sure so is the RPN exam, but overall both exams require you to study efficiently.

My advice to anyone taking the CRNE in the future, take the exam seriously this is your future whether the school prepared you or not you are responsible for passing the exam. You know the set of rules you might not agree with it but in order to work as a nurse in Canada you have to play by the rules. Good luck in your careers which ever path you may choose.

Actually, RPNs and RNs can do the same things, the same controlled acts. http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/learning-modules/utilization-of-rns-and-rpns/overview/

Yes, scope of practice differs, but not in the skills RPNs and RNs can perform, but rather in the patient populations they generally care for. In general, RPNs take care of stable patients with predictable outcomes. RNs can take care of unstable patients with unpredictable outcomes. THAT is the difference. In terms of plain skills, hands-on skills, there is NO DIFFERENCE.

I have the utmost respect for RNs and their decision to go to school for 4 years. I don't dispute that the content of the RN education covers all that the PN education does. However, it doesn't match up year to year. PNs, because we don't do all the theory, jump right in to patient care and skills. So at the end of our 2 year program, we are ready to function independantly, and to enter to practice. A BScN student, after completing 2 years, does NOT have teh same education as a PN. They are NOT ready to practice as RPNs or RNs.

As for bridging, it is most certainly fair - if I do my RN, I am already a nurse. I already have nursing knowledge, and experience, and know how to safely perform patient care. THAT is why I can do the last 2 years of the RN program. It is more then "fair".

I suggest you read the CNO module on the differences between RNs and RPNs.

I believe this discussion has gone overboard for me, but I still stay standing with what I said. In the end its the college's decicision, good luck.

Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.

This post is from 2010 but caught my eye. Even if you fail the 3rd CPNRE you go back to school for a year to upgrade and you can take the test again. Does the CRNE not do this? Curious:)

Specializes in geriatrics.

Not for the CRNE. Unless you had maybe a death in the family, if you fail the CRNE for the 3rd time, you get to go back to university and do the BSN all over again. Which of course, no one would do, so now some are opting to write the CPRNE. I don't know why they now have this option. They never used to.

i failed CRNE 3 times here in Ontario. and for a very good reason for appealing, i got a chance to write for a fourth time... thank God.

however, im going to need a lot of help on ways how to study, what to focus and what books to study to write the CRNE. i never ever failed any exams in my life except these last 3 exams of my life. i couldnt figure why i can pass everything else but this. I failed by 2-3 points, and i even took a class. I thought i have a good knowledge base. But i really need to improve my critical thinking and public health knowledge. and also my English is not perfect.. Fellow nurses i need your guidance to help me a ways to pass this.

God bless.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

One would think that after writing it 3 times, you'd have a pretty good idea of how the exam is structured, what sorts of questions are asked, how the answers are worded, and some sense of what is giving you the most difficulty. You say you need to improve your critical thinking, your public health knowledge and that your English is not perfect. That's where you start preparing for October. Find someone who can help you with your English comprehension. Go over the study guide again and again, paying special attention to the rationales for the correct responses. It's not enough to know the information, you have to be able to apply it in real-life situations. You have to be able to put all the pieces together, figure out what's going on, decide what needs to be done and to act. That's not only true of the exam but also of the real world when you're a nurse.

Well if you're given the opportunity to take the CRPNE, then take it, I say. No matter how much discouragement you receive from RNs and PNs alike, the reality is that the option is there. Until CNO decides that this option is no longer available, you should take your chances. I'm not one to tell anyone what to do but failing the CRNE 3x makes it hard for me to believe that the 4th time will be the charm. Do your best and practice practice practice. I hope everything works out for you and for anyone else out there whom failed the CRNE.

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