Debating whether to opt for supervised experience or challenge NCAS

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm a former ICU nurse, last licensed in 2013 in Alberta, been a nurse since 1986, worked ICU/CCU since 1995. Because it's been over 5 years and I don't have the hours for BC, I have to either take a refresher course at Thompson University (about 17K and complete in less than 2 years), take supervised practice experience (400 hours no pay, in less than 6 months, find a preceptor, write up a super complicated plan) or take the NCAS route (2000$). I'm so confused. Has any Canadian nurse been in this situation and passed the NCAS? ie given BC license after NCAS? or is it just a cash grab to force you to take more courses from Langara and do it all under 2 years. I just got news of my options last Friday but I knew it would be this way, so I've been preparing reading books. I'm more worried about the lab component not the computer one.

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Do the practice experience. It is possible to pass the NCAS but why pay 2000 dollars if you have gone to nursing school and have experience already? (and they are already offering you 400 hours of clinicals?) Also if you don't do well on NCAS, your option is either Thompson anyways (which you have to pay for a refresher course) or Kwantlan.... which is about 3 k more expensive than Thompson. I'd go with the supervised practice experience because you get experience straight away and it's shorter.

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Just to add onto my previous comment, I have never seen anybody successfully pass the NCAS in one attempt. The best result they had for having a pretty good score was clinicals ( a couple hundred hours) which is the same option that you have already. Some had to do some online courses (theory). It depends on how much of a good test-taker you are I guess.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks so much for this. That's exactly why I've hesitated. The advisor I spoke with at BCCNP said that NCAS would be my best option but I've had a bad gut feeling about it. It appears faster but on the contrary I believe it would take much longer due to possible courses to take and this may completely discourage me to return to practice. I'm leaning more towards the supervised practice option in a big hospital ICU setting.

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So I applied at a local hospital (run by VCH) and the critical care director said that VCH doesn't participate in supervised practice experiences!!! I am so confused. This person said that only VCH only works with fresh grads. Why is BCCNP then asking me to find a hospital to sponsor me and a preceptor?

Any ideas anyone? I've contacted Fraser Health (Surrey Memorial) for sponsorship.

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2 hours ago, Mariela Wilhelm said:

So I applied at a local hospital (run by VCH) and the critical care director said that VCH doesn't participate in supervised practice experiences!!! I am so confused. This person said that only VCH only works with fresh grads. Why is BCCNP then asking me to find a hospital to sponsor me and a preceptor?

Any ideas anyone? I've contacted Fraser Health (Surrey Memorial) for sponsorship.

All hospitals that offer refresher course practicums are in Fraser Health. You will have to do your supervised practice at Fraser Health. Not sure about ICU but I know CCU takes students

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I contacted Surrey Memorial. Administration called me back and asked that I email the critical care unit charge nurse my resume and extra info. I did this after I spoke with the BCCNP assessor who told me to contact Fraser Health.

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