NNAS experience?

RN_Pro · Mar 13, 2017

I was under the impression that nurses trained in the US had almost identical education with nurses in Canada...

Our education is equivalent-- was mostly considered equivalent, until NNAS became the new educational assessment in Aug 2014. Funny though, a few years ago Canada adopted the entry to practice exam that has been used in the USA for years!

Thank you, I appreciate the good vibes!

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2017

It was General.
I'm torn between Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. May I ask which province you live in?

I am in Ontario, if you look in the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) New Member in the General Class report, in the table new RPN members educated internationally, you will see that there are nurses who were initially educated in Nigeria who are licensed as Registered Practical Nurses. If you look in the new RN members educated internationally table, you don't see any RNs who were initially educated in Nigeria. It may be that the number Nigerian educated nurses are too few to list separately and were grouped in the other countries category, or it could mean, they became RPNs because the path to become a RN was too difficult. The statistics most likely represent IENs who were assessed before NNAS was implemented.

NNAS is a relatively new part of the IEN licensing process and last fall the CNO recognized that fewer applicants were successful going through the licensing process and they adjusted the way they respond to the NNAS advisory reports, it is possible that you may have a smoother licensing experience than applicants who applied to NNAS in 2015 and early 2016.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2017

You just might be surprised! You forget the part where I wrote that I moved to the UK not long after I qualified and I've been working as an RN here, after I met the requirements to register with NMC UK. It would be unfair for them to judge me solely on the training I got in Nigeria and disregard the fact that I have been deemed suitable to practise in the UK, and have been doing so for a couple of years. Surely the extra tutelage and experience I have gotten so far must count for something.
Also, I do not intend to quit my job here and move to Canada until I'm sure I'm sorted. This is why I've been looking into information online. I'll make sure to apply early. Thanks

Your work experience in the UK won't impact your NNAS advisory report, but it may help you to feel confident if you are required to undergo further competency testing such as the IENCAP (in Ontario), ARNAP(in Alberta), NCAS(in BC).

When you do submit your application to NNAS, write a letter to your university asking them to send NNAS a nursing education syllabus that includes an outline and summary of the topics covered in each course including the objectives, learning outcomes hours of study like the example given in the NNAS video. To get some idea of the type of syllabus NNAS wants, look at some Canadian BSN course outlines. If you look at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) nursing course outlines you will see detailed course descriptions, course learning outcomes/competencies, evaluation criteria.

Also, ask your university to provide any information that gives details about the RN entry to practice competencies. If the university has a nursing student handbook, preceptor guide, student policy and procedure guide, they may contain information that gives the philosophy of the program, expected outcomes of the nursing program, ask them to include all this information.

Give the university a flash drive and ask them to download everything onto it with your name and NNAS number. The more information that NNAS receives, the better your chances of receiving a favourable advisory report. The flash drive should contain hundreds of pages of curricula related information.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2017

@Akzobelle, you will be eligible for the Pre-Arrival Support Services (PASS) program after you obtain a letter of immigration confirmation from the government of Canada, if you're interested, you can find more information on pass4nurses.org

Akzobel, RN · Mar 13, 2017

Thank you so much. I'll remember these

Akzobel, RN · Mar 29, 2017

Our education is equivalent-- was mostly considered equivalent, until NNAS became the new educational assessment in Aug 2014. Funny though, a few years ago Canada adopted the entry to practice exam that has been used in the USA for years!
Thank you, I appreciate the good vibes!

Hey RN_Pro

How was your IENCAP?

RN_Pro · Mar 29, 2017

It was okay. I currently work as a nurse in the US so am up to date on my practice which made me feel confident throughout. The OSCE part was pretty straightforward so if I don't pass then I will be very surprised (and upset because I really feel confident and would wonder what else could possibly be done differently to pass). I'd say the content was mostly fair. It is hard to complete each station in the allotted time though.

The stories are true about not being fed though. It's actually pretty disgusting that candidates would be treated that way. The building set-up isn't efficient for this type of thing, and they are not very organized in terms of how to ensure candidates are able to use the washroom etc. I would have expected that after running the exam this many times, they would have these basic logistical things sorted out. I did leave though with the feeling that the majority of people would not have passed. I do hope I am wrong about that.

canadarn123 · Apr 12, 2017

IELTS result is necessary to get NNAS advisory report?

Akzobel, RN · Apr 12, 2017

IELTS result is necessary to get NNAS advisory report?

Yes it is

RN_Pro · Apr 12, 2017

When I showed that my education was all in English, my english proficiency was waived.

nicu_gal · Apr 13, 2017

I second this suggestion. I sent my educational materials via flash drive and included hundreds of pages of course information. Also, make sure you send everything requiring a receipt or signature because NNAS denied getting one of my mailings and I had to re-send. Oh, and ask whomever is helping you from your school/employer to make copies of the forms before they send them. I know that the applicant has to be "hands off" for this, but NNAS was trying to tell me my nursing school did not check a particular box on the form and wanted to reject it. But my advisor was able to send me a PDF of the form she submitted and I was able to see and prove that it was in fact complete. I really don't trust NNAS at all after all of the issues I had.

Parasol · Apr 13, 2017

Hi Everybody

I was wondering if anybody has any experience so far with NCAS in BC. I have done my nurse training in the UK and qualified in 2015 with a BSc (Hons) in Adult nursing. I have FINALLY made it through the NNAS process (what a horrible experience that was!) and got "not comparable" which I expected. I have submitted my application with CRNBC and am scheduled to do the written test from NCAS from the UK in July 2017, and then fly to Vancouver and do the Clinical Assessment at Langara college in August 2017. Just wondering if there are any other nurses out there who have done NCAS, or are about to do it as well and would like to connect to share resources/experiences?