I am on of the first New Graduates to take the NCLEX in Canada. The NCLEX replaced our existing national boards (CRNE) as of January 5th, 2015. Today was my test date and I have a few questions and tips for everyone. Since this test is very recent, theres a few kinks that will be discovered.
Pearson Vue Trick: Unfortunately that doesn't work in Canada. Is there any other way to find out my results sooner ? Waiting 4-6 weeks for my results almost seems torturous!!! Especially when you've been anticipating for the exam months in advance.
ID: The Pearson Vue website is not very clear regarding what types of ID are acceptable. If you are a Canadian Citizen, any form of government ID is acceptable. But if you are a permanent resident, you will need to show your passport or permanent resident card. In my case, since I am an American born permanent resident, I came to the testing office only with a British Columbia License. Apparently, this is not acceptable. Luckily I was able to rush back home and grab my passport just in the knick of time to take the test
Computer shut off at 110: Now I understand that the minimum questions to pass/fail is at 75. Kaplan implied that most American NCLEX candidates completed their exam at around 120. I'm just curious to figure out how candidates did in Canada. This concept is new and very different from the CRNE. Because of the unfamiliarity, I am not sure if 110 is good or not.
Lab Values: I was very relieved to see that questions were provided in both SI and U.S.A values. I used Kaplan Prep to study which gave rationales and lab values in American values. Don't stress too much about this!.
Take your time: I found 6 hours to be sufficient amount of time. I finished mine in 2.5hrs. Don't rush, and think through everything. No need to worry about the clock.
Don't Stress Out: I realized that questions kept getting harder as I went through. Feeling like you have no idea whats going on is pretty normal. It's suppose to test your limits and question yourself.
Take Breaks: Take advantage of the breaks! I found that after I took a break it was a lot easier to concentrate. Also bring something to snack on, gives good brain fuel to continue the exam.
Don't bring anything you don't need: They're very strict at the testing centre. You will only be allowed to bring your ID and your locker key to the testing. They give you everything else that you'll need
Study: I used both Mosby's NCLEX-RN text and the Kaplan Prep. I found both to be useful, but I feel that Kaplan has helped me prepare better. It's a bit pricey, but it taught me how to analyze questions and prioritize better. Their decision tree is useful when taking the NCLEX exam. I highly recommend it.
I'm sitting my exam in two weeks time. Wondering about these results- so what I will do is try to re-register for an exam after I sit it, right?
"Good" pop up will say: "Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. Please contact your member board for further assistance. Another registration cannot be made at this time."
"Bad" pop up will say: "The candidate currently has test results that are on hold"
But if I get the "good" one (oh please!) I still don't get my registration for 6 weeks? So can't apply for jobs until then?
Thanks, Jill :)
Hi Jill,
I got my results in 2 days, paid for the registration and was already registered in about 3 days. However the renewal/licensing always start in March that's why my practising license begins March 1st.
I have been job hunting, been contacted twice so far (it's been roughly a month) No interviews yet...
Good luck on your exam! And yes, you can try the PVT (I did it to relieve my anxiety). BTW I did not do it right away, my first try was about 12 hours after the exam (sorry I can't remember for sure). But that's what many of the posts say, that you have to wait for your test to be checked twice.
And yes JillNas, I'm in Vancouver:) how about you? I have only started looking for work, but I've heard it can take awhile so I'm willing to go out of town if it means getting work faster.
Hello deemurph,
I'm here in Vancouver, too, and I hear ya sister (or brother)... I have been sweeping the land LOL
Actually, I've only sent applications upto the Langley area (which is roughly a 1.5 hour drive from where I live)
but do plan to apply in other areas as well. Relocation is not an issue for me.
Have you sat any interviews yet? Would like to hear how they go... I'm scared to death as I have not been working in years....
Hi again, I only just saw your comments, haven't posted on this before and assumed that I would get email notifications when I got replies...
But anyway, thanks a mil for that message, it definitely relaxed me a bit. I did the online Kaplan 180Q test the other day and got 69%. Did terrible in maternity! Have another 265Qs to do from the Kaplan book but think I'll just have to fork out the 300 dollars for the 1300 online ones. You're right about getting study from the Qs and seeing what the most important areas are rather than trying to review everything. Thank you :)
I'm going away for a week for a wedding in Hong Kong the day after the exam so maybe I just won't do that PVT thing at all if it's not reliable. Too much torture! Just wait til they official ones reply.
Yeah I'm in Vancouver too, in Mount Pleasant. Moved over in Sept. So far so good except for lack of snow! (and all the time spent studying!). Seeing as the two of us and Jbelle are all in Vancouver and in similar situations (at least I hope to be in the same situation as you guys in a few weeks!!) maybe we could set up a private chat? I don't know how to do it on this, could do a Whatsapp group or something?
(Going to send similar reply to Jbelle as, again, I'm not used to this site, and don't know if I put open comment down the bottom whether you'll both get notifications or not! Sorry, I'm useless, and tired!)
Hi again Jbelle, thanks for the reply! As I said to DeeMurph above, I didn't see notifications for replies, thought they'd come through as an email...
I'm going to be repeating myself here a bit now from my message to her but think I'll forget about the PVT thing. If it's not totally reliable then I think it'll stress me out more! Can't believe your results came back so quickly, that's amazing! I had previously been under the impression that they would take 6wks which would have been torturous!
I was suggesting to DeeMurph that the three of us could set up a private chat group, either on this if you guys know how, or on Whatsapp or something. And only if you want to of course!! :)
I just wrote the NCLEX April 1/15, I live and work in Canada as an RPN at the moment, but applied for RN Licensure in Texas after completing the first part of the Bridging program here in Canada (Centennial/Ryerson) And I found out Friday AM (Texas has Quick Results) that I passed ... I have to say it was a very difficult exam, but knowing "how to test" and having strong critical thinking skills is really going to help you have success. Im still a little frustrated with the CNO that they won't let me apply for my RN license in Canada until I complete my BScN (which Im working on) even though I took and passed the EXACT same test as every other new RN in Canada! ... I also recommend that you review Delegation, Prioritization because it came up a few time in the exam and in Canada RPN do not work under direction of RN (RPN are autonomous in practice) but they may Delegate to UCP's ... So that may be unfamiliar content to Canadian practice, but they can't "remove" questions to accommodate Canadian nurses ,, The NCLEX is the NCLEX ..
By the way I did the PVT and Got the good pop up within 2 hrs after exam and than again after 24 hrs, .. and sure enough I passed! .. If you didn't pass it will let you pay, your credit card goes through ...which I figured if it did, it wouldn't matter because I would eventually have to re-pay anyways for the test if I had failed ... but NOPE ..PASSED, 1st try!! With a Nursing Diploma!! LOL
I just wrote the NCLEX April 1/15, I live and work in Canada as an RPN at the moment, but applied for RN Licensure in Texas after completing the first part of the Bridging program here in Canada (Centennial/Ryerson) And I found out Friday AM (Texas has Quick Results) that I passed ... I have to say it was a very difficult exam, but knowing "how to test" and having strong critical thinking skills is really going to help you have success. Im still a little frustrated with the CNO that they won't let me apply for my RN license in Canada until I complete my BScN (which Im working on) even though I took and passed the EXACT same test as every other new RN in Canada! ... I also recommend that you review Delegation, Prioritization because it came up a few time in the exam and in Canada RPN do not work under direction of RN (RPN are autonomous in practice) but they may Delegate to UCP's ... So that may be unfamiliar content to Canadian practice, but they can't "remove" questions to accommodate Canadian nurses ,, The NCLEX is the NCLEX ..
By the way I did the PVT and Got the good pop up within 2 hrs after exam and than again after 24 hrs, .. and sure enough I passed! .. If you didn't pass it will let you pay, your credit card goes through ...which I figured if it did, it wouldn't matter because I would eventually have to re-pay anyways for the test if I had failed ... but NOPE ..PASSED, 1st try!! With a Nursing Diploma!! LOL
Why would you be frustrated with Canada for not letting you practice as an RN without finishing your BScN? That is the entry to practice requirement in Canada, and has been for quite some time, so why would you think otherwise? I understand that you passed the NCLEX, but the BScN is a requirement as well. Am I missing something?
I thought I would share my story regarding the NCLEX exam. I graduated in April 2015 and quickly booked my exam for June 2015. I used basic resources - text books for about a month. I failed miserably the first attempt. I felt like I was guessing on every question. I took some time off, and started studying september 2015, I attended Hurst Review weekend course, studied with their online resources, and used Uworld question bank (1800 questions). I put in 6-8 hours a day. I recently tested again, 220 questions in 4 hours. The last question, I know I did not answer correctly. I feel defeated, and exhausted from this exam. Still waiting for results, but extremely nervous. Any advice if I have to take the NCLEX for the third time?
Just wanted to share my nclex experience with you! I graduated from UNI in Ontario December 2014. I started studying with the Saunders review and felt very discouraged / disorganized. I than bought the hurst review which set me with a method for studying that was good however, If i had my time back I wouldn't of spent the money. I felt the saunders book had all of the same information that the hurst review course has and more. I finished hurst / read pretty much through the entire saunders book and had my test scheduled. I also used the NCLEX Mastery app which I found very difficult. THAN i got offered a new grad and cancelled my test because I didn't want to lose my temporary license. I worked for 6 months and did not study for that time. I than took a month to study before I wrote my test. I actually studied for probably 2 weeks total. I felt super discouraged after such a long time without studying. My LIFESAVER was about a week and a half before my test I bought the UWORLD question bank. I did 1100 questions before my test in that time period and 30% of them were select all that apply. I made sure to do questions in the areas I felt were my weakest. the rationales are so great I didn't even have to go back to my saunders book to study the questions I got wrong. My average score was around 58% correct . For medications I kinda just said screw it there is no way I can remember all these and just studied the basics. I made sure to look over infection control ( this was really important ).
The day before the test I just did practice questions and quit early.
My test was at 8am. I went in and 75 questions and 45 minutes later I was out of there. I had no idea how to feel. I began to think about all the questions I wasn't sure of and I was convinced I failed. I did the pop up trick with a pre paid credit card about 4 hours after the test and got the good pop up. 3 days later in the mail I got the letter that I PASSED.
DONT stress yourself out ! Know your priority questions and infection control ie. who to room with who. Remember your ABC's. Know lab values. know priority interventions for diseases. I didn't recognize any of the medications on my exam and I still passed. don't waste time memorizing every detail of content. Do practice questions until you cant anymore. Use UWORLD. during the test I felt like I was just doing UWORLD questions because they are exactly the same. The actual test isn't that difficult if you have had practice doing questions. Without the questions I used to study I probably would of failed. UWORLD teaches you how to think and that is the biggest battle.
Hey everyone I took they nclex Jan 6 2017 the quick results wasn't working for me when I logged in to view my results it said results not available still waiting for my letter too it's so hard waiting for the results wish they would just email me my results!
The computer shut off in 75 questions I don't know if this is a good or bad thing since it can pretty much swing both ways! Anyone find a way to view their results quicker let me know!
Hey everyone I took they nclex Jan 6 2017 the quick results wasn't working for me when I logged in to view my results it said results not available still waiting for my letter too it's so hard waiting for the results wish they would just email me my results!
The computer shut off in 75 questions I don't know if this is a good or bad thing since it can pretty much swing both ways! Anyone find a way to view their results quicker let me know!
it's so hard waiting for the results wish they would just email me my results!
jbelle123
6 Posts
Hi Jill,
I got my results in 2 days, paid for the registration and was already registered in about 3 days. However the renewal/licensing always start in March that's why my practising license begins March 1st.
I have been job hunting, been contacted twice so far (it's been roughly a month) No interviews yet...
Good luck on your exam! And yes, you can try the PVT (I did it to relieve my anxiety). BTW I did not do it right away, my first try was about 12 hours after the exam (sorry I can't remember for sure). But that's what many of the posts say, that you have to wait for your test to be checked twice.
Sorry for grammar mistakes LOL i'm so sleepy