Published Feb 18, 2004
Ral
10 Posts
I am a foreign nurse, and I sat the canadian RN exam twice and missed by few points to pass, can anyone suggest any tips for me to pass the exam, any books, methods, and what do u think of nursing refresher course, if it's a good idea then can anyone suggest from any particular college, pls?
Nuru99
36 Posts
Hi Ral,
I too am a foreign trained nurse. I just sat my exams in January and luckily passed. I'm not sure where you are at the moment (i.e which province ) but if you are in ontario please let me know there should be lots of help there. If not there's a couple of things you can do
first there's a web site called
http://www.certinurse.ca/
It basically costs 38 dollars a month to join and for that you get practice questions with explainations as to why the correct answer is correct. Please check it out even if you decide not to join.
second
If you don't already have the canadian RN exam PREP guide get that too. It's not the greatest on it's own E.g if you have weaknessess in certain areas (midwifery was mine) you still need to get a reference textbook.
third
I have met a few people who say that the nurse refresher course was more than helpful. Again I don't know where you are but i'm in Nova Scotia and here they use the
Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton
Link http://www.athabascau.ca/campusa/programs/gmc_nurcred.htm
It may be useful because they do long distance teaching so even though they are based in Alberta you could still attend
Insidently if you are in Nova Scotia please let me know as I am in the process of designing an orientation program for foreign trained healthcare workers here and maybe we (my organization) could help more directly.
I hope that some of this helps. Don't lose heart those board exams are espeacially hard if you come from abroad. I did the NCLEX exams too and I think the canadian exams were harder, mainly because alot of there questions are based on knowing canadian culture where as with the NCLEX alot of questions test your physiology, pathophysiology (i.e things which are universal for all nurses).
Let me know how things go.
Take care and lots of luck
Nuru
UFB
5 Posts
I too am a foreign Nurse in Ontario and I share your frustration about the Exam! I too am looking for alternate resouces.
Hey UFB,
Have you thought of joining the CARE (creating access to regulated employment) program. It's specifically aimed at preparing foreign trained nurses to pass there canadian RN's and it also helps with finding employment on passing the exams
NURU99,
I have not personaly gone through the CARE program. I have worked in Ontario and in my orientation I met a lot of Nurses in the CARE program. ALL, were very disappointed. It seems they don't actuslly offer any programs but just point you to resources already geared for Canadian trained Nurses. With the exception Nursing English, of course.
AnnaPohoralova
3 Posts
[i am foreign educated nurse too. I can highl7y recomend you Kaplan review classes. You can find more information onwww.kaplan.com. I passed for the first time only thanks to them. Go for it. It is reelly goog. Anna
Did you study the Kaplan NCLEX-RN review? Isn't that for the US exam?
I think you are right UFB. kaplan only do review classes for the NCLEX not the canadian RN.
NewEngland-RN
19 Posts
Hi im taking the CRNE in June...What was the turnaround time for getting getting back your test results? and is the test on computer or written?
Happy St.Patricks Day...
Eddie...
Hi Eddie,
I think the turnaround time depends on which province you do the boards in. I did mine in Nova Scotia and got my results back in just 2 weeks. The exam is multiple choice and it's written (I'm afraid).
I think Ontario has the longest turnaround time and I've heard it can take up to six weeks to get your results.
P.s Happy St. Patricks Day to you too (so nice to have someone else celebrating).