I am a failrly new Associate degree RN in Texas and am moving to Alberta in July where I am from originally (no medical eduction from Canada).
I have contacted the CARNA for registration. What a nightmare. I was sent the papers for my school, Board of Nurse Examiners for Texas and myself to fill out. I sent my $200+ for them to look over my references and was told by a couple of people there that I did not need the work reference YET since I had not completed my 225 hours of work as an RN required for my employer to fill out the reference. I was told not having this would NOT hold up my other papers from being evaluated. All of my other papers were sent by the appropriate parties.
I was then told (e-mail) by 2 other people at the CARNA that I WOULD have to have the work reference for them to even look at my references. I sent an e-mail to everyone who was telling me different things, and the registrar (one of the people I had been talking to) was a little preturbed and said that I was confused because they were trying to accomodate me and bend the rules. I told them in a nice way that if I had not received conflicting e-mails, I would not have been confused.
I then had my work reference sent because it was causing so many problems. I did not want ot do this yet as it would alert my employer as to my intentions before I was ready.
The registrar had also indicated that it was "quite possible" that I would have to do a "Substantively Equivalent Competence assessment".
What the hell is this now? QUITE possible??
By the sounds of it, I am thinking that pretty much EVERYONE that is internationally educated has to complete this Substantively Equivalent Competence assessment before they give you access to the CRNE...am I right?? This is terrible. I was planning on taking the CRNE in Aug, right after I move up there.
I am an RN here...I am practicing as such, but in a nursery- not an adult floor. I am a little worried about what this is and what it consists of and what the Alberta Dilploma'd nurses learn that I did not...
I guess I am jumping the gun here a bit, but I have a bad feeling that this is the norm going into Alberta, especially for a recent grad/RN educated internatioanlly.
Can anyone elaborate on this or have any experience going from the US to Alberta recently?
Well I found out the delay - the university that took over the records for my now non-existant school of nursing has not emailed CARNA back to confirm the existence of that old school of nursing!!!
I'm just about to start hassling said University! Then I hope my file will be done!
CARNA have had my paperwork since the end of Nov '07 & to be fair they said it would take about 6 months so they've not quite gone over time yet!
I think I would have to agree! Right now I am not encouraging my RN friends from the Philippines to apply here. It takes a really more complicated process to register here. Some of them are just applying at Saskatchewan where just based on their transcripts, BSN degree program and nursing experience (which are the same as mine), they are allowed to work as grad nurses.
I would still assert that each and every Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN), whether they came from the US or UK or New Zealand or Australia SHOULD undergo the SEC! That would be fair...CARNA not basing an IEN's competency simply because of the transcript of records, nursing curricula from a BSN degree and nursing experience should then apply these to all IEN's...
SEC is helpful really, it is quite a good measure of a nurse's CURRENT and ACTUAL capability, knowledge and skills... Nurses may come from the mentioned countries and may have similar program with that of Canada, but the quality of nurses produced might be different.
I think just to be fair, every IEN must undergo SEC and wait for the results. Besides, if these nurses from the mentioned countries "pass" the SEC, then they would no longer have to take courses. They can immediately work as grad nurses. So I think besides the Nursing Curricula and transcripts, etc etc... ACTUAL COMPETENCIES of EACH and EVERY IEN regardless of the country where they are from should be assessed...
I think each internationally educated nurse (IEN) must undergo the SEC just to be fair.
Since CARNA does not simply base an IEN's nursing competency simply based on the latter's BSN degree program, transcipt of records and nursing experience, etc... (which by the way how Saskatchewan does), then each IEN regardless of the country where she/he comes from should take the SEC. Anyway if the IEN "passes" the SEC then she would no longer take courses. She could go on and work as grad nurse already.
I'm just looking at the CARNA website and I'm a little confused. They're sayin ghtat there are three routes to registration in Alberta, first to have graduated from a recognized nursing school in Alberta within the last five years and passing hte CRNE; number two is current registration in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by CARNA Provincial Council (which to my mind would be anywhere in North America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and a few other places) or third, "Applicants who do not meet the requirements under the first or second route of entry, but whose qualifications have been determined to be substantially equivalent to the competence requirements set out in the first or second route of entry, may be considered under this category. In order to make this determination, applicants may be required to undergo an assessment of their competence. Applicants who demonstrate that a combination of education, experience, practice and other qualifications provide them with the ability to practice competently may be eligible for registration in Alberta. In addition, all initial applicants must provide evidence of the following:
* good character and reputation
* fitness to practice
* proficiency in the English language"
Then, in another section it specifically mentions nurses educated in the US. (http://www.nurses.ab.ca/pdf/RegRequirmtsIEN.pdf) My interpretation of THAT is there should be no big difference in the way you're assessed compared to "us". And you're right, there is an appeals process, but don't be thinking along those lines yet!
I had hoped to talk to some of our recent US emigres yesterday at work, but I had one of those days that started off with a trip to CT within the first hour. Downhill all the way after that! I'll see who's there tonight and maybe get some info for you. Keep your chin up. It ain't over til it's over!
They have also been taking a long time with my file:bluecry1: I received my nurse education in the UK & have passed N-CLEX yet they kept finding things they wanted clarified. The problem was that they were not telling me & just waitng for replies from others. Each time I found an excuse to email I was told what they were waiting for & was able to get it sorted within minutes!!
There was also a lack of communication from management to the assessors on the floor which also caused a delay!
At last my file is complete & has gone to the final stage but it has taken soooo long:(
However, as a UK educated nurse who also happens to have passed the N-CLEX it appears from the above that I should receive eligibility so I suppose I'm partly relieved!:nuke: Although from the OP's experience I hope they're not going to throw the SEC at me or I'll be joining you on the appeal front! My recruiter didn't think they would have any reason to but who knows now?
I also fully appreciate that CARNA has been inundated with applications - here in the UK Alberta nursing recruitment has been running full page spreads in the nursing press for the last 3 weeks running! Under pressure staff are bound to make more mistakes & be unable to follow up on things as well.
yes, carna does take a ling time, and don't try to expedite anything.
the sec is intense, but it is simply an assessment. it could result in only one or two simple courses to do, or you may need multiple. it simply takes more time, time for getting the sec, then time for carna to send the results, then more time to take any courses. that time may not be acceptable, as you can't work as a nurse until all the courses are complete. then you have to get 225 hours as a gn before you can apply to write the exam, and depending upon the way things work out, you may not make a deadline for registering for the exam, delaying again until the next exam. only three scheduled times for exams.
there is another new process where some nurses (from uk, australia?) are allowed to work as a nurse on a special registration while they undergo courses for areas not covered in their education, like peds or mat.
Hey! I'm in Germany and I work on my lisence. now they advised me to take the SEC Saaesmant for general nursing. Has anybody some good advice and can tell me how complicated it is. Thank you all!!
To me I didnt have a good experience with SEC. Carna was aware of no experience in Pediatrics or Maternity and yet I had to do SEC. It didnt make any sense to me. I had no time to prepare because I felt I was pushed into doing the assessment and I went into it with an open mind and just tried it. I felt so weirded out by the experience, I still dont get why I did it in the first place. When in the end I have to do the courses in those areas.
I did email CARNA about that and asked if I can jump over the SEC and do the courses. No was the reply
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
There is a fee for the SEC assessment and for any remediation required. Please see here for a current list of CARNA fees:http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=1761
Note: If there were no fees charged to the applicant for all of these stages of assessment, the registration fees of every nurse in the province would have to be increased by at least 50% (to about $675 per nurse) to pay for the associated expenses. Do you think that would be fair?
There is a fee for the SEC assessment and for any remediation required. Please see here for a current list of CARNA fees:http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=1761
Note: If there were no fees charged to the applicant for all of these stages of assessment, the registration fees of every nurse in the province would have to be increased by at least 50% (to about $675 per nurse) to pay for the associated expenses. Do you think that would be fair?
First of all, thanks for replying!!
The intresting thing, may be, that this is the real reason for those new demands, don't you think so?
There is a fee for the SEC assessment and for any remediation required. Please see here for a current list of CARNA fees:http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=1761
Note: If there were no fees charged to the applicant for all of these stages of assessment, the registration fees of every nurse in the province would have to be increased by at least 50% (to about $675 per nurse) to pay for the associated expenses. Do you think that would be fair?
2. I know, that the first assessment of CARNA and courses of Mount Royal College have their fees, i asked about fees for SEC itself, i didn"t found this information not on the CARNA's site nor on the Mount Royal College's site.
RGN1
1,700 Posts
Well I found out the delay - the university that took over the records for my now non-existant school of nursing has not emailed CARNA back to confirm the existence of that old school of nursing!!!
I'm just about to start hassling said University! Then I hope my file will be done!
CARNA have had my paperwork since the end of Nov '07 & to be fair they said it would take about 6 months so they've not quite gone over time yet!