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Thanks for the feedback Janfrn & Daisy_08! Janfrn: It seems you have quite a bit of peds experience in Winnipeg. Yes, getting into Children's is not easy - I've been volunteering at PSCU for over a year so I hope that will help a tiny bit. Have you ever worked at St. Boniface? They have some NICU positions but the job description says they require french. I don't want to apply when I clearly don't meet the rquirement but just wondering if all their nurses are bilingual ... At Children's they always mention Aboriginal Preference but a unit manager told me they only know one person in the whole hospital who speaks an Aboriginal language. Daisy: Thanks for answering all my questions. I agree with you about #3, it seems very mean, but you're right about it being better when enough notice is given. I'm glad you spelled out the clothes for me, it's what I would have worn in FL but a resident MD here told me a suit would be more appropriate in Canada. Don't want to be over-dressed for a floor position!

I'm a newly licensed RN in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I graduated in the US a year and half ago but don't have any work experience since I moved to Winnipeg right away. I'm told I'm a strong applicant since I had good grades, great references, honors thesis, pharmacy tech experience, and have volunteered at a hospital here in Winnipeg for over a year. I was wondering if anyone has advice for new RNs? Ideally, I would love to work in pediatrics (I did my practicum rotation in PICU and loved it), but there don't seem to be too many job openings right now. Most openings are either parental leave positions or part time, permanent positions. There is also an opening at St. Amant, an LTC facility for children with complex medical issues. My critical care professor encouraged me to take a position like this if hospitals weren't hiring, because I would gain experience with medical equipment and learn to manage patients with complex health needs - which would then make it easier to transition to critical care or ICU later on. Here are my key questions: 1) Would you recommend starting at a general hospital, tertiary hospital (my preference), or specialty facility? 2) Do you recommend taking a med-surge position or holding out for a specialty? 3) How long should one stay in their first RN position? What if I get hired in a part-time position on one unit/facility and then my ideal full-time position comes up a month later somewhere else? 4) What is the appropriate dress code for RN interviews?

ag202051, Yes I passed the CCA and CRNE and just got my license! Having in there, it just takes a loooong time. I took the CCA in April, had to wait until Oct to sit for CRNE and then got licensed last week. If you're from the US, you should be absolutely fine in terms of your skills and experience. I studied from Saunders' NCLEX review book to review med-surg and general nursing knowledge - I found it was well worth the time to review all those disorders you may not have dealt with in a while & plus it's a big confidence boost. Know the major disorders in depth as well as normal lab values (remember the Canadian lab values are different to the US). Recall your nursing process, med calculations, discharge planning, etc. The area I would focus on most is practice CRNE questions - the exams in the CCA are in CRNE format, which is VERY different to NCLEX. You can find practice questions in the CRNE prep guide (100q per book, do at least the 2010 and 2005 ed.); there are several other CRNE review books you can use to familiarize yourself with the questions. The College should have a link to answer questions about the CCA. DO THE PRACTICE SECTIONS ON THERE! The format is VERY similar for the scenarios, triple-jump, etc. The actual scenarios will be different on the day of course, but knowing the format and understanding what they are asking will make your life much easier! Don't go overboard with your studying - remember that you are just being tested against a new BSN grad in Canada so you just need to pass. I know I definitely made some mistakes but I passed and was approved for CRNE straight away so it's not designed to fail! Search around this International forum, there are many posts specific to CCA prep. I know some of us have put up quite detailed posts with study guides and textbook references. If you have specific questions, I'll try my best to help!

I can completely understand the anxiety of preparing for the SEC, especially when you didn't think you would have to take it. I was in your situation just a few months ago and felt the same way about the possibility I would be purposely failed. However, I'm happy to say that I passed the CCA and didn't have to take any remedial classes or bridging program. In regards to whether all IENs have to take the SEC (or CCA as it's known in some provinces), my answer is yes. Almost everyone, including nurses from the US have to take it. I know because even though the CRNM advisors had told me not to worry about SEC/CCA since I'm from the US, they changed their minds later on, even though I graduated with my BSN from a top nursing program in the US. From what I was told by the CRNM, the colleges apparently have "no way" of comparing nursing programs from other countries to those in Canada. Yes, even though you had to send your transcripts to be validated by IQAS and they came back as equivalent. Anyways, we just have to accept it for now and hopefully the colleges will improve their assessment process one day. In regards to preparing, I studied for less than a month. You need enough time to comprehensively review material you may have forgotten (since you're not practicing) but not so much time that you lose focus and/or forget what you've been reviewing! Take a look at all the resources given to you by the college in your province (it should have been in the letter telling you to schedule the SEC). Here's a rough suggestion of how to prepare: 1) Read up on the SEC on the college's website. Be familiar with the different ways you might be assessed: ex. multiple choice and short answer exams, practical OSCE, Triple Jump, etc. 2) Review your nursing material. I found it too difficult to go through all my nursing textbooks, so I used a comprehensive review guide to brush up on the major nursing material. Things to review: nursing process, meds, labs (make sure you have them in the same units we use in Canada NOT elsewhere), major diseases + nursing care for these clients, specifics for peds, OB, and mental health. Know what is normal for assessment and what an abnormal finding may indicate. 3) Take practice questions. I highly recommend the CNA's CRNE prep guide (4th & 5th ed) for practice on the multiple choice and short answer questions. It will REALLY help for the SEC, and makes it easier to study for CRNE later on! 4) Both the SEC and CRNE emphasize the importance of cultural competence and therapeutic communication. Know the basics and use the CRNE practice questions to practice. 5) Even though it's not mentioned, there will be Community and Public health nursing scattered through the exams. Know the basics of community-based nursing: primary care values, primary/secondary/tertiary prevention, etc. 6) There are practice cases for the Triple Jump and Clinical Judgement online - DO THEM and look at the answers to get a good idea of what they are looking for. You won't have the exact same scenarios in the real exam, but at least you will understand how they want you to think it through. 7)There are quite a few threads on here in regards to the SEC/CCA - I found it useful to go through the previous threads and find tips on preparing. Lastly, take a deep breath. The nurses at the assessment centre (at least in Manitoba) are very nice and friendly. They may take a lot of notes, but don't let that freak you out: remember they have many, many IENs taking the SEC so the notes are for your benefit. I can personally tell you that the purpose of the SEC is NOT to fail you. They will NOT fail you for making a mistake - I know I made at least a few and still made it through. Good Luck!

I think c too. The pain needs to be treated before maternal-child bonding can be promoted.

Does anyone know how much pharmacology will be on the CRNE? I'm from the US so a little worried about different meds being used. A lot of the major meds are the same, but just concerned I don't recognize all the meds I'm seeing in Mosby's. Also, will both the brand and generic names be given? One of the questions in Mosby's was based on whether you could recognize that the brand and generic names on a prescription order don't match. Just wondering if we'll see anything like that on the exam ...

Hi all, I was wondering if there are any UK nurses here who work in Oncology or have experience with lung cancer? My grandpa has just been diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer a few days ago. Although he smoked for many years, he quit almost 10 years ago so it's quite a shock. He doesn't have many respiratory symptoms other than the occasional Shortness of Breath during activity. The only reason he even got diagnosed was because he broke his collarbone (sounds pathological) 6 weeks ago and became short of breath. A GP friend who witnessed it suggested pneumonia/lung cancer so they sent him for a biopsy but it came back inconclusive. Then they sent him for a CT scan, and the consultant confirmed lung cancer. However, he made it sound like an early stage and that treatment options would be available. A few days ago, he finally met with the oncologist, who said it's Stage IV, there are no treatment options, and he only has 6-9 months to live. Although I'm British, I've been in the US for quite a while now and did my nursing degree here and have some questions: 1) How do they define cancer stages in the UK? In the US, Stage IV indicates metastasis to other parts of the body. However, my grandpa has been diagnosed as stage IV even though the cancer is still limited to the lungs. I'm not sure what type of Lung cancer it is, but the oncologist said it's started 9 months ago. (I had asked my family members to ask the oncologist specifics but they were too shocked to even remember). 2) How can the biopsy come back "inconclusive" if he has "Stage IV" cancer? My mom saw the x-rays and there was clearly infiltrates and a large tumor in one area of the lungs. 3) Is it common for it to take 6 weeks for a diagnosis? I know NHS takes forever but some family members are upset that so much time has been wasted (it took 2 weeks just to get biopsy results and then only because we called to ask what's going on). In the US, patients with a history of smoking are tested more thoroughly for signs of lung cancer. My grandpa has been going to the GP regularly for check-ups and somehow the whole possibility of lung cancer was never considered. 4) What options are available in the UK for patients who are diagnosed with a terminal illness? In the US, we have palliative care options and bereavement groups. Is palliative care available through the NHS? I would really appreciate any advice or information.

Anyone want to start a study group in Winnipeg?

Congratulations to all of you that passed! To those that weren't so fortunate, please keep studying & don't let this one exam defeat you. I'm taking the CRNE for the first time in October. Quite worried since I'm an IEN but I did pass CCA a few months ago which was similar to the CRNE prep guide questions. Several people mentioned they used the "Kaplan book" - can you guys please specify what it's called? I can't seem to find a Kaplan book for CRNE, just for NCLEX and nursing school entrance exams. Thanks for all the tips and advice on this thread - it really helps!!

I took my SEC in Manitoba (we call it CCA here). Yes I had to take all the sections: General, Peds, OB, Mental Health, Clinicals, and self-assessment. I'm already living in Manitoba so I didn't have to worry about getting a visit visa. I can't recommend any books in particular except for the CNA's CRNE Prep Guide - both 4th & 5th Editions. The prep guide has practice questions so that should help in preparing both for SEC and for the CRNE when the time comes. Don't forget to actually study nursing knowledge: especially drug calculations, fundamental nursing skills, lab values, and specifics for OB, peds, and mental health. Also, you should know the basics of public health and community nursing. Also, be sure to read all the information they provide you - ex. Code of Ethics, Entry Level Competencies, Nursing Standards and Scope of Practice. Also, read the Canada Health Act. All of these things will help on the SEC.

My program was 16 months. State universities in FL do an accelerated program for people who already have a Bachelor's degree in another field and have completed the pre-req's for nursing school. Since I already had a Bachelor's, I was done with all my General Ed requirements for college (English, math, etc.). The program is condensed into 4 semesters instead of the traditional 5 so it was a little bit of a squeeze but definitely well worth it. In fact, some of us even managed to do an honors thesis on top of it!

The CCA involved a 5 day assessment with exams in General Nursing, OB, Peds, Mental Health, and a self-assessment (based on the code of ethics and standards of practice). There is also a clinical portion of assessment. I totally don't mind you sending me private messages if you have further questions - for now, just post on here and I'll try my best to answer your questions. Don't rely on anyone outside of nursing. I was given the "don't worry, it should be simple because you're from the US" answer by employees at the CRNM!! When they told me I had to take the CCA, I was so upset when I found out being educated in the US suddenly meant nothing to them! Then of course, I couldn't trust them anymore. I have to say the CCA administrators were super nice, answered all my questions, and respected me as a fellow nurse. Just as they had predicted, I DID pass without needing any classes/bridging program. Btw, the issues CRNM had with my application was strictly based on the length of my nursing program, credit hours, and the clinical practice hours. They said that even if I had experience, they would still have made me take the CCA (unless I had been an ICU nurse for more than 10 years). So, having experience in the US won't help you in that sense, but I'm sure it will be excellent for your resume. Plus, you can't go to grad school here without 2 years of nursing experience and a valid Canadian nursing license - so at least you'd get a start on that!

Please read the thread "Early prep for Canadian move--is it worth it?" I am an RN, BSN from FL and moved to Canada last summer and just put up a response on that thread. Hope it helps!

As silverdragon mentioned, you cannot get a temporary license or sit for the CRNE until you have passed the SEC and completed any additional requirements. In terms of studying for SEC (also called CCA), please look at all the other threads in the international section related to this topic. I had taken the CCA in Manitoba in March and passed - even though I know I made a few mistakes. I would definitely recommend reviewing your nursing knowledge (look at textbooks or a review book from the past 5 years). Then go through all the resources you have been given to online practice questions - the triple jump and clinical judgement scenarios are asked very similarly to those posted online. Also, look at the Canada Nurse Act, Code of Ethics, and Nursing Standards & Scope of Practice documents. Also, the exams itself will be over a 4-5 day period so you will be taking two exams each day for 3 days: 2 General exams (1 Multiple Choice, 1 Short Answer), 1 OB, 1 Peds, 1 Mental Health, and the self-assessment. On your clinical day, you will have the 2 OSCEs, the Triple Jump, and the Clinical Judgement Scenarios. Hope this helps!

I graduated from an accelerated BSN program in Florida last year and then got married & moved up to Manitoba right after graduation. It's been almost a year now, and I can't take the CRNE until October so I've lost out on over a year of nursing experience. I don't want to put you off or complain, but you need to do a lot of thinking before making such a big move. First of all, you need to find out what the nursing registration requirements are in Ontario: you will definitely need to pass NCLEX, show proof of licensure in the US, and submit all your transcripts. Next, you need to recognize that just because you are licensed in the US does not by any means guarantee licensure in Canada. For example, I had excellent grades, passed NCLEX, etc. but since I was educated outside of Canada, my province required me to pass the Clinical Competence Assessment (or SEC in other provinces). It took about 6 months from the time I submitted my application to get the results of the CCA and approval to sit for the CRNE. Since the CRNE is only offered three times a year, my first opportunity to sit for it will be in October. Oh, and the CRNE is completely different from NCLEX. As you can see, the process is complicated and takes time. I would definitely recommend you to ask specific questions about education requirements: do they need your program to be a certain length of time? Even though I graduated from one of the top accredited nursing programs in my state, the CRNM had issues with my program not being long enough - even though they said they didn't have specific requirements for credit hours or clinical practice hours. That's why I had to pass the CCA just to become eligible to sit for the CRNE. I have heard Ontario is even more strict and also does not have the CCA/SEC, so you need to find out what would happen if they determined your transcripts were not adequate - would you take the assessment, do you take a bridging program, or do you have to go back to school?? Like I said, I don't want to scare you, but you definitely need to do your research. That said, when I called the CRNM several times before moving, I was told the registration process would be relatively straightforward since I was coming from the US. Things changed drastically after I actually submitted my application. If possible, I would recommend staying in the US while you wait for your nursing application to go through in Ontario. That way, you can easily get hired at a local hospital where you've done clinicals. You might have to make a trip up to take the assessment, but at least you're gaining valuable experience back home in the mean time! Hope things work out for you!