How to become RN in British Columbia?

quami · Feb 5, 2009

well i was just wondering because some who applied got theirs in 2 mos and that was just recently.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 5, 2009

As has been explained before, the applicant must obtain curriculum and transcripts, licensure verification and work history verification from the schools, regulatory bodies and employers, but those sources must submit the information directly to the College of Nursing. If there are documents missing in the original application, or the sources take their time submitting the required paperwork, the application is held up. It's an exercise in futility to try to compare the experiences of each IEN here because EVERY case is different.

AD2008 · Feb 5, 2009

i passed my application Nov 2008, but i didnt include my training which started only in july 2008. While waiting for their reply, i was able to bank 7mos of work (aka training) experience. Anyway, Im planning to take the SEC assessment. Im from the Philippines and now starting to process my application for a tourist visa. I need to have a complete SEC assessment(MS, Maternal, Pedia, Psyche) which may take 1-5days. Do you know how fast the results will be delivered to CRNBC? Suppose i pass the assessment, how fast can CRNBC release my eligibility to sit the CRNE so I can apply for the next immediate CRNE sched? Im hoping to take the SEC and stay there until I can sit the CRNE to lessen the expense of going back&forth to Canada-Phil. I just hope that the immigration will be generous enough to give me a long vacation in Canada

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 5, 2009

So essentially your application took two months to process, not seven. This training you're talking about, was that actual work experience where you were being paid to provide nursing care more or less independently to patients, or was it a programme that you paid to take part in, such as IV therapy? Having to take the entire content of the SEC isn't a good sign.

Since BC has only been requiring the SEC for about 5 weeks now, the time line has yet to become established for results to be communicated and CRNE eligibility to be confirmed. The deadline to apply for the CRNE is about 90 days prior to the exam date, and fees must be paid at that time. Are you prepared for spending several months in Canada while you wait, with no income but a lot of expenses?

AD2008 · Feb 5, 2009

So essentially your application took two months to process, not seven. This training you're talking about, was that actual work experience where you were being paid to provide nursing care more or less independently to patients, or was it a programme that you paid to take part in, such as IV therapy? Having to take the entire content of the SEC isn't a good sign.
Since BC has only been requiring the SEC for about 5 weeks now, the time line has yet to become established for results to be communicated and CRNE eligibility to be confirmed. The deadline to apply for the CRNE is about 90 days prior to the exam date, and fees must be paid at that time. Are you prepared for spending several months in Canada while you wait, with no income but a lot of expenses?

Yes, my application took 2 months. The training Im talking about is like a work in the sense that I render nursing care to patients, give meds, carry out doctors orders, charting (basically all RN duties) except that Im not being paid since hospitals here in Phil are not hiring nurses. Im currently working as a "trainee" in a tertiary hospital.

I need to take the complete assessment, i guess because they only have my transcript of records as reference and no work experience (because i didnt indicate my then few months of training then). I understand that I have to book CRNE 3 months prior to the schedule thats why the pressure and tension is quite high for me:uhoh3:

AD2008 · Feb 5, 2009

anybody here knows how long can a foreigner on tourist visa stay in Canada? I have no problem with housing and expense since I have some relatives in BC. I just need to find the right timing to leave Phil so I can maximize my stay in Canada. I just hope results, and eligibility will be released within the scope of my stay there

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 5, 2009

anybody here knows how long can a foreigner on tourist visa stay in Canada? I have no problem with housing and expense since I have some relatives in BC. I just need to find the right timing to leave Phil so I can maximize my stay in Canada. I just hope results, and eligibility will be released within the scope of my stay there

All depends on the immigration officer at point of entry. You may still have to think of the possibility of returning home as your application once you have eligibility can still take several months of process through the embassy. I understand you want to cut down on costs but with SEC being new to BC there is no telling how long you will be

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 5, 2009

The training Im talking about is like a work in the sense that I render nursing care to patients, give meds, carry out doctors orders, charting (basically all RN duties) except that Im not being paid since hospitals here in Phil are not hiring nurses. Im currently working as a "trainee" in a tertiary hospital.

That isn't going to count as work experience, I'm afraid. You weren't being paid, so you also weren't ultimately responsible, as someone not being paid, for the well-being of your patients. You're considered a volunteer.

I need to take the complete assessment, i guess because they only have my transcript of records as reference and no work experience (because i didnt indicate my then few months of training then).

Having to do the full assessment suggests that CRNBC isn't satisfied that you have received an adequate education. That is very bad news. Seven months of volunteer work isn't likely to be enough to overcome the deficiencies they've perceived in your educational preparation (not your fault, by the way) and the odds of you not being successful in all segments of the assessment are high. That will mean upgrading your education at your own expense. Be ready for that, okay?

kirka · Feb 6, 2009

hi everyone, i also received a sec letter from crnbc. well i'm not really that surprised because my friends who first applied also received a sec letter. we encounter each other in an agency that recruits nurses for canada (british columbia) the agency told us the steps to be able to become eligible to take the crne. that agency is very strict because they only accept nurses who already passed the ielts and with at least one year of work experience. i have only one year of work experience but my friends have so many years of experience, some of them are presently working (mostly in philippine general hospital) and most of them have a work experience abroad and still they are required to complete the sec assessment. the first batch in our agency is so lucky because they applied september last year and they got eligible to take the crne. nevertheless, the second batch where i belong received a sec letter. i think that it is really in the transcript if one should be required to take a sec assessment. crnbc noted in there website that: “as of december 8, 2008, if crnbc is unable to assess your application alone, you will be required to undertake a substantially equivalent competency assessment to determine if you meet educational and competency requirements.”

chelseaxyrene · Feb 6, 2009

what do you mean really in the transcript? does it concern your grades or the school's curriculum? subjects you have taken up? clinical placement hours?

5cats · Feb 7, 2009

HI AD,

you asked what to study. The College should give you some info on that, and maybe you should try to find out what books to use for review as well (maybe the College can give you contact details of education facilities who deal with IEN), you will be tested for 5 days you really need to know your stuff.

Check out the SEC thread in the canadian forum, some info is there.

5cats

AD2008 · Feb 7, 2009

5cats, you're the one who passed the SEC assessment, right? can you give me an idea of how the assessment goes, what you did, what they asked you...stuff like that.

Thanks a lot!