NNAS experience?

joeythecat · Dec 12, 2017

@dishes

Than you for the response. First off do we need to pay twice to get assessed by nnas for both practical nurse and registered nurse? Also when the results come back from NNAS, do they actually detail what needs to be done or is it just a "comparable" or "non-comparable" statement?

Her work was licensed but it was over 5 years ago so I don't think that it will count. She had a friend in the same situation that needed to take a 1 year bridging course from George brown and then pass the test.

Also, does the assessment ever expire? I ask because we are looking to start a family soon and don't know when she can go back to school.

thanks you again for the quick and detailed response!

dishes, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2017

@joeythecat

If you look at the nnas applicant handbook, you can see that you don't pay twice, you pay $650.00 for the main application order and an additional $220.00 for evaluation for a different nursing group (RN PN).

The nnas application can expire before the assessment is complete if the applicant does not keep it active, see the nnas handbook for details.

Once nnas has completed the assessment and sent the advisory report, it should not expire.

I believe that although the nnas advisory report doesn't expire, the letter of direction from the regulatory body may expire, for example, it's possible that when the College of Nurses of Ontario sends an applicant a letter of direction to complete a bridging program, they may give the month and year when the program must be completed.

Which province will your wife be applying to?

joeythecat · Dec 13, 2017

@joeythecat
If you look at the nnas applicant handbook, you can see that you don't pay twice, you pay $650.00 for the main application order and an additional $220.00 for evaluation for a different nursing group (RN PN).
The nnas application can expire before the assessment is complete if the applicant does not keep it active, see the nnas handbook for details.
Once nnas has completed the assessment and sent the advisory report, it should not expire.
I believe that although the nnas advisory report doesn't expire, the letter of direction from the regulatory body may expire, for example, it's possible that when the College of Nurses of Ontario sends an applicant a letter of direction to complete a bridging program, they may give the month and year when the program must be completed.
Which province will your wife be applying to?

She will be applying to Ontario. I guess we will apply for both. We are in a situation where we are going to start a family, but we are running out of time for that and her school and keeping a fulltime job so she can receive maternity leave. Everything is happening all at once and we aren't getting any younger!

dishes, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2017

@joeythecat, after your wife has been approved by citizenship and immigration to migrate to Canada she can apply to pre-arrival supports and services for iens (pass4nurses.org), it's free and she may find the tips helpful.

joeythecat · Dec 14, 2017

I believe that although the nnas advisory report doesn't expire, the letter of direction from the regulatory body may expire, for example, it's possible that when the College of Nurses of Ontario sends an applicant a letter of direction to complete a bridging program, they may give the month and year when the program must be completed.

Can anyone comment on this? Does this actually expire?

Parasol · Dec 14, 2017

Can anyone comment on this? Does this actually expire?

I have applied to BC, and can confirm that in BC you have a time limit to complete your additional education or bridging courses.

In my case, I have 3 years to complete my education and write NCLEX. It expires in October 2020 for me.

joeythecat · Dec 14, 2017

I have applied to BC, and can confirm that in BC you have a time limit to complete your additional education or bridging courses.
In my case, I have 3 years to complete my education and write NCLEX. It expires in October 2020 for me.

ok thank you, can anyone in Ontario comment?

RN_Pro · Jan 21, 2018

If there is anyone who completed their nursing education at an American school and was deemed "not comparable" by NNAS and has been asked to take IENCAP, please make sure you connect with others who were educated at the same school who may also be applying for a license. CNO is not treating everyone the same and there are applicants who took the exact same course at the same school and graduated the same year who are being given different direction. For some, they are asked to take IENCAP, others are given their license with little more than submission of their current job description. This is definitely an issue for the Office of the Fairness Commissioner but since they don't really do anything, look out for yourselves and network with your peers to make sure you aren't being treated differently.

bobacia · Jan 21, 2018

Hey RN_Pro. Thank you so much for your insights. Do you think that the reason why nurses who graduate from the same school and get different ratings is due to the ratings not based on the school but rather on the individual? I am wondering how much weight goes into the GPA of the individual and how many questions the individual had to answer to pass the NCLEX. For example, if a student has a C average and answers 250 questions to pass the NCLEX, is this viewed differently from an A student and passes the NCLEX in 75 questions. I am wondering your thoughts on this. For interest's sake, I am waiting for my rating from the NNAS. We will see how it goes. I have had classmates that have 'walked right in.'

RN_Pro · Jan 22, 2018

Good points but it shouldn't... at least CNO says that NCLEX is pass/fail. And GPA shouldn't matter since they have said the education is not comparable anyway. The legislation in the Nursing Act wouldn't allow them to use anything outside of the assessments they have indicated.

In at least one of the circumstances I am aware of, the person who did not have to do IENCAP definitely had a lower GPA and didn't pass NCLEX in 75. Person asked to do IENCAP also had more nursing work experience. So... I'm not sure what's up but it definitely seems off.

Gloriani19 · Jan 24, 2018

Hey guys,

I'm in process of assembling all the paperwork for NNAS. I am a BSN educated and employed in California trying to apply for British Columbia. I currently work part-time in the hospital and have accumulated 2800 hours over the last 3 years. I wonder if it's worth the hassle to list my previous employer from 4 years ago where I was employed full-time and which was more of a clinic job. Has anybody heard how NNAS look at employer's form? How may work hours do they want? Or do they just need us to work in RN capacity in the last 3 years or be out of school in the last 3 years? I just so don't want to waste my time on this. I have 4 schools to get syllabi from.

vivistephano · Jan 25, 2018

Hi,my experience with NNAS has been a nightmare,record time ever-2years 4months and still waiting!I got registered with NNAS in September 2015 for both an RN and PRN(LPN) and my province of focus is Ontario,Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.Presently I am still at the final review stage awaiting the draft of an advisory report(its been on this stage for the past 2 months) from my evaluator.I was fortunately given my evaluators email but has it been of any help?No!She will never reply to my emails except for one time with persistence about a year ago when she needed additional information from my regulatory body.I am so frustrated and on the phone with their call centre staffs at least once a week but nothing to show from that.Recently,I asked to talk to a manager to no avail.To note though,I once spoke to their manager in Dec 2016 who assured me,my advisory report was to be ready in 5days but that never happened and later when I asked to speak with him,they said he was on sick leave.I am not sure who to address this situation to,So if anyone here can assist me with some ideas on how to go about this to get my report completed ASAP,I will be grateful.Thanks!