CRNE Feb 2011

The Bisp · Mar 2, 2011

Well one reason is that the exam tests basic competencies and nursing knowledge that you are supposed to have. Even if you aren't great with multiple choice, you practice them and pass. If you understand the basic nursing principles required to practice, then they shouldn't be able to stump you. So that's the link between the exam and safe practice, in a nutshell.

Ok. I respect your opinion. Yes, CRNE should, must and ought to be passed, but passing it does not mean one is a competent or safe-practicing nurse. One can score 200/200 but yet struggles in a clinical setting.

Again your opinion is yours but should not be generalized. Thanks.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 2, 2011

The CRNE examines the nurse's knowledge base and critical thinking skills. Clinical competency will have been examined in the course of the university- or college-based education program the Canadian candidate has completed. Eligibility to write the CRNE for Canadian nursing graduates is dependent on their successful completion of their nursing education program, both academic and clinical. For IENs, the clinical portion of their practice will be measured by a substantially-equivalent competence assessment in most provinces.

The main reason why multiple choice exams are used to assess knowledge base is that it provides the most direct measurement of retention and understanding of concepts through the selection of the most correct response(s) to the question in the simplest and quickest way to grade. (It is very similar to the NCLEX written in the US in that sense.) The exam measures the minimum knowledge and critical thinking skills expected of a newly-graduated entry-level Canadian nurse with no clinical experience outside of the education program. If you don't know why you're doing something, or what it will do for and to the patient, then you aren't practicing safely, no matter how competently you might practice a skill.

Essay questions have their role in education but are much too subjective and difficult to distill actual understanding of concepts from. Grading such essays is difficult to standardize and very time-consuming. People already complain about how long the exam results take to get back to them. And essays don't really demonstrate clinical competence any more than multiple-choice questions.

In a sense, the CRNE is also a test of Canadian English literacy and an evaluation of the writer's comprehension of the Canadian health care system. These facets are arguably almost as important to the safe practice of nursing as are knowledge base, critical thinking skills and clinical competence.

This is how Canada has chosen to determine eligibility to practice nursing. It is a universally-accepted method of assessment of nursing knowledge in Canada. It is universally accepted in Canada that a candidate shall only be given three attempts to succeed at the exam. When a person chooses to seek registration as a nurse in Canada it behooves them to accept the regulations in place, as would a Canadian nurse seeking registration in the US, the UK, Sweden, Saudi Arabia or any other country. Except the Philippines, since nurses who have not been educated in the Philippines are not eligible for registration there under any circumstances whatsoever.

As they say, when in Rome...

winwu · Mar 2, 2011

What was on the exam? I am going to write CRNE in June.

T&T08 · Mar 2, 2011

About 200 questions, I remember the questions were very "long and wordy", you need to read it fast.

There were questions on ABG. Luckily we did review those in class. I think I got them all right.

Good luck on your exam.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 3, 2011

All candidates for the CRNE are required to sign a confidentiality agreement stating that they will not reveal the exact nature of the questions on the exam. Violation if this agreement has resulted in the elimination of the short-answer portion of the exam.

The Bisp · Mar 3, 2011

I wish you well as you prepare for the CRNE come June. However, I think a proper question one should be be asking is "how do I prepare" or "what exam-taking strategies can one suggest" among other relevant questions. There are many CRNE prep guides including the one from CNA that might be of help. There are also many sample questions online that may be useful. You might explore the exam prep classes. Revising your nursing notes is a good idea too. I will recommend you use the competency categories by CNA in apportioning your preparation time. Some categories carry 40% of the entire questions while some constitute 10%, 5% etc. All the best.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

I wouldn't necessarily suggest reviewing your own notes. What if, for some reason, they aren't complete or portions are incorrect, and that's what you've studied? Go right to the source: textbooks, your nursing association's guidelines, the CNA guide, and the Mosby's prep guide. The goal is to prepare as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. Good luck.

The Bisp · Mar 3, 2011

What was on the exam? I am going to write CRNE in June.

Some people actually have excellent noting-taking abilities. The notes they took during classes could be great assets to them for revision a few days before exam. However, the nursing notes I meant in my previous comment include the lecture notes. Textbooks are great, but some are too bulky and hence too time-consuming. Just think about what works for you. Good luck.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

Bisp, I wasn't saying that so it could be taken defensively. I was offering genuinely helpful advice. Everyone is different. But, given that myself and my friends passed the exam on the first attempt, it might be possible that I have something to offer. Part of the reason why some people are unsuccessful with this exam is because they don't prepare properly. I was an A student and I took excellent notes. Would I have trusted them for this exam? No! Why? Because I wanted to make certain that I was looking at the correct material, and not getting bogged down by details I did not need.

The Bisp · Mar 3, 2011

I totally agreed with you that poor preparation is the main reason why people fail exams (any exam including CRNE). CRNE needs multiplicity of preparatory materials, not just one item (say text books or PPT presentations). Exam-taking strategy is another area to be taken seriously.

avhiecasis · Mar 3, 2011

Best of luck to everyone. Hopefully next week they will sent out the results already =)

savn24 · Mar 3, 2011

everyone is different when it comes to taking test, studing, taking notes etc. Our brain functions differently. it is important for one to be aware of their strengths and weakness and use that to become a better student, nurse person. i must agree that early preparation is important as well as test taking strategies, but i think it is also important that as nurses we must be able to be apply the theory to the pratical. knowledge and reading comprehension is very important not only when doing test, but during documentation, medication administration and client assesment and overall patient care.

Being an a+ student and preparing early still does not gurantee passing the crne on your first attempt. Every student taking the crne wishes to be successful on their first attempt, but unfortunately for some that is not the case; as is with me.

on my first attempt which was in oct i started preparing since july. i did all the practice q from books i could find. i felt confident but failed by 5 points. i was disappointed but i rolled my sleeves up and went back at it again. I am hopin to be successful this time around. i am an IEN graduated from my country in 2006 then came here '07. i was always an a+ student. even when i did my bridging course at york university, but that did not make me pass the crne on my first attempt.

Self awareness is very very important, and until you do not become intuned with how your brain functions and process information and how you learn you will not be able to perform at your best. It is also important to have a mentor. surround yourself with positive thinking people.

I have once heard a nurse from my first school say " nurses are their own enemies". Let us not try to bring anyone down or act as we are better than anyone. the purpose of this thread is to offer support, knowledge and guidance to students and nurses. let us continue to do this please.

to all those taking the exam in june best wishes and stay focused. to those awaiting results, i say lets hope things are in our favor. And if for some reason anyone is not successful brush your self off and try again.

Remember SELFAWARENESS.