Anyone take the NCLEX and CRNE close together?

Hi Gail! I am a Canada educated RN. I graduated in May 2004. I am taking the NCLEX-RN tomorrow (my 3rd attempt)... I know the CRNE had changed the format of the exam. I got to "test out" some of those sample questions when I wrote the CRNE in June 2004. The CRNE and NCLEX-RN is very different from each other. The CRNE is more psychsocial...while the NCLEX-RN is more technique. I think if you study the NCLEX-RN material...you'll be WAY set for the CRNE. I also recommend buying the study guide in prep for CRNE published by CNO. I found it very helpful. The guide was very similar to the exam. I'm not sure if you have to take the NCLEX-RN first before you can take the CRNE. I received my ATT to write the NCLEX-RN before I got my results for CRNE. My school just had to fill out some papers and then send them to the Board of Nursing. I recommend you contact CNO and explain your situation to them. Well, I hope this helps! =)

Hi Gail! Thanks for your reply! I'm been studying really hard for the NCLEX-RN. I'm going to do my part and leave the rest up to God. I would also like to have to the option to work either in the US or in Canada. I'm living in Canada right now...But I will move to the US once I pass the NCLEX-RN. The NCLEX is not offered in Canada so I have to go to the US to write it.

Yes...the NCLEX-RN is MORE difficult than the CRNE. I'm not saying that because I'm writing the NCLEX-RN for the third time or that I passed the CRNE on my first try. Each exam focuses on different things...I remembered on the CRNE, there were lots of questions on therapeutic communication. Not too much on priorization, medication, delegation or physiology. Also the CRNE is on paper...you can skip a question and go back to it later or whatever.

I heard that people do well on the CRNE exam with just the CNO study guide. I'm not exactly sure what the new format for the CRNE is but I think the majority of the questions will still be multiple choice.

Well, let me know if you have another questions. =)

CareBear

I took the NCLEX and the CNATS (is that the same as the CRNE?) close together, years ago. I didn't study for either of them. I figured after nursing school hell I had to know the stuff!

I found the NCLEX to be the easier exam. It only took 75 questions, and I was done. I think the trickiest part were the differences in drug names between the two countries. At the time, I would break the drug name down into sylables, etc, and try to figure out what the Canadian equivalent would be.

Good luck!

I took them close together and had an easier time with the NCLEX. I'm just not good at the psychosocial questions that were more prevalent on the Canadian exams. It always seemed like 2 of the answers could be right. Lab values were the other big difference.

Hi gchelak! Just want to let you know that I passed the NCLEX-RN!!! I can't believe it!!! =)

I studied for both very close together. I remember clearly that I was more stressed about the NCLEX (I'm canadian) because I wasn't sure about the education differences. I remember they were very different from eachother (I wrote the Canadian exam in Alberta and it was a full day for 2 actual tests (lunch break in between). I wrote my NCLEX in Montana and it was all computer based, and I couldn't go back and change answers. As far as the questions were concerned, the CRNE questions were broader in scope, questioning more on Critical thinking skills and how you would use your nursing knowledge to remedy familiar and unfamiliar situations. The medication questions focused more on drug Classes than actual names, as names of medication can change all the time (ie. Gravol aka Dimenhydrinate is known as Dramamine in USA and so forth). The NCLEX was specific to disease and the treatments of it, Drugs, drug names and specific drug side effects, and also delegation to nursing assistants (There was NONE of that delegation stuff on my Canadian exam). My opinion is that if you can get past the nitty gritty details of the NCLEX, you are a shoe-in for the Canadian exam, (which also had community needs and education as an emphasis). I studied harder for the NCLEX than ANY test I've ever written and STILL came out feeling like I was an idiot!

Good luck to all who take both. It'll be a stressful time of study but well worth it!