Re: Filipino RN's about to take CRNE exam

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 18, 2008

Most provinces don't allow people who were unsuccessful on their first attempt to continue working on a temporary license. That would be fraud, wouldn't it, to claim registered nurse status without having met the criteria to be registered? It's not the employer decides about the continuation of a temp license, it's the college of nurses.

dreamer0908 · Sep 18, 2008

thanks janfrn for the reply.

that means we have to double time in order to pass on our first take. Correct me if I am wrong, from what I know, RN title is used once you have passed the CRNE and met the 250 hours as required, so you are regarded as a GN before this.am i right?so it's not considered fraud as you say it. do correct me if I happen to have the wrong idea. Thank you.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 18, 2008

thanks janfrn for the reply.
that means we have to double time in order to pass on our first take. Correct me if I am wrong, from what I know, RN title is used once you have passed the CRNE and met the 250 hours as required, so you are regarded as a GN before this.am i right?so it's not considered fraud as you say it. do correct me if I happen to have the wrong idea. Thank you.

once you pass CRNE then you are a RN but my understanding is once you fail then you can no longer class yourself as a GN and that is where you may have problems especially if on TWP

dreamer0908 · Sep 18, 2008

^thanks for clarifying that.i appreciate it so much.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 18, 2008

Silverdragon102 is correct. Prior to your first attempt at the CRNE in most provinces you're classed as a GN (Graduate Nurse); once you pass the CRNE you are considered an RN. For IENs in BC there is the requirement of 250 hours of supervised practice, which may be obtained while on temporary permit or after writing the CRNE, depending on your preference and other circumstances. But if you write the CRNE and do not pass, you cannot work as a GN any longer (and that applies to everyone, not just IENs) nor can you call yourself an RN, because you're not. You haven't met the requirements for registration, and calling yourself an RN when you aren't is fraud. To quote the CRNBC on the use of the title RN:

A key purpose of regulation of health professionals is to
protect the public. One aspect of regulation is protecting
professional titles to ensure they are used appropriately. Only
those individuals who have met the requirements for
registration and, once registered, continue to meet the
requirements for renewal, may use a protected title.
Individuals who do not meet the requirements are not
permitted to use a protected title. This legal restriction assures
the public that anyone using one of the protected nursing titles
is entitled to practise nursing.

communicator · Dec 2, 2008

Hi there,

to answer your question about how many times a grad license can be renewed.

As previous writer mentioned - it depends on the province. many will revoke the license if you fail. but your hope does not end there...

the province of Saskatchewan does allow grad llicense renewal even after one failed the CRNE. grad license is given for four months period and its renewed even after failing as long as you enroll to write again and your employer provides you with positive references. you can renew up to 2 times or work in total of 12 months (three four months periods).

hope it helps. i know many nurses from Phillipines will come to Saskatchewan. will be glad to have you here in Prairies! :up:

johnbrew · Feb 18, 2009

Can i sit in CRNE exam of Saskatchewan even though I dont have employer? Im from Philippines and doesnt have any experience in hospital setting. pls enlighten me about this matter, I really wanted to work but the employment situation here in Phil is no good and never will for nurses. . . I emailed srna, in my understanding I can pass my papers so they can evaluate it even though I dont have experience but Im not sure about the employer.. Another thing is, employer here in Phil do require 1-2 experience which I dont have.

Need help. . .

5cats · Feb 18, 2009

You can apply and you can sit the CRNE if SRNA declares you for eligible, in fact employers will want to know if you are. But it's highly unlikely that you will find an employer in Canada when you have no experience at all.

And CRNE is nationwide the same btw. just the eligibility can vary from province to province.

5cats

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 18, 2009

you may sit the crne without an employer. the two are completely separate issues. to be eligible to write the crne your credentials must be assessed by the college of registered nurses in the province where you plan to work. saskatchewan has recently initiated the substantively equivalent competency assessment introduced by alberta in 2007; this assessment is in all likelihood going to be required of anyone such as johnbrew, who has no experience, and will also be required of many others who do have experience, depending on their educational preparation. all of this information is right here on this site in one forum (canadian nurses) or another (international or philippine nurses). it would be of great benefit to all who have questions about these issues to read what has already been written.

as for iens finding an employer in canada with no experience... it can be done, but it won't be easy. it takes a great deal of time, effort and expense to develop newly-graduated nurse into a fully-functioning member of the health care team. foreign recruitment is intended to provide the health regions with staff nurses who are going to be ready to hit the floor running with a minimum of preparation... in a nutshell someone with experience and a certain skill set. the assessment process and immigration issues will take many months to complete, and without current nursing employment and ongoing practice hours, the candidate will be even further disadvantaged.

another factor that is only now just becoming important is the economy. health regions aren't exempt from financial pressures; in canada the health care system is fully funded by the tax base of the province. fewer tax dollars coming into the coffers = fewer dollars to be spent on health care. the regions will soon have to start really rein in their spending on "frills" and there are many who would view foreign recruitment as a "frill", or poor value for the money because so much of the money spent has no direct benefit to the taxpayer. there are also layoffs happening in ontario, which could result in a lot of internal mobility and relocations of canadian nurses who would be viewed as a much more attractive "purchase".

if you are truly committed to living and working in canada, be prepared for all the difficulties ahead and also realize that there will be a lot of hard work, significant amounts of time and money spent and no guarantees.

johnbrew · Feb 19, 2009

thanks 5cats and janfrn . . .

IF IN CASE saskatchewan give me eligibility to take CRNE.

What visa will I apply in the immigration since im doing this alone?--------> can this be possible

Will canadian employer be interested even by bit if I told them that I am eligible to take CRNE? or If I pass my CRNE?

this is an awesome forum.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 19, 2009

You can come over and write the CRNE on a visitor's visa, but will not be permitted to work at all on it. Once you've passed you would apply for a temporary work permit, which can later be converted to landed immigrant status if you decide to stay. Eligibility for the CRNE or a pass on it will make you more interesting to employers, because that tells them you've done a lot of the legwork on your own, and that you're going to be able to start working sooner than if you still had that whole ordeal ahead of you.