Reinstatement of registration with CNO

[madricka]

Anyone else going through this? I thought it would be a speedier process... wrong!

My situation: 3-1/2 yrs ago I was injured at work (violent patient, long story) and have been off recovering. At one point I didn't think I would be able to return to bedside nursing and wasn't willing to accept the alternative positions offered to me (i.e. hand hygiene monitor) so I started graduate work in another field. After a year of that I realized it wasn't for me, spent another year writing (2 novels). Stupidly, I resigned from the CNO (avoid this if at all possible!!!). A few months ago I decided I was finally ready to return to nursing.

I submitted my application for reinstatement dated 3 years and 2 weeks since the last shift worked. Please know that the CNO is VERY rigid with that 3 year mark in terms of "evidence of practice", there is no wiggle room (I mistakenly thought there might be). I received a letter from them first stating I had to provide "Evidence of English language proficiency". Umm... I was born/raised and worked as an RN in Ontario for 8 years, my family only speaks English (sadly), and my education (BA, BScN, post-grad cert in critical care nursing, and a year of a master's degree) is all in English. The customer service rep said that all new grads and applicants have to "prove" this (most have recent education which fulfills this requirement). I was shocked, but hey, it's their call, right? I submitted a letter to them asking if my recent graduate work counts. I have yet to hear anything about that.

I finally get a letter saying that since I did not meet the practice requirement (since I applied 2 weeks after the 3 year mark), I now have to complete 400 hrs clinical/placement/consolidation and a host of theory-based courses. All because of those 2 weeks.

I have mailed all the documentation to George Brown College in Toronto and I'm waiting for word on what my specific plan is. I'm hoping to have it done in one year, no longer since I already applied to UofT for their NP program (I honestly assumed this whole process would be way faster and I naively thought that there would be more wiggle room for the evidence of practice requirement) & will defer for a year if I am accepted.

Is anyone else in this situation??

[RN_Pro]

I feel your pain, although you definitely have it worse. I had kept my CNO registration for many years despite working in Nunavut, and then a few years ago they made those of us who weren't working in Ontario for the previous 3 years resign, with no warning. ....

So even though they have realized how wrong this is and no longer require nurses to resign after working outside of the province, they won't allow you to reinstate? So they admit a mistake but you still pay for it??!!

[RN_Pro]

And nobody is paving the way for IENs, trust me. Even those that are born in Canada who received their nursing education next door have to jump through hoops and pay over $1000 minimum before they can even dream of being considered as a CNO applicant.

[Phynie]

Trolling? I don't think so.

[Phynie]

Oh Nevermind! I don't know what you are rambling about, you clearly don't understand and forget I showed you any support.

[RPNkristen]

Hi There! I read your article and wanted to share! 
 

I also took a break from nursing after working a job at a Nursing Home ( this specific workplace was one of the worst for moral and a miserable workplace environment) where I felt bullied and unappreciated. The experience was so stressful I decided to work in fitness for 6 years exclusively. 
 

When I inquired about reinstating my license, The CNO requested I take a language proficiency test, 400 hours consolidation and re-education in 21 areas including nursing standards, computers and technology??? That sounds like 21 courses I need to take including a computers course? 

Here is where I get very frustrated. Most nursing homes across Ontario have an “unregulated care provider” program where non licensed individuals can give medications. I applied while pregnant last year and I worked in this loop hole as an unlicensed nurse for 4 months which included 90% nursing duties with a couple restrictions and I got paid 5$ less per hour. His is this fair? How is this legal? It is legal however if I want to get my license back I need to complete over a year of school and 400 hours consolidation? 
 

How is that fair? 

[madricka, BSN, RN]

It isn’t fair but it is what it is. I was VERY angry about the reinstatement requirements but I really wanted to work again. They will not consider your unregulated work as nursing practice since you were not registered with the CNO. 
As for the CNO letter — 21 subjects but not individual courses. You’ll have to take about 10 courses to cover all the subjects. As for the clinical, 400hrs is 2 semesters (at least at George Brown since you can only do 200hrs per semester). You also need to complete most of the coursework before you will be permitted to do the clinical hours. So yes, over a year to complete plus the wait time for CNO to receive your transcripts & fees (this takes a few months). You will not have to do English language proficiency test — if you take courses for reinstatement with an Ontario college, that will count as proof of English language proficiency. 
There is no wiggle room, the CNO is very firm about their rules. The time will pass either way so if you want to work as a nurse again it’s best to just grit your teeth & get through it. It goes by surprisingly fast. 

[RPNkristen]

First of all. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insight and experience in this process. You are very much appreciated. I did get signed up with George Brown, as I was located in Ottawa Ontario. I am now a single mother living two hours outside of Toronto in the Peterborough area. I did inquire with Algonkin College in Ottawa, and Fleming College and Peterborough if they offered a refresher program, and they do not, Ottawa in the office at international nurses.  I asked George Brown if the clinical hours could be completed where I’m located, and they cannot guarantee as I need a preceptor. I’m not sure if I could move to Toronto for two months to work full-time with a 10 month old baby. The CNO had no insight on this issue either. Any other way you could advise me?

[madricka, BSN, RN]

The clinical is usually one day a week for 8hrs for 12 weeks — which I know, doesn’t add up to 200hrs/semester. They count all the homework, prep, group work, assignments, etc towards the 200hrs. So it’s entirely doable for you to stay in Peterborough & commute in for the clinical day once a week. Alternatively you might be able to find a preceptor locally who is willing to work with you. Definitely talk to George Brown, they are eager to help students. 

[RPNkristen]

Thank you again. I will contact george brown again this year as I contacted them last year in 2020 when I was pregnant (while I was working as an unregulated nurse in a nursing home in a pandemic, for less pay than an RPN) and they told me  “we cannot confirm I would have a placement preceptor in a city other than Toronto”. I will also contact centennial college to see what my options are there. I understood that the 400 hours would be full time consolidation hours without pay. I wish things were more clear. 

[madricka, BSN, RN]

Yes, consolidation hours are not paid work. And you can only do 200hrs/semester at George Brown. It’s also kinda pricy — each semester of clinical was around $1500. The theory classes are cheaper (between $325-450 each). There are also books, supplies, scrubs (burgundy), etc.

Centennial has a program that is a bit more condensed but they focus on community & psych as opposed to acute care which is why I opted for George Brown (I planned to return to critical care nursing, which I did right after). 

[NurseDutton]

Hi,

I am reading your messages and am feeling despondent. I was a member of the CNO until 2014 when I left Canada to follow my husband abroad for his work.

I arrive back to Ottawa in a Pandemic and am eager to join the workforce and am told by the CNO that I need to complete 8 courses and 400 Hrs of clinical.

There are no Refresher programs outside of Toronto which I find city centric. I am trying to sort out how to do my clinical in Toronto, live in Ottawa and raise a 3 year old? Btw Quebec has refresher programs in most of their regions... How does Ontario not offer that?

How come they do not have more bridge programs? I am at a loss. How many Nurse have to go through such difficulties?

Geez Louise...

[miisz]

On 10/8/2021 at 7:21 AM, madricka said:

It isn’t fair but it is what it is. I was VERY angry about the reinstatement requirements but I really wanted to work again. They will not consider your unregulated work as nursing practice since you were not registered with the CNO. 
As for the CNO letter — 21 subjects but not individual courses. You’ll have to take about 10 courses to cover all the subjects. As for the clinical, 400hrs is 2 semesters (at least at George Brown since you can only do 200hrs per semester). You also need to complete most of the coursework before you will be permitted to do the clinical hours. So yes, over a year to complete plus the wait time for CNO to receive your transcripts & fees (this takes a few months). You will not have to do English language proficiency test — if you take courses for reinstatement with an Ontario college, that will count as proof of English language proficiency. 
There is no wiggle room, the CNO is very firm about their rules. The time will pass either way so if you want to work as a nurse again it’s best to just grit your teeth & get through it. It goes by surprisingly fast. 

Hi Madrika,

Do you mind if I private msg you re the George Brown program?