Degree recognized in Canada

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I have an ASN/BSN degree in the USA and I am currently working in the USA. I am a Canadian citizen and would like to move back to Canada (Ontario). I understand that this could be a lengthy process. I am wondering if there is anyone on this board who has had their ASN/BSN degree recognized by the NNAS as comparable?

Med/surg

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Med/surg

Perfect, than you are experienced with taking histories, health assessments, interventions for a wide range of scenarios that could be tested during the OSCE. Mayber focus on reviewing mental health, obsetrics and pediatric scenarios.

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yes I got mine assessed by CRNBC just before NNAS came into place (2013). I know around me there are no US nurses who had to take refreshers and they but nowadays I see one or two US nurses having to take the actual assessment test. However, compared to other international schools, I would still say the US schools are much better recognized by Canada. I know Ontario is a very picky province and chances are they will make you do the OSCE probably.

I found CRNE very different and quite hard compared to the NCLEX I took in the states. As many other nurses who have taken assessment exams told me, (not sure about OSCE), SEC is a lot based off of the old CRNE exam in terms of its format, and what it covers. I would highly recommend reviewing all your skills but also focus on communication, and a lot of public/community and mental health nursing.

CRNE prepbooks will help you more to prepare for the assessment exams.

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However, compared to other international schools, I would still say the US schools are much better recognized by Canada.

As many other nurses who have taken assessment exams told me, (not sure about OSCE), SEC is a lot based off of the old CRNE exam in terms of its format, and what it covers. I would highly recommend reviewing all your skills but also focus on communication, and a lot of public/community and mental health nursing.

CRNE prepbooks will help you more to prepare for the assessment exams.

I think your impression that US education is better recognized in Canada shows bias, I hope this is just your opinion, not the opinion of someone who is in the position to assess IENs, because IEN assessments should be done from an objective point of view.

I agree with your suggestions to focus a lot on public/community health because this is a part of Canadian BSN education that is not covered in the US.

I like your suggestion to use the old CRNE prep books to prepare for a competency assessment.

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I'm curious from the 4,000 NNAS applicants that apply every year, how many of those are able to practice nursing within a year from point of application. Are most told to go back to school?

I am not sure how many IENs are practicing within a year from point of application. There are reports entitlted Fair Registration Practices reports done by fairnesscommissioner ca You can find the reports on CNO, if you look at the 2015 report under section g, you can see a table showing jurisdiction where applicant received their training, number of new applications CNO received, applicants actively pursuing licensing, inactive applicants, applicants who became fully registered members. It doesn't say when the applicants who became fully licensed initially applied, but it does give the number of US applicants each year and the number that became fully licensed, so it may be of interest to you.

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From this info, this is what I have gathered. Last year, there were 79 new applicants to the CNO from the USA. There were also 325 applicants who were also actively pursuing licensing. From this, 68 applicants began fully registered, and 8 could have been fully registered but chose not to. Assuming that the 79 new applicants are not included in the 325 other applications, it looks like 16% of USA applicants were able to become licensed. Is this correct?

Are there any USA educated nurses on this board who recently went through the process of getting licensed in Ontario?

Thanks again for everyones insights--it's much appreciated.

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It's hard to know the real percentage because we don't know what stage the applicants were at, what percent were waiting for CNO to respond regarding their NNAS report, or the OSCE, or CAS results? If they were still in one or more of the various stages they were not ready to be fully licensed.

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Are there any USA educated nurses on this board who recently went through the process of getting licensed in Ontario? .

There are US educated nurses who discussed their NNAS experience on this thread, maybe you can ask if any of them can update where they're at with the licensing process.https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/nnas-experience-966912-page4.html

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Dishes, did I specifically state anywhere that USA nursing education is better than Canada? I did not. Being recognized does not mean superior education. I think you misunderstood my post. I think the reason why US education, at least in the case for me and other US nurses near me, has a bit of an easier time getting asesssed is due to the fact that Canadian nursing education and US overlap in a lot of ways in terms of curricula.

Even England and Australians have difficulty getting their education assessed by NNAS in Canada. I have seen many people from different countries get not-comparable after their processing was done. To be really honest, watching many Canadian students who come to my unit for practicum, I think that Canada's practical portion of the nursing education is much better than where I went to school in the States, by far. They are allowed to do more things and practice more of their nursing skills as students much earlier than when myself and my cohorts were nursing students. (and I graduated in 2012.)

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Dishes, did I specifically state anywhere that USA nursing education is better than Canada? I did not. Being recognized does not mean superior education. I think you misunderstood my post. I think the reason why US education, at least in the case for me and other US nurses near me, has a bit of an easier time getting asesssed is due to the fact that Canadian nursing education and US overlap in a lot of ways in terms of curricula.

Even England and Australians have difficulty getting their education assessed by NNAS in Canada. I have seen many people from different countries get not-comparable after their processing was done. To be really honest, watching many Canadian students who come to my unit for practicum, I think that Canada's practical portion of the nursing education is much better than where I went to school in the States, by far. They are allowed to do more things and practice more of their nursing skills as students much earlier than when myself and my cohorts were nursing students. (and I graduated in 2012.)

I didn't say they were better than Canada's schools either, I am saying when compared to Canadian BSN programs, US nursing programs are not better recognized and do not have an advantage over other international IEN nursing programs, because although the majority have overlap of nursing specific content, most lack content that is unique to Canadian BSN programs.

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Following. So, in your opinion, what content would be unique to a Canadian BSN program?

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If you look at a Canadian BSN program overview you can see the program is designed to prepare the graduate to;

Analyse health and practice issues within the social/economic/political environment.

Use population health principles to plan, market, implement and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention.

Participate in developing and implementing strategies for the improvement of the health environment through the political process and the principles of social justice and equity.

If you look at the entry-level registered nurse competencies under Service to the Public, you can see how education helps to meet competencies

87. Utilizes knowledge of the health care system to improve health care services at the: a) national/international level b) provincial/territorial level c) regional/municipal level d) agency level e) point of care or program level

93. Advocates and promotes healthy public policy and social justice.

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