New Zealand newgrad RN unsure about registration in Canada

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hi guys!

I am a canadian citizen studying/living in New Zealand. I write my final state exam next week (eek) and I've noticed during my studies that RN material in north america is different to here.

I've got a few NCLEX books and it just seems SO much harder than here! I one day want to move back to Canada and become a registered nurse there.. but am really unsure if I would even be able to pass the state exam there.

I am wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that here in New Zealand it is a 3 year degree instead of the usual 4. We only have 2 years of bioscience (A & P) and within that we`ve only had a FEW lectures on pharmacology (we`re expected to learn pharm on the job and in our own time).

The other thing I noticed is that a lot of the NCLEX questions had to do with `delegating` tasks to LPNs (we call them enrolled nurses here) which is not something that I remember learning in my 3 years here..

If any canadian nurses can give me advice on how much pharmacology I need to know it`d be very helpful!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

OK for a Canadian citizen you don't seem to know much about Canada.First of all the the NCLEX is the exam that you write for registration in the US, not Canada.In Canada you write the CRNE.We do not have "state boards", we don't even have states, Canada has provinces.The NCLEX and the CRNE are vastly different exams so prep materials for the NCLEX will not help you prepare for the CRNE.I don't know exactly how much pharm is in our BSN programs but I am sure it would be more than what you have described.You would need to contact the college of nurses ( our licensing bodies are called colleges) in the province where you wanted to work to get information on how many hours of pharmacology are required.Only they can give you accurate information regarding that.

Best of luck if you decide to come to Canada. It is a wonderful place to live.

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Hello,

There are several books that are useful when preparing for the CRNE. If you are only worried about pharmacology get one of the books and read it. Focus on Meds used for common illnesses, adverse effects and nursing considerations with the med. I am sure you do this in New Zealand right now. The questions in NCLEX books are very different than what you will find in CRNE books (CRNE is more psychosocial based). This is where it could get difficult if you are not used to these types of questions. I took both the CRNE and NCLEX, they are different types of exams, both challenging in their own ways.

Goodluck

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Specializes in Emergency.

loriangel- thanks for the reply. I know plenty about Canada but I do not know canadian nursing OR the details on the exam (which is why i created this thread--- to find out more about it!). New Zealand has provinces as well but we still call our final exam a ''state'' exam..... hence my use of the word for the canadian exam.

anyways thank you both for your feedback! good to know..

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As to "delegating to an LPN" that is only done by the Charge RN in the same way he/she delegates to an RN. LPNs are responsible for their own practice in Canada.

An RN may ask an LPN for assistance with something, but they cannot delegate off their patients or assigned duties.

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